How Much Does an Emergency Electrician Cost in Ontario?

How Much Does an Emergency Electrician Cost in Ontario?

Electrical emergencies don’t follow business hours. Whether a circuit fails during a renovation, an outdoor outlet stops working after a storm, or power goes out unexpectedly in part of your home, you may need a licensed electrician outside of regular hours. Here is what emergency and after-hours electrical service costs in Ontario.

Emergency Electrician Rates in Ontario

An emergency or after-hours electrical service call in Ontario starts at $300 for the initial visit, which covers the first hour of labour. For any additional time beyond the first hour, the rate is $150 per hour.

These rates apply to after-hours calls — evenings, weekends, and holidays — when a licensed electrical contractor responds outside of standard business hours. The higher rate reflects the immediate availability and the premium time at which the work is performed.

What Counts as an Electrical Emergency?

Emergency electrical calls typically involve situations that pose a safety risk or render the property uninhabitable or inoperable, such as:

• Partial or total loss of power to the home or business
• Burning smell, sparking outlets, or visible arcing from wiring or panels
• Circuit breaker that will not reset or keeps tripping immediately
• Electrical panel making unusual sounds (buzzing, crackling, humming)
• Electrical shock from an outlet, switch, or appliance
• Outdoor or GFCI outlet failure in a location critical to operations
• Construction or renovation electrical issue that blocks the project from proceeding

Not every electrical issue requires an emergency call. If the situation is not an immediate safety hazard, scheduling a regular business-hours visit will cost less. Your electrician can help you assess the urgency when you call.

Who Can Perform Emergency Electrical Work in Ontario?

In Ontario, emergency electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor or master electrician — the same requirement that applies to all electrical work under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). There are no exceptions for urgency. An unlicensed person performing electrical repairs — even in an emergency — is operating illegally and creates serious liability and safety risks.

If a permit is required for the emergency repair (for example, replacing a panel component or running a new circuit), only a licensed electrical contractor can legally pull the permit. An ESA inspection may follow the emergency work before the repair is considered complete and compliant.

What to Do in an Electrical Emergency

• If you smell burning or see arcing, turn off power at the main breaker immediately and call a licensed electrician
• Do not attempt to repair wiring, reset repeatedly tripping breakers, or open the electrical panel yourself
• For an active fire or suspected electrical fire, call 911 first
• If you are unsure whether power is fully off, treat all wiring as live

Get Emergency Electrical Service from EZSMART

EZSMART provides after-hours emergency electrical service for residential and commercial clients across Ontario. Our licensed electricians respond to urgent electrical situations and provide a clear assessment and price before any work begins.

Contact us for emergency electrical service — we will assess your situation and dispatch a licensed electrician as quickly as possible.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp