Electrical panel replacement in Longueuil

In Longueuil, replacing a 200 A electrical panel takes one day and leaves you without power for about 5 hours; the price is in the written quote, free of charge. Only a master electrician who is a CMEQ member can do the work: the law forbids the owner from doing it, even at home.

Why are so many panels running out of steam in Longueuil?

Longueuil has 113,085 private dwellings. According to the 2021 census, 44,100 were built between 1961 and 1980 and 18,450 date from 1960 or earlier. That makes 62,550 dwellings — 55% of the city — built before 1981.

It’s the most varied housing on the South Shore. In Vieux-Longueuil, we still come across fuse boxes. In the neighbourhoods from the 1960s and 1970s, it’s full 100 amp panels. And everywhere, plexes: duplexes, triplexes, each unit with its own panel, plus a service panel.

That variety changes the way we work. A replacement in a Saint-Hubert bungalow and a replacement in a Vieux-Longueuil triplex don’t follow the same steps or need the same coordination.

Vieux-Longueuil, Saint-Hubert and Greenfield Park

Longueuil has three boroughs: Vieux-Longueuil, Saint-Hubert and Greenfield Park. Saint-Hubert has its own page: electrical panel replacement in Saint-Hubert.

On the South Shore, we also come across a lot of aluminum wiring. How to recognize it and what to do: see the guide on aluminum wiring.

Which amperage for which house?

Adding an EV charger? See EV charger installation in Longueuil.

Fuses, breakers, and the panels to watch

With housing this mixed, four cases come up more than the others.

How does it go, in practice?

One working day, including about five hours without power. That’s the real answer to the question everyone asks first.

We file the request with Hydro-Québec, which comes to disconnect the service. The old panel comes out, the new one goes in, every circuit is identified again one by one. Hydro-Québec reconnects, and the installation is tested before we leave.

In a plex, the power cut is planned in advance with the tenants affected, and we group the work when several panels need replacing. That avoids cutting the power three times in the same building.

What does it cost in Longueuil?

The price depends on your installation, for example when the service entrance is redone at the same time: you get it in the written quote, free of charge. The real price depends on the target amperage, the condition of the service entrance and the mast, and the number of circuits to redo. A sub panel costs considerably less.

For an apartment building, the price comes after a visit: the number of panels and the way the service entrance is set up change everything.

Do you need a permit in Longueuil?

The City of Longueuil removes electrical work from the list of repairs exempt from a permit. In other words, a permit may be required, and the City itself specifies that its list doesn’t replace the text of the bylaw.

Who is allowed to replace a panel in Québec?

The question comes up all the time, and the answer surprises people: it isn’t a matter of skill, it’s a matter of law.

“No one may perform electrical work of any kind, in their residence or elsewhere for others, unless they are an electrical contractor.” (translated from French)

“A person who contravenes the Master Electricians Act and the Building Act is liable to a fine of $5,000 to $200,888.” (translated from French)

Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec

In other words: even at home, even if you know how. STM Électrique inc. is a CMEQ member and holds RBQ licence 5815-0137-01.

Frequently asked questions