Electrical panel replacement in Saint-Hubert

In Saint-Hubert, 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 Saint-Hubert?

Saint-Hubert is a borough of Longueuil, and the largest one. Longueuil, which it is part of, has 113,085 private dwellings, of which 62,550 — 55% — were built before 1981 according to the 2021 census.

Saint-Hubert grew around its airport and its main roads, mostly from the 1950s and 1960s: bungalows, wide lots, and a 100 amp panel that seemed generous when homes were heated with oil.

Sixty years later, these same houses have a heat pump, a finished basement, sometimes a heated pool, and more and more often an electric car in the driveway. The panel never moved.

Which amperage for which house?

Fuses, breakers, and the panels to watch

In a Saint-Hubert bungalow, four situations come up again and again.

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 — that’s the longest part, and the one that will serve you for twenty years. Hydro-Québec reconnects, and the installation is tested before we leave.

The wide lots of Saint-Hubert have a concrete advantage: the service entrance is almost always easy to reach, which shortens the day and helps keep the bill down.

What does it cost in Saint-Hubert?

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.

A photo of your open panel is often enough to tell you the next steps, without a visit.

Do you need a permit in Saint-Hubert?

Since Saint-Hubert is a borough of Longueuil, the City of Longueuil’s rules apply. Longueuil removes electrical work from the list of repairs exempt from a permit: a permit may therefore 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