Ontario Apartment EV Charging: Toronto Hydro and Hydro One Capacity Checks

Geography: Toronto Hydro and Hydro One service territories in Ontario. Checked: September 24, 2026.

A utility’s capacity screen is not the same as an electrical assessment inside an apartment building. The utility reviews its service or distribution connection; a qualified electrical professional still needs to assess the building’s panels, loads, equipment, and wiring. First confirm which electricity distributor serves the property: Toronto Hydro and Hydro One processes do not apply across all Ontario service areas.

Toronto Hydro: optional screen, then a connection request

Toronto Hydro’s current EV charging page includes apartment and condominium stations owned or operated by a building owner or third-party provider. It offers an optional preliminary consultation for early project planning. The utility says its high-level report covers capacity at the connection point, possible upgrades, project complexity, and an estimated connection-cost range; the report is non-binding.

The page currently says Toronto Hydro will complete this feasibility assessment within 15 calendar days after receiving the consultation request. When the project is ready to proceed, the applicant chooses a service request for either an increase to an existing service’s peak load or a new EV-charging service. Toronto Hydro asks for a scaled site drawing showing proposed charger locations, site orientation and property lines, transformer or substation location, and the private-property duct path and its length.

The utility’s Load Capacity Map can help with preliminary area screening. Its FAQ says the map is a high-level, illustrative tool, updated approximately quarterly; it is not real-time, does not include connection-cost estimates, and does not replace a project assessment or utility approvals.

Hydro One: connection and expansion offers

Hydro One’s 2026 Appendix G covers non-residential Level 2 and Level 3 EV supply equipment requiring at least 240 volts, including multi-unit residential installations owned or operated by the building or a third-party provider. It describes an online connection or service-upgrade request.

If no expansion is required, the appendix says Hydro One will provide a firm, fixed-price offer within 60 days after receiving a complete application, subject to conditions such as permits, easements, and third-party approvals. If an expansion is required, the applicant first receives an estimated-cost offer. Proceeding may require staking or design costs; after design, Hydro One provides a firm fixed-price offer. The utility may also require a deposit or other service agreements.

What these utility steps do not establish

Neither a preliminary map nor a connection offer calculates how many chargers an apartment’s internal system can serve. The utility path also does not confirm building permission, equipment suitability, a final installation design, or inspection. Those questions depend on the property and the current requirements of the serving authorities.

Before submitting a request:

• Confirm the serving distributor and the project owner or applicant.
• Ask an electrical professional to assess the building and prepare the technical information.
• Gather the site drawing and charger-location details the distributor requests.
• Treat a map or preliminary consultation as an early screen, not an approval.
• Confirm current Conditions of Service, costs, permits, and timelines with the distributor before making a commitment.

Use the apartment building capacity assessment checklist for the property-side information and the installation process guide for later project steps.