Sample report
Panel Capacity Report
CEC Rule 8-200 Optional Method (26th Edition)
Calculated demand 114 A on a 100 A service — the rating is the test under CEC 8-200(3). The 80% mark (80 A) is shown only as context for how much room is left.
- Calculated demand
- 114 A
- Service rating
- 100 A
- Heat pump draw
- 18 A
- Over the limit by
- 14 A
- Total demand
- 27,375 W
- Utilization
- 114.06%
The calculation, line by line
| Load | Nameplate (W) | Counted (W) | Code treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic load | — | 6,000 | 5,000 W + 1 × 1,000 W per extra 90 m² — 8-200(1)(a)(i)(ii) |
| Electric range | 12,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 W + 40% over 12 kW — 8-200(1)(a)(iv) |
| Electric dryer | 5,500 | 1,375 | 25% — range present, 8-200(1)(a)(vii)(A) |
| Space heating | 4,400 | 4,400 | existing electric heat 0 W + heat pump 4,400 W — demand factor per 62-118 |
| EV charger | 9,600 | 9,600 | 100% nameplate |
“Counted” is the demand after the code's factors — you never run everything at once, and the optional method accounts for that.
Rebates may apply to this fix (Canada): Heat pump and electrical-upgrade incentives in Canada are set provincially and by your utility, so what you qualify for depends on where you live. The federal Canada Greener Homes Loan (interest-free, repayable) remains available nationally. Check your province’s energy-efficiency programs and your electric utility before booking the work — an electrical service upgrade is sometimes funded separately from the heat pump itself.
Shown for Canada — no location was provided, so this is the national guidance— if that isn't where the home is, these programs may not apply.
What changes the outcome
Your panel as-is — 100 A
114 A calculated vs the 100 A limit that decides it → FAIL. Panel upgrade to 200A required — calculated load exceeds your current panel's capacity. A licensed electrician must perform this upgrade before a heat pump can be installed.
Scenario: upgrade to 200 A service
Same loads on a 200 A service: 114 A vs 200 A → PASS with 86 A of headroom. Typical cost $2,000–$5,000 depending on region and service entrance work.
Scenario: add EV load management (EVEMS)
With an energy management system, the code excludes the EV charger: 100 A vs 100 A → WARN. EVEMS hardware typically runs a few hundred dollars plus installation — often far cheaper than a service upgrade.
Right-sizing the heat pump
Every ton of capacity is roughly 1,400–1,500 W of compressor draw. If you are borderline, a properly sized (not oversized) system — confirmed by a heat loss calculation — can pull the number under the limit and heats better too.
Questions to ask your electrician
- Can you run the official load calculation for my home and confirm this estimate before quoting a panel upgrade?
- Which of my existing loads could be missing from the panel schedule — is there anything wired in that is not on a breaker label?
- My calculated demand is 114 A against a 100 A service. I understand CEC Rule 8-200(3) means this calculated load is not treated as a continuous load under Rule 8-104, so the 80% figure is not the test — do you agree with that reading, and with this starting point?
- Would load management (shedding the dryer or EV charger at peak) get this addition approved without a service upgrade — and what does that hardware cost installed?
- If I add an EV energy management system (EVEMS), how does that change the calculation and the quote?
- If a 200 A upgrade is needed, what is included in the price — mast, meter base, grounding, permit — and what is the utility side of the work?
- Will you pull the electrical permit, and is the load calculation included in the permit submission?
Next steps
Download the PDF and hand it to your electrician as the starting point for the official calculation.
This report answers whether your panel can take a heat pump. Whether one is worth it for your house is a different question — the Heat Pump ROI tool answers that from your actual bills, and carries this panel result across so you don't enter it twice.
For rebates, costs, and how to hire a heat pump contractor, see HeatPumpLocator.com.
Get this report for your home
Run the free check first — the full report is one click from your result. $25 CAD, 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check My Panel Free →ESTIMATE ONLY — CEC Rule 8-200 Optional Method (26th Edition). Actual panel capacity depends on site conditions, conductor sizing, and inspector interpretation. A licensed electrician must verify all calculations before any work proceeds.