Sample report
Panel Capacity Report
CEC Rule 8-200 Optional Method (26th Edition)
Calculated demand 114.06 A on a 100 A service — 80% continuous limit 80 A.
- Total demand
- 27,375 W
- Utilization
- 114.06%
- Heat pump draw
- 18.33 A
- Over the limit by
- 32.4 A
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) |
| Cooling (governs over heating) | 4,400 | 4,400 | Greater of heating or cooling — 8-106(3); heating per 62-118(3) |
| 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.
What changes the outcome
Your panel as-is — 100 A
114.06 A calculated vs 80 A limit → 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: 114.06 A vs 160 A limit → PASS with 67.6 A of headroom after the heat pump. 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 80 A limit → 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 114.06 A against a 100 A service (80% continuous limit: 80 A). Do you agree with that 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. For rebates, costs, and how to hire a heat pump contractor, see HeatPumpLocator.com.
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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.