How much you get
What this means practically
You won't get a cash rebate for a charger the way you would for a heat pump or solar. Instead, roll it into a HELP loan application alongside other upgrades — the loan's low fixed rate still makes it cheaper than most retail financing.
Choosing a home EV charger
Before you pick a charger model, check your electrical panel. Roughly half of Ontario homes don't have spare capacity for a full 40-60A Level 2 circuit without an upgrade, and that upgrade is a real added cost, typically $2,500 to $5,000 depending on the home. Some chargers, like the Emporia, include load-management hardware that lets the charger share existing capacity instead of forcing a full panel upgrade — a genuinely useful fix, not a guarantee it will work for every home, so confirm with an electrician before assuming it solves the problem.
Toronto's housing stock skews old: a large share of the detached and semi-detached homes in the older wards (the Annex, Riverdale, Leslieville) still run 60-amp or 100-amp electrical services from decades before anyone planned for a car in the driveway. If your panel is on the smaller side, ask your electrician about power-sharing chargers like the Emporia before assuming you need a full $2,500-plus panel upgrade — it's often the cheaper fix for a Toronto semi.
Grizzl-E Classic
- Canadian-made in Ontario, rugged outdoor-rated housing
- No companion app — a dial and a cable, nothing to update or lose wifi on
- Popular budget pick among Ontario EV owners who just want it to work
Emporia EV Charger (Level 2)
- Built-in power sharing so it can split capacity with your panel instead of forcing an upgrade
- App-based scheduling for time-of-use rates
- Good middle option between Grizzl-E's simplicity and Tesla's price
Tesla Universal Wall Connector
- Works with any EV: ships with both a NACS handle and includes the parts to run J1772
- Best fit if you already have or plan to get a Tesla and want one charger for the household
- Needs the Tesla app or third-party OCPP setup for scheduling
Prices are approximate CAD and change — confirm current pricing at the retailer before buying.
Choosing a home EV charger
Before you pick a charger model, check your electrical panel. Roughly half of Ontario homes don't have spare capacity for a full 40-60A Level 2 circuit without an upgrade, and that upgrade is a real added cost, typically $2,500 to $5,000 depending on the home. Some chargers, like the Emporia, include load-management hardware that lets the charger share existing capacity instead of forcing a full panel upgrade — a genuinely useful fix, not a guarantee it will work for every home, so confirm with an electrician before assuming it solves the problem.
Most of the buyer confusion we see starts with Level 1 vs. Level 2, not brand or price. A Level 1 charger is just the 120V outlet most garages already have, adding roughly 3 to 5 miles of driving range per hour, which can work for a short in-city commute but leaves almost no buffer for a bad-weather day or an unplanned trip. Level 2 needs a dedicated 240V circuit, usually 16 to 60 amps, and adds roughly 20 to 40 miles of range per hour instead, which is close enough to "full overnight" for almost any daily driving pattern; Natural Resources Canada's EV charging guide and Car and Driver's EV charging levels explainer both break the math down the same way. For a second opinion with a video walkthrough, BC Hydro's home EV charging page is written for a BC audience but the charger-level basics apply anywhere in Canada.
Burlington's older neighbourhoods near the lake (Aldershot, downtown, parts of Roseland) were mostly built before central air conditioning was standard, which means smaller original electrical services in some of that stock; the newer subdivisions further from the lake (Alton, Millcroft) are far more likely to already have 200-amp service with room for a Level 2 circuit. Worth a quick panel check either way before you commit to a specific charger model.
Grizzl-E Classic
- Canadian-made in Ontario, rugged outdoor-rated housing
- No companion app: a dial and a cable, nothing to update or lose wifi on
- Popular budget pick among Ontario EV owners who just want it to work
Tesla Universal Wall Connector
- Works with any EV: ships with both a NACS handle and includes the parts to run J1772
- Best fit if you already have or plan to get a Tesla and want one charger for the household
- Needs the Tesla app or third-party OCPP setup for scheduling
Emporia EV Charger (Level 2)
- Built-in power sharing so it can split capacity with your panel instead of forcing an upgrade
- App-based scheduling for time-of-use rates
- Good middle option between Grizzl-E's simplicity and Tesla's price
Prices are approximate CAD and change. Confirm current pricing at the retailer before buying.
Where to buy a home EV charger
Check with the dealer before buying anything. Plenty of EV dealers now bundle a free Level 1, and occasionally a Level 2, charger into a new-vehicle purchase. The simplest path for a lot of homeowners is letting the same electrician who's quoting your circuit also supply the charger. They know what actually works with your panel, and it saves a separate shipping wait. Going direct to the manufacturer or an authorized electrical distributor is the safest route for warranty coverage and getting a genuinely new unit. Home-improvement and auto-parts stores sometimes carry a charger or two in stock, but selection is thin. Call ahead before driving out for one specific model. Online retail is fine as long as you confirm the seller is the real brand (not a marketplace reseller) and the unit is genuinely new, not refurbished, which matters if you're relying on a rebate that requires new equipment.
How to claim it
- Apply for the Toronto HELP loan before hiring a contractor
- Include the EV charger as one of your funded measures
- Get the loan approved, then proceed with installation
Browse HVAC, solar, and electrical installers near Toronto →
Common questions
Is there an EV charger rebate in Burlington?
No. Neither the province nor Burlington Hydro runs a standalone cash rebate for a home charger as far as we've verified, and Burlington doesn't have a Toronto- or Ottawa-style retrofit loan.
Is Burlington Hydro part of Alectra?
No, Burlington Hydro remains an independently owned municipal utility, unlike neighbouring Hamilton and Oakville-area utilities that merged into larger distributors.
Will I need a panel upgrade for a Level 2 charger in Burlington?
It depends heavily on your neighbourhood and the home's age. Older lakeside Burlington homes are more likely to need one than newer subdivisions further north, so get an electrician's assessment before buying a charger.
Your utility: Burlington Hydro
Burlington Hydro is the city's own local electric utility, one of the few in the GTA area that stayed independent rather than merging into Alectra. We couldn't verify a Burlington Hydro-specific EV charger rebate or demand-response program as of this writing, so the practical move for Burlington homeowners is picking between Ontario's time-of-use and Ultra-Low Overnight rate plans through Burlington Hydro rather than waiting on an installation incentive that doesn't currently exist.
Local sources
City of Toronto TransformTO Net Zero Strategy · Toronto Hydro PeakSaver program · Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) home electrification resources
Local sources
City of Burlington Climate Action Plan · Burlington Hydro rates and programs · Halton Region climate change strategy
Next steps
View all Toronto rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.