Licensed Electrician in Brighton, Ontario | Electric Al's Home Solutions

Brighton sits just 25 kilometers west of my Warkworth base, making it one of my core service communities. I respond quickly to electrical needs throughout Brighton, whether you're opening your cottage for the summer season, upgrading a year-round home, or dealing with an urgent issue on a holiday weekend.

What makes Brighton distinctive is how seasonal cottage culture blends with permanent residential living. Many properties near Presqu'ile Provincial Park and along Lake Ontario started as summer cottages but have been converted to four-season homes. The electrical challenges this creates are significant. Seasonal wiring designed for weekend use in July suddenly needs to support electric heating through January. Panels sized for a cottage fridge and a few lights can't handle central air, modern kitchens, and heat pumps. Outdoor electrical that worked fine in summer fails when exposed to winter storms and freeze-thaw cycles.

The March 2025 ice storm demonstrated how vulnerable Brighton's infrastructure can be. The municipality declared a Significant Weather Event on March 30th as excessive ice accumulation caused widespread tree failures. Properties north of the lakeshore took the worst hit, with some homes without power for multiple days stretching into April. Road closures from downed lines prevented quick restoration, and that experience has homeowners rethinking backup power and electrical resilience.

Brighton's residential areas offer everything from historic downtown homes along Main Street and Prince Edward Street to newer subdivisions like Brighton Meadows and Hamilton Woods. The waterfront estates along Shoal Point and Evergreen Lane require high-end electrical systems built to handle lakefront conditions. With 33.1% of Brighton's population aged 65 and over, I often work with homeowners who prioritize electrical safety and reliability over cutting-edge smart home features.

Cottage Electrical Services & Seasonal Property Work

Brighton's lakefront and cottage areas demand specialized electrical knowledge. Spring cottage openings often reveal electrical issues that developed over winter. I perform inspections and service restoration to get properties ready for summer. When homeowners decide to convert seasonal cottages into year-round homes, the electrical work is substantial. Heating circuits need to be added throughout. Panels require upgrading from 60 or 100 amps to 200 amps. Weatherproofing and insulation around electrical components becomes critical. Modern amenities like air conditioning, upgraded kitchens, and proper lighting all require new circuits and capacity.

Weatherproof outdoor electrical for decks, docks, and lakefront areas takes a beating from Brighton's weather. Generator installation has become increasingly popular, especially after the March 2025 storm left some properties without power for days. Many Brighton cottages were wired 40 or 50 years ago for minimal seasonal use. Upgrading them to support modern living or year-round occupancy is one of my most common projects here.

Electrical Panel Upgrades for Brighton Homes

Walk into most Brighton homes built before 1980 and you'll find electrical panels that are woefully undersized. Sixty-amp or 100-amp services might have worked when the house was built, but they can't handle today's loads. Central air conditioning alone can require 30 to 50 amps. Add electric heating for year-round living, modern kitchen appliances, and an electric vehicle charger, and you've far exceeded what those old panels can deliver.

I handle complete panel upgrades, coordinating with Hydro One when service upgrades are needed. The work includes new panel installation with proper grounding and bonding, all necessary ESA permitting and inspection, and weatherproof installations for panels in exposed locations. This is especially critical for cottage-to-home conversions. An electrical system designed for summer weekends simply can't support full-time winter living without major upgrades.

Backup Generator Installation for Storm Resilience

The March 2025 ice storm changed how many Brighton residents think about backup power. When you're without electricity for three or four days in winter, it's not just inconvenient. It's genuinely dangerous, especially for year-round residents. No heat, no water if you're on a well, no ability to preserve food or power essential medical equipment.

I install and service standby generators from Generac, Kohler, and other manufacturers. Automatic transfer switches provide seamless operation when power fails. You can choose whole-home coverage or essential circuits based on your needs and budget. Natural gas or propane fuel systems require coordination with gas fitters, which I handle. Weatherproof outdoor installations rated for lakefront conditions ensure reliability. Regular maintenance keeps the system ready when the next storm hits. Many Brighton homeowners who lived through multi-day outages now view generators as essential, not optional.

Lakefront & Waterfront Electrical Solutions

Properties along Lake Ontario and near Presqu'ile require special electrical considerations. I provide dock and boathouse electrical with proper weatherproofing and GFCI protection, outdoor lighting for waterfront safety and aesthetics, landscape lighting for pathways, stairs, and shoreline areas, surge protection systems to guard against lightning strikes common in waterfront areas, proper grounding and bonding critical for lakefront properties, and seasonal disconnect/reconnect services for properties with docks and seasonal structures. Lakefront electrical work requires understanding of corrosion prevention, proper weatherproofing, and code requirements for electrical near water.

EV Charger Installation

Electric vehicle adoption continues growing in Brighton despite the pause of provincial and federal EV rebate programs in January 2025. Home charging remains essential for EV owners since public charging infrastructure is limited in rural areas. I install Level 2 EV chargers for all makes and models, from Tesla to Ford F-150 Lightning to Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The installation process starts with load calculations to ensure your panel can handle the charging demand. Many Brighton homes, especially older cottages and properties with smaller panels, need panel upgrades first. I can handle both the panel upgrade and charger installation together. The dedicated 240V circuit typically requires 40 to 50 amps, though some installations need 60-amp circuits. Indoor garage or outdoor driveway installations both work, with weatherproof enclosures for outdoor setups. All major charger brands are supported, and complete ESA permitting and inspection is included. Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight electricity rates from 11pm to 7am make overnight home charging remarkably economical compared to gasoline.

Heating System Electrical for Year-Round Living

Converting a cottage to year-round living or upgrading heating in a Brighton home requires proper electrical support. Services include electrical for baseboard heaters and electric heating systems, heat pump electrical installation (increasingly popular for efficient heating/cooling), electric fireplace and wall heater installation, heated floor electrical and controls, and furnace and HVAC electrical upgrades. Many converted cottages relied on space heaters or minimal heating—proper electrical infrastructure for year-round heating is essential for comfortable winter living in Brighton.

Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations

Upgrading your Brighton home or cottage? I handle all electrical aspects: new lighting including pot lights, under-cabinet lighting, and pendant fixtures; GFCI outlets for code compliance near sinks and water sources; dedicated circuits for ranges, microwaves, dishwashers, and garbage disposals; range hood and exhaust fan wiring; and smart home features and modern switches/dimmers. Whether you're updating a basic cottage kitchen to a year-round chef's kitchen or renovating a bathroom to include heated floors and spa features, I ensure safe, code-compliant electrical work.

Outdoor & Landscape Electrical

Brighton's lakeside location and outdoor lifestyle demand quality exterior electrical. I provide landscape and pathway lighting for safety and ambiance, deck and patio lighting and outlets (weatherproof, GFCI protected), pool and hot tub electrical with proper safety measures, outdoor kitchen and BBQ area power, security and motion sensor lighting, and holiday lighting permanent outlet installations. All outdoor electrical uses weatherproof materials rated for Brighton's harsh lakefront conditions including freeze-thaw cycles, high humidity, and wind exposure.

Lighting Installation & Upgrades

Proper lighting enhances both functionality and ambiance in Brighton homes and cottages. Services include LED pot light installation for modern, energy-efficient lighting; ceiling fan installation and replacement for summer cooling; chandelier and statement fixture installation; outdoor and landscape lighting; and smart lighting systems with scheduling and remote control. Cottage conversions often benefit from lighting upgrades that transform dark, dated interiors into bright, modern living spaces.

Electrical Troubleshooting & Repairs

Electrical problems can strike anytime—and when you're opening your cottage or experiencing issues on a holiday weekend, you need fast, reliable service. I diagnose and repair breakers that trip frequently, flickering or dimming lights, outlets that don't work or feel warm, burning smells or visible sparking, GFCI issues common in bathrooms and outdoor circuits, and weather-related electrical damage from storms or moisture. Quick diagnosis and efficient repairs get your Brighton property back to normal fast.

New Construction & Major Renovations

Building a new home or cottage in Brighton? Major renovation project? I provide complete electrical services from design through completion including electrical planning and design consultation, complete home wiring for new construction, service and panel installation, all interior and exterior electrical, smart home pre-wiring and infrastructure, and final ESA inspection and approval. I work with builders, contractors, and homeowners throughout Brighton on new construction and major renovation projects.

All electrical work in Brighton must comply with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and requires Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permits and inspections for most projects. As ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor #7018646, I ensure every Brighton project meets or exceeds code requirements.

When ESA Permits Are Required in Brighton

Most electrical work beyond simple repairs requires ESA permits:

• • Electrical panel upgrades or service changes
• • Cottage-to-home conversions requiring electrical upgrades
• • Adding new circuits or major circuit modifications
• • EV charger installations
• • Generator and transfer switch installations
• • Pool, hot tub, and sauna electrical
• • Major renovations involving electrical work
• • New construction electrical
• • Dock and boathouse electrical

I obtain all necessary permits, perform code-compliant installations, and coordinate ESA inspections. Proper permits and inspections protect you legally, satisfy insurance requirements, maintain property values, and ensure safety—especially important when converting cottages to year-round homes or completing major electrical upgrades.

Special Considerations for Waterfront Properties

Electrical work near water requires additional code compliance including GFCI protection for all outlets near water or outdoors, proper grounding and bonding for structures near water, weatherproof enclosures and fittings for outdoor electrical, appropriate clearances from water and shoreline, and proper wiring methods for wet or damp locations. I ensure all Brighton waterfront electrical work meets these stringent safety requirements.

Every Brighton electrical project has unique challenges. Here are typical projects I handle: