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

Hastings earned its nickname as "The Hub of the Trent" from its position at Lock 18 on the Trent-Severn Waterway. The 60.5 km uninterrupted water section between Lock 18 (Hastings) and Lock 19 (Peterborough) creates the longest stretch on the system, making Hastings Marina's 64 slips and 1,500+ feet of waterfront critical infrastructure. Named "Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town" in 2012, the tourism-driven economy creates seasonal electrical load variations and summer demand for troubleshooting dock power issues.

I'm based just 15 kilometers south in Warkworth, making me the closest licensed electrical contractor for Hastings properties. The village's compact 2.36 km² area (population 1,208 in 2001 census) features two- and three-story buildings along Front Street and Bridge Street. Late 19th-century homes and commercial buildings contain knob-and-tube wiring, undersized 60-amp services, and Federal Pioneer panels requiring replacement.

The dual utility provider system creates different service quality levels. Elexicon Energy serves urban Hastings with more reliable power and faster restoration. Hydro One serves rural areas with the same challenges as Warkworth: longer outages, weather vulnerability, and tree interference issues. The March 2025 ice storm affected both systems, with rural areas particularly hard hit and some properties without power extending into April.

Agricultural electrical services mirror those throughout Trent Hills: grain handling equipment, well pumps, septic systems, and barn electrical. Northumberland County's agricultural statistics ($34.8M dairy, $33.2M corn, $24.4M soybeans in 2021) demonstrate the scale of farming operations requiring electrical infrastructure. Diversification into specialty farms—bison, water buffalo, horses, agritourism—creates unique electrical needs including heated barns, automatic watering systems, and perimeter security lighting.

Rural Property & Outbuilding Electrical

Rural Hastings properties often have detached garages, workshops, barns, and outbuildings requiring electrical service. I provide complete outbuilding electrical including service from main panel to detached structures (overhead or underground), new sub-panels in outbuildings for proper circuit distribution, lighting and outlet installation for workshops and garages, electric heating for year-round workshop use, and specialty circuits for welders, air compressors, and power tools. Whether your outbuilding is 50 feet or 500 feet from your main house, I design and install proper electrical service meeting all code requirements. Underground service is increasingly popular for aesthetic and reliability reasons—I handle trenching coordination and proper burial depths for rural installations.

Agricultural & Farm Electrical Services

Hastings area farms and agricultural operations have specialized electrical needs. Services include barn and livestock facility electrical and lighting, three-phase power installation for grain dryers, irrigation pumps, and large equipment, electric fence and livestock watering system electrical, grain bin and agricultural storage electrical, workshop and equipment maintenance building electrical, and emergency generator systems for essential farm operations. I understand agricultural electrical requirements—working around livestock, weatherproof installations for harsh farm environments, and the critical nature of electrical reliability for farming operations. Harvest season electrical failures aren't just inconvenient—they can be financially devastating, and I respond quickly to agricultural emergencies.

Backup Generator Installation & Service

Rural power outages are more frequent and longer-lasting than in urban areas. For Hastings properties—especially those on well water—backup power isn't a luxury, it's essential. Without power, you have no water, no heating, no refrigeration, and no ability to operate critical systems. I install and service standby generators from Generac, Kohler, and other leading manufacturers including automatic transfer switches for seamless power transition, whole-home or essential circuits coverage based on your needs and budget, natural gas or propane fuel systems (coordinating with gas fitters), well pump and septic system electrical protection, and regular maintenance to ensure reliability when outages occur. Many Hastings homeowners have experienced multi-day winter outages and recognize generators as essential infrastructure, not optional upgrades.

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Many Hastings homes, particularly older rural properties, have 60-amp or 100-amp electrical panels inadequate for modern life. Adding electric heating, air conditioning, workshop equipment, or EV charging requires upgrading to 200-amp service. I handle complete panel upgrades including coordination with Hydro One for rural service upgrades, new panel installation with proper grounding and bonding, load calculations for rural properties with outbuildings and wells, ESA permitting and inspection, and disconnect switches when required for rural installations. Rural panel upgrades sometimes involve Hydro One transformer upgrades or service pole relocations—I coordinate these aspects to ensure smooth project completion.

Heritage Home Electrical Updates

Hastings' village center and surrounding area feature beautiful heritage homes dating back to the 1800s. These homes often contain knob-and-tube wiring, outdated panels, and electrical systems never designed for modern demands. I specialize in sensitive electrical upgrades for heritage properties: removing dangerous knob-and-tube wiring safely, installing modern wiring with minimal damage to historic plaster and trim, updating panels while maintaining period-appropriate exterior appearance, adding proper grounding and GFCI protection, and preserving architectural character while ensuring electrical safety. Whether your heritage home is on Front Street or a rural farmhouse on a country road, I understand how to modernize electrical systems respectfully and safely.

Well Pump & Water System Electrical

Most Hastings properties outside the village center rely on well water, making well pump electrical critical. Services include well pump circuit installation and replacement, pressure switch and control electrical, submersible and jet pump electrical service, well pump troubleshooting and repairs, and backup power integration to keep water flowing during outages. When your well pump fails, you have no water—for drinking, bathing, toilets, or anything else. I respond quickly to well pump electrical emergencies and ensure your water system electrical is reliable and code-compliant.

EV Charger Installation

Electric vehicles are coming to rural Ontario, and Hastings residents are adopting EVs for their lower operating costs and environmental benefits. Home charging is essential since public charging infrastructure is limited in rural areas. I install Level 2 EV chargers including load calculations to ensure panel capacity, dedicated 240V circuits with appropriate amperage, indoor garage or outdoor installations with weatherproofing, all major brands supported (Tesla, Ford, GM, ChargePoint, Grizzl-E, etc.), and complete ESA permitting and inspection. Many rural Hastings properties need panel upgrades before EV charger installation—I can handle both projects together efficiently.

New Construction & Additions

Building a new home, addition, or outbuilding in Hastings? I provide complete electrical services from design through final inspection including electrical planning and design consultation, complete wiring for new construction, service and panel installation, coordination with Hydro One for new service connections, rough-in and finish electrical, and final ESA inspection and approval. I work with builders, contractors, and homeowners throughout Hastings on new construction projects—residential, agricultural, and commercial.

Home Renovations & Upgrades

Renovating your Hastings home? I handle all electrical aspects including kitchen and bathroom electrical for renovations, basement finishing electrical, additions and home expansions, lighting upgrades including pot lights and LED conversion, outlet additions and circuit upgrades, and smart home pre-wiring and automation. From modest updates to complete home transformations, I ensure safe, code-compliant electrical work that supports your renovation goals.

Outdoor & Landscape Electrical

Rural properties benefit from quality outdoor electrical. Services include landscape and pathway lighting for safety and aesthetics, security lighting and motion sensors for large rural properties, deck and patio electrical and lighting, outbuilding exterior lighting, driveway and gate lighting, and seasonal outlet installations for holiday lighting. Proper outdoor electrical enhances safety, security, and enjoyment of your Hastings property.

Commercial Electrical Services

Hastings businesses need reliable electrical contractors. I serve commercial clients with retail and office electrical installations, commercial lighting and emergency lighting, electrical maintenance and service, sign installation and electrical, and renovations and tenant improvements. From Front Street businesses to commercial operations throughout the area, I provide professional commercial electrical service.

Electrical Troubleshooting & Repairs

Electrical problems require fast, professional attention—especially in rural areas where backup services may be limited. I diagnose and repair breakers that trip frequently, flickering or dimming lights (often power quality issues in rural areas), outlets that don't work or feel warm, burning smells or sparking, GFCI and AFCI issues, and well pump electrical failures. Quick diagnosis, clear communication, and efficient repairs minimize disruption and restore normal operations quickly.

All electrical work in Hastings 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 Hastings project meets or exceeds code requirements.

When ESA Permits Are Required

Most electrical work beyond simple repairs requires ESA permits in Hastings:

• • Electrical panel upgrades or service changes
• • Outbuilding and barn electrical installations
• • New circuits or substantial circuit modifications
• • EV charger installations
• • Generator and transfer switch installations
• • Agricultural electrical installations
• • Home renovations involving electrical work
• • New construction electrical
• • Pool, hot tub, and sauna electrical

I obtain all necessary permits, perform code-compliant work, and coordinate ESA inspections. Proper permits and inspections protect you legally, satisfy insurance requirements, maintain property values, and ensure safety. This is especially important for agricultural and outbuilding electrical where safety stakes are high.

Working with Hydro One in Rural Areas

Most Hastings properties are served by Hydro One's rural electrical grid. When panel upgrades or new services require utility involvement, I coordinate directly with Hydro One to schedule meter installations, service upgrades, transformer changes if needed, and temporary disconnections for panel work. Understanding Hydro One's rural service procedures ensures smooth project completion without unnecessary delays.

Agricultural Electrical Code Requirements

Farm and agricultural electrical installations have specific code requirements including proper grounding for livestock safety, weatherproof installations for barn environments, appropriate circuit protection for agricultural equipment, and disconnecting means for equipment service. I ensure all agricultural electrical work meets these specialized requirements.

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