ESA (Electrical Safety Authority)
ESA is Ontario's electrical safety regulator, responsible for permits and inspections on electrical work across the province — separate from TSSA, which covers gas and fuel-fired equipment. Any new circuit, panel upgrade, or electrical connection for HVAC equipment (like a heat pump) falls under ESA's jurisdiction.
Why this matters to you
If your HVAC project involves new wiring — a heat pump's outdoor disconnect, a panel upgrade, or new circuits for an electric system — that portion needs an ESA permit and inspection, distinct from any TSSA gas permit on the same job.
Halton Hills note
Heat pump installs and electric water heater upgrades in the Georgetown area often require both an ESA electrical permit and a TSSA gas permit on the same project when replacing a gas-fired system — a contractor pulling only one when both apply is a red flag.
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