Panel and service upgrades
More amps, only where the house needs them
A panel upgrade is the answer when the load calculation says the house cannot carry what you want to add. Sometimes the answer is smaller: a subpanel, or a device that shares amps between the range and the charger. We tell you which, and why, before you pick.
When the service itself changes, the meter base and mast are replaced and the utility disconnects and reconnects at the meter. We book that with them and tell you the window.
Signs you need it
A 60- or 100-amp service
The main breaker says 100 or less and you want a heat pump, a range or a charger.
Fuses or a crowded panel
Fuses that blow, breakers that share a slot, or no empty space left.
A brand on a watch list
A panel brand with a known history of breakers that fail to trip.
Warm or scorched parts
A hot panel, marks on a breaker or a burning smell: call 911 first, then book us.
A new addition or finished basement
More circuits than the panel has slots for.
Buying or selling
An inspection report that names the panel.
What the visit and the job include
- 01
Read and measure
We read the panel and the meter base and work the load calculation.
- 02
Quote and permit
You get a written quote. We file the permit and the utility request.
- 03
Swap day
Power is off for part of a working day. The new panel is wired and labeled.
- 04
Inspect and reconnect
The inspection and the utility reconnect close the job, and you get the photos.
What changes the price
There is no number here because the same job costs different amounts in two houses. How pricing works lists what we count; the number arrives in writing after the visit.
Service size
A new 200-amp service costs more than a new panel on the same 100-amp service.
The meter base and mast
Reused if sound, replaced if rusted or too low to meet the clearances.
Where the panel sits
A basement wall costs less to work than a finished closet.
Questions about this job
Does my panel need replacing?
Not always. A 100-amp panel in good shape can carry a heat pump, or a range, and sometimes both. We add up what the house already runs and what you want to add, and the number tells us. If the panel is a brand with a known problem or full of double-tapped breakers, we say so and show you.
How long does a panel upgrade take, and will the power be off?
The power is off for part of one working day while the old panel comes out and the new one goes in. If the meter base or mast changes, the utility disconnects and reconnects at the meter, and we book that visit with them. We give you the date range before you sign.
Do I need a permit, and who pulls it?
Panel, service and new-circuit work usually needs one. We file it, schedule the inspection after the work and put the sign-off in your folder. The permit fee is passed through on the quote at cost.
What does the first visit cost, and is it credited?
The visit has a flat fee, told to you when you book, and it is credited to the work if you go ahead within 30 days. One electrician comes, reads the panel, looks at the meter and the wall you want to use, and photographs all of it.
Find out if the panel is enough
One electrician visits, reads the panel and photographs what is behind the cover. The quote follows in writing.