Electrical Panel Upgrades
200-amp and 400-amp panel upgrades built for the way you live today — EV charging, solar, battery backup, and everything else plugged into your home. Safer power, more capacity, permitted and inspected.
Why Panel Upgrades Matter
Your electrical panel is the single point that every circuit in your home runs through. When it's undersized, outdated, or simply worn out, it can't safely keep up with modern loads — and it becomes the most common point of failure (and fire risk) in a home's electrical system. An upgrade replaces your panel with one sized correctly for your home's actual power needs, brings your service up to current code, and gives you room to grow.
Do You Have One of These Panels?
Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok, Zinsco, and Sylvania/Pushmatic panels were installed in thousands of Southern California homes between the 1950s–1980s and have well-documented breaker failure issues. If your panel is one of these brands, insurance carriers and home inspectors will very likely flag it — and we recommend having it evaluated even if it "seems fine."
- Breakers that don't trip during an overload
- Discoloration, burning smell, or buzzing at the panel
- Difficulty finding replacement breakers
- Flagged on a home inspection or insurance renewal
Choosing the Right Amperage
| Service Size | Typical Use | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Amp | Older / smaller homes, basic loads | No EV charger, no solar/battery expansion planned |
| 200 Amp | Most Orange County homes today | EV charger + solar + modern appliances, future-ready |
| 400 Amp | Larger homes, multiple EVs, ADUs | Whole-home backup, workshop, multiple high-draw additions |
Our Process
Free Inspection
We assess your existing panel, wiring, and load needs on-site.
Permit & SCE Coordination
We pull permits and coordinate utility shutoff/reconnect for you.
Installation
Most upgrades are completed in a single day.
Inspection Sign-Off
City inspection scheduled and passed before we close the job.
Walkthrough
We label your new panel and walk you through what changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — panel upgrades require a permit and a city inspection. We handle the entire permitting process for you, including coordinating the temporary shutoff with SCE.
Typically 4–8 hours during the install. We schedule the SCE disconnect/reconnect to keep downtime as short as possible.
Most Orange County panel upgrades run $2,500–$7,500 depending on amperage (200-amp vs. 400-amp), panel location, and whether a full service (meter/mast) upgrade is needed. We provide an exact quote after the free inspection.
Yes — bundling a panel upgrade with an EV charger or solar/battery install is common and saves on labor and permitting versus doing them separately.
Final price depends on amperage, panel location, and scope of work — confirmed after your free inspection.
- 100A → 200A upgrade$2,500–$3,800
- Full 200A service upgrade$3,500–$5,500
- 200A → 400A upgrade$4,500–$7,500
- Free on-site inspection$0
Financing options available — ask when you request your quote.
Get My Free QuotePlanning Other Upgrades Too?
Adding an EV Charger?
See how panel capacity affects your charger install.
Going Solar or Adding Battery Backup?
Most solar installs need a compatible panel first.