Upgrade your property’s electrical service with professional panel upgrades and service increases from CERG. Our licensed electricians handle every aspect of electrical service upgrades from planning through final inspection.
What is an Electrical Service Upgrade?
Your electrical service is the connection between the utility power lines and your home’s electrical system. It includes the service entrance equipment, main electrical panel, and distribution system. A service upgrade increases your home’s electrical capacity to meet modern power demands.
Service Capacity Explained
Electrical service capacity is measured in amps (amperes). Older homes typically have 60-100 amp service, while modern homes need 200 amps or more. Insufficient capacity leads to frequent breaker trips, inability to add new appliances or features, and potential safety hazards.
Signs You Need a Service Upgrade
Your home may need a service upgrade if you experience frequent circuit breaker trips, flickering lights when appliances start, inability to run multiple appliances simultaneously, plan to add central air conditioning, want to install an EV charger, are remodeling or adding space, have a fuse box instead of breakers, or your home was built before 1980.
Fuse Box Replacement
Homes with fuse boxes are overdue for upgrades. Fuse boxes lack the safety features of modern circuit breaker panels and can’t meet today’s electrical demands. We replace fuse boxes with modern electrical panels that provide better protection and adequate capacity.
100 to 200 Amp Service Upgrade
The most common residential upgrade increases service from 100 to 200 amps, doubling your home’s electrical capacity. This upgrade accommodates central air conditioning, electric vehicle charging, modern appliances, home additions, smart home technology, and future electrical needs.
Benefits of 200 Amp Service
With 200-amp service, you can run multiple high-power appliances simultaneously, add new circuits without concern, install energy-intensive equipment, improve electrical safety, increase home value, and future-proof your electrical system.
Service Upgrade Process
Upgrading electrical service requires coordination with your utility company and involves multiple steps.
Assessment and Planning
We start by evaluating your current electrical system, calculating your power requirements, determining the appropriate service size, planning the upgrade scope, and identifying any challenges. This comprehensive assessment ensures the upgrade meets your needs.
Permit Application
Electrical service upgrades require permits from your local building department. We handle all permit applications and provide necessary documentation. Our experience with local requirements ensures smooth approval.
Utility Coordination
We coordinate with your utility company to schedule service disconnection and reconnection, arrange for new meter installation if needed, ensure proper service entrance equipment, and meet utility requirements. Utility coordination timing varies but typically takes 1-3 weeks.
Installation
On installation day, utility disconnects your power temporarily (usually 4-8 hours), we install new service entrance equipment, mount the new electrical panel, run new circuits as needed, connect all existing circuits to the new panel, install proper grounding, test all circuits thoroughly, and coordinate utility reconnection. We work efficiently to minimize your time without power.
Inspection
After installation, a building inspector verifies code compliance. Our work consistently passes inspection because we follow all code requirements precisely. Once approved, your upgraded service is complete and fully functional.
Electrical Panel Replacement
Sometimes panels need replacement without increasing service size. Panel replacement is necessary when your current panel has known safety issues (Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Pushmatic), is damaged or corroded, lacks adequate circuit spaces, has obsolete breakers unavailable, or is over 25-30 years old.
Modern Electrical Panels
Today’s electrical panels offer superior safety features including AFCI and GFCI breaker compatibility, surge protection capability, easier breaker replacement, better circuit organization, and enhanced fire safety. Popular brands include Square D, Siemens, Cutler-Hammer, and General Electric.
Main Electrical Panel Components
Understanding panel components helps you appreciate the upgrade value.
Main Breaker
The main breaker is your electrical system’s master switch. It controls all power to your home and provides overload protection. Main breakers are rated by amperage (100A, 150A, 200A, etc.).
Branch Circuit Breakers
Individual breakers protect specific circuits throughout your home. Modern panels accommodate various breaker types including standard breakers, GFCI breakers, AFCI breakers, tandem breakers for space savings, and high-amperage breakers for major appliances.
Bus Bars
Bus bars distribute power to all branch circuits. They must be properly sized for the service amperage and compatible with breakers used.
Subpanel Installation
When adding circuits for room additions, detached structures, or specific areas, subpanels provide additional circuit capacity without main panel replacement. We install subpanels in garages, workshops, additions, basements, and outbuildings. Subpanels are fed from the main panel and include their own breakers for local circuits.
Safety and Code Compliance
All our service upgrades and panel replacements meet National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements and local codes including proper conductor sizing, adequate working clearance, correct grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection as required, proper labeling, and weather protection for outdoor equipment.
Grounding System
Proper grounding is essential for electrical safety. We verify your grounding system meets code with proper ground rod installation, bonding of water pipes and gas lines, connection to concrete-encased electrode if present, and adequate ground conductor sizing.
Commercial Service Upgrades
CERG provides commercial electrical service upgrades binesses. Commercial upgrades are more complex, often requiring three-phase power, higher amperages (400A-1200A+), multiple panels and switchboards, backup generator integration, and load management systems. We coordinate with utility companies and work to minimize business downtime.
Timeline and Downtime
Most residential service upgrades are completed in one day. Your power will be disconnected for several hours during installation (typically 4-8 hours). We schedule upgrades at your convenience and work efficiently to restore power as quickly as possible. Plan for your power to be off by unplugging sensitive electronics, having alternative arrangements for medical equipment if needed, securing refrigerator/freezer contents, and having flashlights or battery lights available.
Cost Factors
Service upgrade costs vary based on service amperage increase, panel type and features, service entrance equipment requirements, grounding system work needed, permit and inspection fees, utility fees for meter work, and complexity of the installation. We provide detailed upfront pricing with no hidden fees.
Why Choose CERG?
Our licensed electricians have extensive experience with service upgrades and panel replacements. We coordinate all permits and inspections, work efficiently to minimize downtime, use quality materials and equipment, guarantee code compliance, and back our work with solid warranties. We’ve completed hundreds of service upgrades.
Schedule Your Service Upgrade
Is your electrical service ready for modern demands? Contact CERG for a free electrical service assessment. We’ll evaluate your current system, recommend appropriate upgrades, and provide detailed pricing. Call 312-502-9394 or request your assessment online.