What a panel upgrade actually involves
From load calculation to the utility coordination, here is what happens during a service upgrade and why it takes a day.
It starts with the load
A panel upgrade isn't just a bigger box. We start with a load calculation — what you run now and what you're planning to add — to size the new service correctly. Oversizing for no reason wastes money; undersizing means you'll be back here.
The panel, the meter, and the grounding
On the day, we replace the panel and, in most service upgrades, the meter base and the grounding system too. The utility has to kill and restore power, so we coordinate that with them ahead of time — you don't manage it.
Permits and inspection
We pull the electrical permit and the work gets inspected. The inspector signs off on the wiring we installed, and the utility reconnects. You get the paperwork for your records.
Why it takes a day
Most residential panel changes are done in a day, with the power off for a few hours. The coordination with the utility is what sets the schedule, not the wiring itself. We'll tell you the window before we book it.
Have a job like this?
Call us or send the form — we'll tell you what it takes.