Electrical Panel Upgrade

Is Your Breaker Box Ready for Modern Demands?

Your service panel — the breaker box that routes power to every outlet, switch, and appliance in your home — was sized for the electrical demands of its era. For many homes, that means a 60- or 100-amp system designed decades before home charging stations, smart home technology, or high-efficiency heat pumps existed.

When your home’s electrical load outgrows what the panel can safely handle, the answer isn’t more extension cords or reset buttons — it’s upgrading to a modern 200-amp system built to current National Electrical Code standards. A properly permitted and inspected service panel replacement protects your family, eliminates nagging electrical problems, and positions your home for whatever you want to add next.

Common Reasons to Upgrade Your Service Panel

Adding a Home EV Charger

A Level 2 charging station requires a dedicated 240-volt, 50-amp circuit — something most older breaker panels simply don’t have room for. In many cases, a panel upgrade is the necessary first step before a charger circuit can be safely added.

Home Addition or Remodel

Finishing a basement, adding a bedroom, or gutting a kitchen all require new circuits. If your existing panel is full or undersized, those circuits have nowhere to go. A breaker box replacement creates the headroom your project needs.

High-Demand Appliances

Hot tubs, electric ranges, whole-home HVAC systems, and electric dryers each pull substantial amperage. Running multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously on an older, undersized panel is a recipe for tripped breakers — or worse.

Solar Panel Installation

Grid-tied solar systems require a modern service entrance capable of handling bidirectional power flow. Most installers won’t connect an array to a panel that’s more than 20–25 years old or rated below 200 amps.

60-amp or 100-amp panels with no open slots
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or pushmatic panels
Panels with double-tapped breakers or modified wiring
Panels more than 30–40 years old with accumulated loads

Old or Unsafe Equipment

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are documented fire hazards — known to fail to trip during overloads. Many insurers now refuse to write homeowners policies for properties that still have them. If that describes your home, replacement isn’t optional.

60-amp or 100-amp panels with no open slots
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or pushmatic panels
Panels with double-tapped breakers or modified wiring
Panels more than 30–40 years old with accumulated loads

Breakers That Keep Tripping

A breaker that trips repeatedly isn’t a minor annoyance — it’s your electrical system signaling that it’s overloaded. Resetting it is a short-term patch. Addressing the root cause is the actual fix.

60-amp or 100-amp panels with no open slots
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or pushmatic panels
Panels with double-tapped breakers or modified wiring
Panels more than 30–40 years old with accumulated loads

Preparing to Sell

Home inspectors flag outdated or undersized service panels consistently. Getting ahead of that issue before listing eliminates a common negotiating point and keeps your sale on track.

60-amp or 100-amp panels with no open slots
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or pushmatic panels
Panels with double-tapped breakers or modified wiring
Panels more than 30–40 years old with accumulated loads

Signs Your Panel May Need Attention

Breakers that trip frequently or refuse to stay reset
Lights that flicker or dim when large appliances kick on
A fuse box rather than a breaker panel (pre-1960s technology)
A Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or pushmatic panel
Burning smell or visible scorch marks anywhere near the box
The panel or surrounding area feels warm to the touch
Outlets that have stopped working for no apparent reason
The home is 30+ years old with no history of electrical work
You’re planning to add solar, a hot tub, or a home charging station

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the process look like, start to finish?

Free Assessment & Written Quote — We visit your home, review your current setup and load requirements, and provide a detailed estimate in writing.
Permit Application — Every job we do is permitted. We pull the required electrical permit, which protects you legally and ensures the work is inspectable.
Utility Coordination — We schedule the meter disconnect and reconnect with your utility provider. You don’t have to make a single call.
Installation — Our electricians remove the old equipment and install the new panel, carefully transferring every circuit and labeling the box clearly.
Inspection & Sign-Off — We schedule and pass the city or county inspection. Once the inspector signs off, power is restored and you’re done.

How long will my power be off?

Most jobs are completed in a single day — typically four to eight hours. Your power will be out during the swap, but we coordinate the utility disconnect window in advance to keep downtime as short as possible. Jobs that also require a new service mast or meter base may run into a second day.

Is a permit required?

Yes — no exceptions. Replacing a service panel requires a permit and a follow-up inspection in every jurisdiction. The process confirms the work meets code, protects your homeowner’s insurance, and ensures there are no surprises when you sell. We handle the application, scheduling, and all back-and-forth with the city or county.

A word of caution: any contractor who offers to skip the permit is putting you at serious risk. Unpermitted electrical work can void your insurance, create liability in a future sale, and leave real safety issues unaddressed.

Distance from the electrical panel to the charger location
Whether conduit is required (indoor vs. outdoor runs)
Panel capacity — whether an upgrade or sub panel is needed first
Local permit fees

How much does this cost?

For a standard residential service panel replacement, most homeowners pay between $2,000 and $4,000 — labor, new equipment, and permits included. The main factors that move the number:

Your starting point: a 60-amp fuse box costs more to address than a 100-amp breaker panel
Whether the service entrance cable or meter base also needs replacement
The size of the new panel (100-amp, 200-amp, or 400-amp)
Panel location and accessibility
Age and condition of your existing wiring
Number of circuits being added

We quote every job in writing before work begins. No hourly surprises, no add-ons at the end. Financing is available for qualified homeowners.

Ready to Get Started?

Our crew manages permits, utility coordination, installation, and inspection — start to finish, under one roof.

Cities We Serve for Electrical Panel Upgrades

We install, upgrade, and service electrical systems for homeowners and businesses throughout Salt Lake County. See a list of cities below that we service:

Don’t see your city? Call us — our coverage area is expanding and we may be able to help.