When you should consider a panel upgrade and what drives the cost

Is it time for a panel upgrade?

An electrical panel upgrade should be considered when an existing panel is outdated, undersized, or unable to safely meet the electrical demands of the home or business. Signs that an upgrade may be needed include a lack of available breaker spaces or the presence of older equipment such as fuse boxes. An upgrade may also be necessary when adding major electrical loads, such as an electric vehicle charger, air conditioning system, hot tub, or additional appliances. Having a qualified electrician evaluate the existing system can help determine whether an upgrade is needed to improve safety, capacity, and reliability.

When to consider a panel upgrade

• A Federal Pacific panel
• The current panel can’t handle the new loads you want — an EV charger, a hot tub, a basement finish, an addition
• A breaker has failed in an obsolete panel
• No room left (sometimes a subpanel solves this)
• Sometimes, simply an aged panel

What drives the price

• Amperage. Moving from a 100-amp panel to 200 amps is the most common upgrade in older Colorado Springs homes. The higher the amperage, the higher the cost of materials.
• Location of the panel. If the current location of the panel no longer meets electrical code, it must be moved.
• The electric meter outside. If the current location of the meter no longer meets electrical code, it must be moved. In addition, a properly rated disconnect that shuts off power to the house must be installed per electrical code.
• Code corrections. Panels installed decades ago often have history: double-tapped breakers, missing grounds, undersized wire. Bringing those up to code is part of doing it right.
• Permit and inspection. A legitimate panel upgrade in El Paso County is permitted and inspected.

What a real quote includes

A number you can trust starts with eyes on your panel — not a guess over the phone. Projects are like fingerprints: each one is different and needs to be assessed. We look at the existing service, check what the inspector will check, and give you a figure that holds. If something unexpected turns up behind the wall, we talk before we bill. That’s been the rule since 2012.

Send us a photo of your panel through the request form and we’ll tell you honestly whether an upgrade is worth it.