200A residential electrical panel upgrade in the Bay Area

Panel Upgrades

200A & 400A Service Upgrades for Bay Area Homes

From a 100A swap to a Federal Pacific replacement — permits, PG&E coordination, and inspection sign-off all under one C-10 license. Fixed written quote before we lift a tool.

Get a Fixed Quote (650) 550-0819

What & Why

From a 100A panel to a 200A service in one day.

A panel upgrade is more than swapping a box on the wall. We re-size the conductors, refresh the grounding, replace the meter base if the utility flags it, and bring the bonding to current code — all while the inspector is in the loop and the permit is on the door.

Whether you are replacing a Federal Pacific, getting ready for an EV charger, or planning solar, the answer almost always starts here.

Typical Project Snapshot

Common ranges for a Bay Area residential panel upgrade. Exact numbers are confirmed in your written quote.

Service Size

100A → 200A or 400A

Time On-Site

1–2 days typical

Outage Window

6–10 hours typical

Permit + PG&E Lead

2–8 weeks typical

Documentation

Permit card, load calc, signed inspection, manufacturer warranties on parts

What's Included

Six things, every job.

Same workflow whether you are upgrading a 1970s Eichler or a 2-story new build.

Site & Load Assessment

Full electrical load calculation per NEC. Existing panel condition, grounding, and bonding inspected. PG&E service drop reviewed for capacity.

Permit & Materials

Permit pulled under our C-10 license. Panel, breakers, mast, meter base, conductors, and grounding kit ordered and on-site before cut-over day.

PG&E Coordination

Temporary disconnect scheduled with PG&E. Inspection appointment booked with your city or county building department.

Same-Day Install

Service cut, old panel removed, new panel set, breakers labeled, grounding verified, GFCI/AFCI per current code. Typical outage window 6–10 hours.

Inspection Sign-Off

Inspector visit coordinated. Any callouts addressed same-day. Signed permit card delivered before final invoicing.

Documentation Handoff

Permit card, load calc, manufacturer warranties on panel and breakers, and final inspection sign-off — packaged in a folder you can give your insurance carrier.

When to Upgrade

Six signs the panel is the bottleneck.

Federal Pacific or Zinsco

Documented fire risk and an insurance flag. Plan replacement.

Fuse Box Still in Use

Anything older than the late 1960s. Capacity and safety standards have moved on.

Frequent Breaker Trips

Your panel is at capacity. Adding circuits without an upgrade just moves the problem.

Planning an EV Charger

Level 2 charging on top of HVAC and appliances often pushes 100A and 125A panels over the limit.

Solar or Battery Plans

Most modern PV and storage interconnects require a 200A or 225A main breaker.

Kitchen or ADU Remodel

Induction range, heat-pump water heater, ADU sub-meter — load math usually points at 200A minimum.

Pricing Context

What a panel upgrade typically costs in the Bay Area.

Every job gets a written fixed-fee quote.

100A → 200A panel swap, same location $3,500 – $6,500

Add new service mast + meter base + $1,500 – $3,000

PG&E utility-side upgrade required + $2,000 – $4,000

Sub-panel for ADU, garage, or workshop $1,800 – $3,500

Permit fees, PG&E reconnect charges, and any utility-side upgrade are passed through at cost and itemized on the quote.

FAQ

Panel-upgrade questions, straight answers.

Most 200A panel swaps fall in the $3,500–$6,500 range. If the service mast/meter needs replacement add roughly $1,500–$3,000; if PG&E requires a utility-side upgrade (transformer or service drop) plan another $2,000–$4,000. We provide a fixed written quote.

Service size is determined from the actual existing and proposed equipment, accepted assessment method, supply condition and project requirements. A count of EVs or a solar installation alone does not determine whether 200A or 400A is required.

Yes — typically a single workday outage while we cut over the service. PG&E schedules a temporary disconnect; we install; the inspector signs off; PG&E reconnects. We aim for 6–10 hours total, with the most common window 6–8.

From a signed quote to power-back-on, plan 2–8 weeks in typical Bay Area municipalities. The permitting and PG&E scheduling dominate the timeline; the physical install is 1–2 days.

Yes. These panels are well-documented fire risks and a common insurance red flag. Replacing them is one of the most common reasons we get called out.

Usually yes — most upgrades stay in the same wall opening with a larger panel can. If the mast or meter base needs to move for code compliance we will tell you up front.

Ready When You Are

Get a fixed quote for your panel upgrade.

Quote within 3 business days.

Request a Quote (650) 550-0819

Questions worth a closer look

From a short answer to a practical plan.

Explore the causes, tradeoffs and records behind these common project questions.

What should two 200A upgrade quotes include for a fair comparison?

Compare the same meter location, equipment, service route, utility and permit responsibilities, restoration work, and outage assumptions. Ask each estimator to separate confirmed base scope from unresolved utility requirements and optional work.

Read the full guide: Why two 200A electrical service upgrade quotes can describe different projects ↗

Does a larger subpanel increase the available supply?

A larger enclosure may add circuit positions, but it does not create supply capacity. The feeder, its protection, upstream equipment, and evaluated loads determine the appropriate installation.

Read the full guide: A larger subpanel can add spaces without adding available power ↗

Browse all electrical & energy guides ↗

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