How Much To Install A 200 Amp Electrical Utility Service On My Home?

We try to ask this towards the beginning of a conversation in order to make sure we have a good appointment window for your schedule and to also verify that we service your home area.

Whenever you ask us to help we need to know whether you need something repaired, replaced, or do you want to install something new.

Knowing when your home was built lets us know what to expect when repairing or installing electrical projects in your home.

Modern building code started around the 1980’s. Any home built before 1980 tends to have some interesting wiring techniques, and materials that may need to be replaced.

Reason 1: Fuse boxes are not allowed to have new wiring added to them according to modern electrical safety code.

Reason 2: Fuse boxes are against modern safety code for a reason, and before we take care of your electrical wants; We need to take care of your home electrical safety first.

Reason 3: Electrical circuit breakers DO NOT LAST FOREVER! Depending on how much use they get used, circuit breakers can last anywhere between 25 to 35 years. There are few electrical emergencies because circuit breakers stop them from ever happening. Circuit breakers lose there reliability past a certain age, and we try to notify you when this starts to happen.

The main electrical breaker is usually the biggest looking breaker inside of your electrical panel. It should say either 100, 150, 200, or 400 amp right on the on/off lever.

We need to make sure your existing home electrical can handle the new electrical utility service upgrade. So we ask some details about your future plans with the upgraded power just to make sure.

Knowing if your major home appliances like a stove, dryer, heating, or cooling. Gives us the info of what circuit breaker we will need to bring for the upgrade.

We need to know what brand circuit breaker to buy in order get the right one for your electrical panel.

We need to know if have to make more space in the electrical panel in order to add another circuit breaker.

If your house is on the newer side we need to know whether you have AFCI circuit breakers already installed in the electrical panel.

AFCI circuit breakers are the new standard for all new housing. If you add to an existing electrical circuit in your house, then you need to install AFCI circuit breaker protection according to modern safety code.

There will need to be a new grounding system installed for your new 200 amp electrical service upgrade. We need to know if the ground next to the meter socket is exposed dirt, concrete, rocks, etc.

It is helpful to know if there is a bush or a tree next to the service. Depending on how it grew overtime, the utility company may require you to remove it in order to install the new electrical service.

Depending where the electrical panel is located in the home, we always want to communicate that drywall repairs are sometimes necessary when mounting electrical panels in finished areas. Though we try are hardest, sometimes drywall cutouts are necessary in order to install a new electrical panel. If this has to happen then the drywall repair is not included, most times a painter can give you a really fair deal on patching the drywall.

If there is access, most times you can install new electrical panels without needing drywall repair after.

We need to know if the walls are made of drywall, brick, or other building materials.

Just need to get an idea of how tall of a ladder we will need to bring in case we need it. Typical home ceiling heights are between 8-10 feet. They can go up to 12-18 feet in some homes.

Newer homes are requiring whole home surge protection to be installed inside the electrical panel to stop surges from utility companies, and older electrical equipment from causing electrical issues around your home.

Whole home surge protection should also be installed whenever you are getting a EV car charger, home generator, PV solar system, or any other power distribution source installed on your home. If you don’t get it when you need it then you will learn the hard way why they are important.

All we need to do is be able to get to where we need to work as best as possible.

We need to contact your electrical utility company to begin the process of upgrading your home electrical service.

Most utilities will ask who the primary account holder is. This acts as a security step to help protect your information.

An overview photo of the main electrical panel area.

A close up photo of the electrical circuit breakers.

A photo of the electrical panel cover information.

An overview photo of the exterior electrical utility service area.