Upgrading an Electrical Panel Cost - Buyer Experiences and Price Information

We bought a 50 year old house with old, ungrounded 2-prong outlets, old wiring, and little capacity, so we decided to upgrade to a 200 amp panel. We got estimates from $1,600-$2,100 before permits, with most people quoting us an additional $400 for permits. We went with the $2,100 quote from Don Wade because they seemed the most experienced and honest and we wanted a quality outfit for our electrical work. We saved some money on the permit because they said they'd charge us $400 for the permit work, or we could do it ourselves. Getting the permits myself was a 20 minute visit to the local county office and cost just $80, so that saved $320. I don't think this reflects the electrician, but I was surprised at how much time the upgrade took. First, the electrician came out two times to finish the work (we had some other work done, too). Then, the inspector came out and looked everywhere -- at all the goundings, in the crawlspace, at the panel, etc., and had some comments -- he even made note about a missing smoke alarm in a bedroom. Then, the electrician came out to address the comments. Then the inspector came back to inspect the work before the stuccoing. Then the contractors came to stucco the area around the panel (which they broke off to install the panel). Next, the inspector's coming back for a final inspection. I was happy with the quality of the work of the electrician, but the whole operation took longer than I thought.

I received a number of bids for replacing a 5 meter panel in a condo. The old aluminium panel had burned out. The beds ranged from $2900 to $8000. I am trying to research the background of the low bidder but may take one of the middle bids just to be safe. Do not know where to go for advice. Any suggestions?

We went with Don Wade because our real estate agent recommended him. Also, we just got a positive vibe because he seemed the most honest when he gave the estimate. Also, he's been around a really long time, I think over 45 years. One thing I wish I had done with our fencing contractor was to actually look up the license number with the state website. For Washington, D.C. electricians, it looks like it's at:
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=3609STATEREG

$2,100 is a good price to replace a 50yr old service panel and mater and service wire. Just the panel should be about $750-1,200

I think we had an unusual situation with out electrical. We just purchased a 50 year old house with some crappy electrical. The line comming into the house was only a 60 amp wire (obviously original to the house), with a 20 or so breaker panel. The problem was someone actually put a 100 amp main breaker in the panel and with a 60 amp rated service line, there was the real possibility of fire, obviously. So we decided to upgrade to 200 amps. It turns out that in CT the power company requires the meter to be on either the front of the house or one of the sides and ours was on the back. Also, the weatherhead cannot be over any roof, as ours was since an addition was put on the house. So we had to have what was called 200 amp remote service, which I have come to find out means that the main 200 amp breaker is in the meter instead of in the panel. Because of the roof under the weatherhead we had to have the service moved from one side of the house to another side of the house. We ended up paying $1300 for materials and $1650 for labor. The material cost was high because it was remote service and the distance from the new location of the weatherhead to the panel was so far. I actually got a list of all the parts that were needed from the electricians and ordered them from the local electrical supply 5 minutes from my house, so I didn't have the markup of the electricians (oddly this was suggested by one of the electricians, but I'm not complaining).

continued... The 75' of 200 amp 4/0 was about $300, the meter can with main breaker was about $600, alone. We went with a 30 circuit panel that is now about 2/3rds full, so we have room to grow. I am very happy with the quality of work... they even put everything on the exterior of the house in PVC and the panel is nice and neat and well labeled. Now I just have to wait for the inspector to come out, and once he approves wait for the power company (CL&P) to come out and and move the point of attachment from one side of the house to the other side of the house where the new weatherhead and meter area. Right now there is a temporary 200 amp wire running from the old point of attachment over the length of the roof to where the new point of attachment will be. The new point of attachment will require CL&P to do a mid-span tap since it is smack dab in the middle of two telephone poles. Now we jus have to get the interior electrical up to par, since most of the first floor has open grounds as they were originally two prong outlets that someone just replaced with 3 prong outlets even though there was no ground wire (not to code of course, and dangerous at that).

I bought an 80 year old house that still had the old 60amp fuse box. As soon as I moved in I upgraded to a 100amp breaker service. My house is small so 100amp is enough for me.

We had the overhead main torn down during Ike. It pulled the weather head, riser and snapped the meter off just above the panel. Electricity was still flowing but when the provided came out that cut my main at the weather head and left it hot until I could get it fixed. I think the flat rate charge of $3500.00 to replace and reattach from the panel up was excessive. Am I right?

Did it myself, took two days to upgrade to 200 Amp service from 100 Amp. Once box is cold you cant shock yourself- city inspector will point out if you missed something. Plenty of books and info on doing it. Take your time, and be neat. And if in doubt, an electrician can verify your work. It can be hard work- but it's not rocket science. But if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself - then dont.

I had to upgrade from 100 to 200 for a hot tub, plus had a bad breaker that is NO LONGER made, found an electrician that did a very good job for 650 bucks. Of course, gasoline is cheaper here in OK too.

I was interested in a generator for my home and my house is 22 years old and had a 100 amp panel. Cleve, the guy that did the work showed me all of the problems some I was aware of from previous electrician coming in and others I had no idea about. The first thing he pointed out was the code does not allow double lugging and piggy backing on breaker. Now grant it Cleve told me up front he wasn't licensed or bonded but he provided me with many references and phone number to them all. Which I must say he got rave reviews from everyone I called. After explaining what I wanted he reviewed with my his suggestions and what he thought was best. I ungraded my electrical panel to a 200amp, in the old box I didn't have ant circuits left and he said I needed a least four to six blank spot for future additions. We found a generator that would handle my two AC units and electric stove and dryer. Which I did not know was important. SO I AM READY FOR THE LONG HAUL, if we are with out power for two to four weeks again doing hurricane season. This man is great had got several prices from may other electricians and he explained and point things out the other guys didn't and they where 5 time a much and many cases. I would trust this guy with any work for me and my family. As a mater of fact he's installing a generator for my daughter this week

All homeowners in California, be very careful about pulling your own permits. Read the Contractors license board information. You are liable for the workers compensation, even for a licensed contractor , when you pull the permits. The purpose for contractors to pull their own permits isn't just to have the work inspected. The other reason is to check all of their info, i.e. State License and bond, liability insurance, business license for the municipality and most importantly WORKERS COMP. Saving a couple of bucks isn't worth the ultimate cost of liability. Do your homework! don't believe everything that people write on the web, check with your City yourself and read their fliers in the office/website and definitely check with the CSLB.

I would like to move my electrical panel to a wall just 6 feet away that is perpendicular to the location. Can someone give me a "ball park" estimate of what this might cost? The house is about 15 years old.

Upgraded from a 100amp to 200amp panel... $550 in parts for the essentials (weatherhead, conduit, 4/0 triplex, SEU cable, meter socket, new panel, breakers) and about $100 in incidentals (junction boxes and romex to extend/reroute several circuits, wire nuts, romex connectors, bushings, glue, anti-ox compound, etc.) Free disconn/reconn from Xcel Energy. I used to work as an electrician.. if you have never done this, pay someone to do it!! You otherwise don't know the shortcuts, tools, and codes to do it correctly the first time. There are too many things that you could do wrong and they could be potentially dangerous and expensive. This is a job you only want to do ONCE.

Had a 60 amp box and want hvac installed so had to upgrade to 200 amps. Electrican was very good and reasonable. Even gave him more than his asking price due to some unforseen work that had to be done. Bob had to be moved 1 ft to be 3 ft away from water heater . This required old inserted box to be torn out. He even replaced the stucco where there were gaping holes in outside wall. I do not like the new electrical panel box itself ,a Murray. I do not like the wayit opens and closes but other than that all is well. Very happy about the work

I have a 55 year old home that had a fuse box with no grounding. I've completely upgraded to a 200 amp box and new wiring throughout the kitchen and other rooms.

We recently upgraded our house electrical panel. We hired McCaa Electric in Bakersfield, CA. He was about $200 higher than two of the bids but was cheaper than 3 other bids we got. (my husband went bid crazy) We went with McCaa because he was the most professional and most importantly he was VERY helpful in explaining all our options. I didn't realize we had multiple options because none of the other contractors offered that. I could tell he had done this type of job alot. He also gave us one flat rate price to do the entire job. We liked that better than the material and labor quotes we got because those left options open for more money and McCaa's quote didn't do that. We had an old electrical panel that was 100 amps recessed in our wall. (our house was built in the 70's and we remodeled) McCaa came out, broke out all the stucco, replaced the panel, pulled the permits, coordinated with our local power provider (PG&E)to disconnect everything and reconnect everything, it passed inspection the first time and the inspectors seemed to know McCaa very well. He upgraded everything in relation to that panel to current codes (which was included in the price). He only asked for a 10% deposit (which the other contractor's asked for 50% down), his contract was very clear and understandable and our power was only off for a matter of hours because of his coordination of everything and I can't say enough good things. Additionally he was in contact with our stucco contractor to make sure that everything went smooth while stuccoing around the panel. He warrantied his work for 10 years and put me on a home maintenance plan to take care of my electrical issues in the future. In the end, it was very easy and we are happy. I would recommend without hesitation.

I recently purchased my home that is about 50 years old with an outdated electrical panel that needs replacement. I am looking for a well experienced electrician to replace and upgrade my electrical panel from 60 amps to 200. I am in Teaneck New Jersey. I would definately appreciate a referral or a search engine to find experienced electricians in my area. Thanks in advance!