100-Amp to 200-Amp Panel Upgrade
If your 100-amp panel is out of breaker space or can't carry an EV charger, a heat pump, or an ADU, we move you to a 200-amp service. We pull the permit, coordinate the SCE meter release, and finish most upgrades in a single day.
What a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade Is
A 100-amp to 200-amp panel upgrade replaces your existing main service panel with a larger one rated for 200 amps. It doubles the capacity your home can draw and roughly doubles your breaker spaces, which is what most older South Orange County homes need once they add modern electric loads. Panels are all we do at The Panel Pros, so this is the exact job we run every week across Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, and the rest of South OC.
What a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade Includes
Every 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade we do is a complete, permitted, inspected service change, not just a box swap. Here is what comes with it.
Before we quote anything, we run the same load calculation electricians use to confirm your current panel is maxed out and that 200-amp is the right target for your home and your future plans.
We install a new 200-amp panel, typically with 40 or more breaker spaces, so you have real headroom instead of doubling up circuits on tandem breakers.
When the job needs it, we handle the new meter main, mast, weatherhead, and service conductors so the upgrade meets current code at the connection point.
We bring the grounding electrode system and water pipe bonding up to today's California Electrical Code, which is the part many older homes are missing.
We pull the city electrical permit, schedule the Southern California Edison meter release, and handle the final inspection from start to finish.
You get the full price in writing before we start, so there are no surprise change orders once the work is underway.
Book a free on-site assessment. We give you a flat-rate price in writing, with no obligation.
Signs You Need a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade
A few clear signs your home has outgrown its 100-amp service.
- You are adding an EV charger and your panel is already full
- You are installing a heat pump or central AC for the first time
- Your panel has no open breaker slots and uses tandem (cheater) breakers
- You are building an ADU, an addition, or a major remodel
- You still have an old fuse box instead of breakers
- You have a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Challenger panel
- Your homeowners insurance flagged or declined coverage over your panel
Permits, Inspection, and the SCE Meter Release
A 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade is a permitted, inspected, utility-coordinated job, and the good news is you do not have to touch any of that paperwork. We pull the electrical permit with your city first, because the California Electrical Code requires it any time you raise the amperage of a service. Permit fees vary from one Orange County city to the next, whether you are in Irvine, San Clemente, or Coto de Caza, and that is built into the flat quote you approve.
The part most homeowners worry about is the power company, and the answer is simple. Nobody, not you and not even us, can pull the meter or work on the utility side without authorization from Southern California Edison. Once the permit is in hand, we coordinate a same-day disconnect and reconnect with SCE, called a meter release. SCE removes the lock ring so the panel can be swapped safely, then reconnects power the same day. If your upgrade is for an EV charger, SCE may also confirm the neighborhood can carry the new load, and we handle that conversation for you.
After the new 200-amp panel is in, your city inspector verifies the grounding, bonding, breakers, and clearances all meet code, and we show them the SCE reconnect confirmation. We manage the permit, the SCE meter release, and the inspection end to end. If you want to see how the whole job flows, our electrical panel upgrade page walks through it.
How a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade Works
We come out, look at your existing panel and service, and run the load calculation so the upgrade is sized to your home and not guessed.
You get one clear price in writing that covers the panel, the permit, the SCE coordination, and the inspection, with no change orders later.
We pull the city electrical permit and line up the Southern California Edison meter release so install day goes smoothly.
We swap the panel and complete the service change in one day, with your power off for only several hours that same day.
The city inspector verifies the work meets code, we handle the visit, and your new 200-amp service is officially done.
What a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade Costs
A straightforward 100-amp to 200-amp swap with no relocation usually lands around $3,000 to $4,000 in South Orange County, while jobs that need a relocation, a new meter base, or major grounding work run higher. The only number that matters is the flat-rate written quote we give you after the free on-site load calculation.
- Whether the panel can stay put or has to be relocated to a code-compliant spot
- New meter main, mast, weatherhead, or service conductors
- Overhead versus underground service
- Bringing grounding and bonding up to current code
- Age and condition of the existing wiring
- Drywall and stucco patching plus city permit fees
- Whether it is a simple swap or tied to an EV circuit, ADU, or remodel
CSLB #1084610
panels are all we do
from South OC homeowners
SCE territory specialists
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade take
Most standard 200-amp residential upgrades are done in a single day. Your power is off for only several hours that same day while we make the switch, then Southern California Edison reconnects the meter and you are back up.
Do I have to call Southern California Edison myself
No. You never touch the utility side. We coordinate the SCE meter release, which is the same-day disconnect and reconnect that lets us safely swap the panel. Handling that for you is part of the job.
Do I really need 200-amp or is that overkill
It depends on your loads, which is why we run a load calculation before we quote. If you are adding an EV charger, a heat pump, central AC, or an ADU, a 100-amp service usually can't keep up, and 200-amp gives you real room. Our guide on whether your South OC home needs a 200-amp panel breaks down the math.
What will it actually cost
A straightforward swap in South Orange County usually runs around $3,000 to $4,000, and the overall range is about $2,500 to $6,500 depending on relocation, meter work, and grounding. We give you a flat-rate written quote after a free on-site assessment, and you can see what drives the price in our panel upgrade cost guide for Orange County.
Do you handle the permit and inspection
Yes. We pull the city electrical permit, which the California Electrical Code requires any time amperage goes up, and we handle the final inspection with your Orange County city. You do not file anything.
My panel is a Federal Pacific or Zinsco, can the upgrade fix that too
Yes, and it should. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels have documented breaker-failure histories and increasingly affect homeowners insurance. A 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade replaces that hazardous panel and adds capacity in one job. We also cover panel replacement if a like-for-like swap is the better fit.
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