A panel upgrade replaces the box of breakers that feeds your home, usually with one that carries more power. People book one when the panel has no free slots, a heavy new load is coming or the label shows an old brand. A licensed electrician handles the permit and inspection.
What is an electrical panel upgrade?
A panel upgrade replaces the box of breakers that feeds every circuit in your home, usually with one that can carry more power. Three terms get mixed up here.
| Job | What changes | Why people do it |
|---|---|---|
| Panel replacement | The panel, in the same place, at the same capacity | Old brand, damage or no free slots |
| Service upgrade | The panel plus the capacity coming in, often 100 to 200 amps | A new EV charger, pool heater or addition |
| Subpanel | A second, smaller panel fed from the main one | More breaker space in a garage or addition |
What are the signs you need a panel upgrade?
The clearest signs are a panel with no free slots, a new heavy load on the way, or an old brand on the label.
- No room left. Every slot is full and you want to add a circuit.
- A big new load. An EV charger, hot tub or heat pump is coming. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that some homes lack the capacity for Level 2 charging.
- Fuses. A fuse box still running a modern house is overdue for a conversation.
- An old label. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels are the two names people ask about most.
- Age and storm damage. Rust, water stains or damage after a hurricane. Duke Energy Florida told customers after Hurricane Milton with a damaged meter base or breaker panel to contact their local municipality, and that inspections may be required after repairs.
A warm panel cover, a burning smell or scorch marks are different. Stop using the affected circuit. If there is smoke or fire, leave and call 911.
What is included in a typical panel upgrade?
The typical price covers the new panel, moving your circuits across, the permit and the inspection. Here is the usual order of the day:
- The permit. The electrician files it with your city or county.
- The shutoff. Power is cut, with the utility involved if the job needs it.
- The swap. Old panel out, new panel in, each circuit landed on a new breaker and labeled.
- The inspection. The building department checks the work, which is your proof it was done right when you sell or insure the house.
What changes the price of a panel upgrade?
The biggest swing is what happens outside the wall. A swap that reuses the meter sits low in the range. Work on the meter, the mast or the panel's location moves it up.
| What is different | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Same spot, meter reused | Lower part of $1,500–$4,500 |
| New meter socket or mast | Toward $4,500 |
| Fuse box conversion | Upper half of the range |
| Moving the panel or a rebuilt service | Can run past $4,500 |
| Permit | A small share of the total, and already counted |
The panel upgrade cost guide lists what Orlando-area contractors publish, with links, and why national guides read so much lower.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade near Orlando?
Plan on it. Local cities word it differently, which is why the permit sits inside the typical price and the electrician handles it. Kissimmee lists an electrical meter or panel change-out as a permit type. Maitland lists like-for-like panel change-outs among its streamlined permits. More in the local permit guide.
How do I book a panel upgrade?
Pick Panel upgrade, name your city and describe the panel. A photo of the closed panel and its label helps, if you can take one safely. You see the typical price on screen. Then we get in touch to set a time. A licensed electrician looks at the panel and the meter and gives you the real number before anything gets unwired. Start here.
Which panel job do you have?
- 100 to 200 amp upgradeGoing from 100 to 200 amps: when it pays, who gets involved and the typical price of $1,500–$4,500.
- Federal Pacific panelsWhat the CPSC said about Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels, and getting one checked or replaced.
- Zinsco panelsZinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania panels: what inspectors report, and getting one replaced.
Which cities can I book a panel upgrade in?
All ten cities, each with its own permit and utility details: Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Lake Mary, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden and Maitland. See all areas served.
Not sure yet? Read is my electrical panel dangerous? and how many amps your house needs.
Common questions
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Plan on most of a day with the power off. Meter work or a move can take longer, and the inspection comes after.
Does a tripping breaker mean I need a new panel?
Usually not. Most trips trace back to the load on one circuit, an appliance or a bad connection. Start with a repair visit to trace the breaker, which costs far less than a new panel.
Is 200 amps always the right size?
It is the common target, but not a rule. The right size comes from what your home draws now and what you plan to add. The electrician works it out from your appliances and the existing service.
Who deals with the utility?
Your electrician coordinates what the job needs. Your utility may be OUC, Duke Energy Florida, Kissimmee Utility Authority or Winter Park Electric Utility, and who handles the meter differs, so ask.
What if the quote comes in above the typical price?
You hear the number before work starts, and the call is yours. You decide before work starts, and a visit may have a minimum charge.
