Panel installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What panel installation is

Panel installation replaces or upgrades the electrical service panel that feeds the whole house. It adds capacity for new loads, replaces a panel that is unsafe or no longer supported, and makes sure grounding and bonding are correct. The panel connects to the utility service, so this is one of the highest-risk jobs in a home. It needs a licensed electrician, coordination with the utility, and an inspection.

Signs you need it

  • Breakers trip often, or the panel is full after you added major appliances
  • The panel shows burn marks, scorched breakers, a burning smell or a hot cover
  • Breakers do not match the panel, or some breakers no longer hold or reset reliably
  • You want an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub or solar, and the panel cannot take the added load
  • The panel has no open spaces for new circuits you need
  • The panel cover is missing, loose or damaged, exposing live parts

What the pro does

  • Check the service size, the load, the meter base, the service entrance and the grounding system
  • Coordinate with the utility to schedule the disconnect and reconnect of service
  • Install the new panel, main breaker, bus bar, and neutral and ground bars, and connect the service conductors
  • Move each circuit into the new panel, check each breaker rating against its wire, and label every circuit
  • Install AFCI or GFCI breakers where the circuits require them, and surge protection if included
  • Schedule the inspection and have the utility reconnect service after the inspector signs off

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Service size needed, which depends on the home's load and planned additions
  • Panel type and whether it is a standard part or a special order
  • Condition of the service entrance, meter base and grounding, which may need work too
  • Number of circuits to move, label and retest
  • Whether the utility must schedule a disconnect, and how long that step takes
  • Whether the work includes a sub-panel, surge protection, or AFCI and GFCI breakers

What a written quote should spell out

  • Existing and new service size, and the reason for the size chosen
  • Panel make, model and main breaker rating
  • Utility disconnect and reconnect, and who coordinates it
  • Grounding and bonding work, including the grounding electrode if one is needed
  • Circuit moves, labeling, and any AFCI or GFCI breaker upgrades
  • Permit and inspection responsibility

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How did you calculate the service size, and what load does it cover?
  • Who coordinates the utility disconnect, and what does that step involve?
  • Will you check the grounding and bonding, and what do you do if they are not right?
  • Which breakers will you use, and are they listed for this panel?
  • How will you handle existing double-tapped or undersized breakers?
  • Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection?

Red flags

  • Quotes a panel change without a load calculation or a service size check
  • Plans to use breakers that are not listed for the panel model
  • Says the utility will handle everything without a clear plan for the disconnect
  • Does not check grounding and bonding when the panel is open
  • Skips the permit or the inspection

What you can do yourself

No part of panel work is a homeowner task. You can clear storage from around the panel, keep a clear working space in front of it, and note which circuits trip or run warm so the electrician knows. Do not open the panel, remove the cover, or touch service wires. The service side stays energized even when the main breaker is off, so call a licensed electrician and the utility for any panel work.

Licenses and permits

Panel installation is commonly done under an electrical contractor license, and a permit with inspection is often required. Check with your state or local licensing agency and building department before you accept or schedule the job.

Panel installation questions

Why does the utility need to be involved?

The service entrance connects to the utility side of the meter, and the utility controls the disconnect and reconnect. The electrician coordinates that step so the new panel can be energized safely.

What is a double-tapped breaker?

It is two wires under one breaker terminal. The connection can loosen over time and overheat. Panel work usually separates them onto their own breakers or the correct device.

Can I stay in the house during the change?

Plan on losing power for part of the day. The electrician will tell you when the outage starts and how long it is expected to last, based on the utility schedule.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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