Price of upgrading a 100amp residential panel to 200amp. It’s gone up..

[MeCasa16]

I got 3 bids. All about the exact same. This is Seattle, but these prices seem absurd. $7200. Then add the fees for the electric company, another fee I couldn’t read what it was, nor was it explained. Then of course add tax. Total was $8997. They added an exterior box with shut off for the fire department and just a basic square D box on the inside. It’s a single story 1500 sq ft. House built in the 50’s. The house has some other wiring issues I inquired about. Mainly that it has junction boxes everywhere in the attic and everything seems to be connected. He said he could only rewire the house, doesn’t work in attics, and would need us to drop the whole ceiling. 20k estimate.

F that. We need it done yesterday, so we will end up going up there and doing it ourselves.

 

[TimeBandit]

I did a bunch of wiring in the attic when I remodeled my 1956 tract house... I can't imagine crawling around up there today.

I'll add it to the list of things I used to do myself.

 

[rrrr]

I did a bunch of wiring in the attic when I remodeled my 1956 tract house... I can't imagine crawling around up there today.

I'll add it to the list of things I used to do myself.

The list of things I can still do myself is a lot shorter than the can't do list.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Is 100amp normal? I thought 200 was the base, and people upgrade to 400, like we did.

 

[SnoC653]

This thread should be titled they are ripping us off because we are getting older. I put a 200 Amp box in my shop myself. I spent maybe $500 total on the project while the lowest estimate I got was $4,000. I may not have put in as many outlets as they were talking, but I can always add those. I did pay a retired electrician to tell me what to do so I wouldn't kill myself or burn down the shop.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Is 100amp normal? I thought 200 was the base, and people upgrade to 400, like we did.

Not in the 50s. My MIL had a ranch house built in early 50s with a 50A panel. It went out last week along with her heat pump and all together it was like $15,000 to fix.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Not in the 50s. My MIL had a ranch house built in early 50s with a 50A panel. It went out last week along with her heat pump and all together it was like $15,000 to fix.

50A?! Damn....

 

[MeCasa16]

Is 100amp normal? I thought 200 was the base, and people upgrade to 400, like we did.

You probably have a much bigger house. This is only 1500 sq/ft. When it was built it didn’t have A/C or an electric furnace. As those things have been added it has outgrown its capacity.

 

[MeCasa16]

This thread should be titled they are ripping us off because we are getting older. I put a 200 Amp box in my shop myself. I spent maybe $500 total on the project while the lowest estimate I got was $4,000. I may not have put in as many outlets as they were talking, but I can always add those. I did pay a retired electrician to tell me what to do so I wouldn't kill myself or burn down the shop.

Im only 43. But they are still ripping me off.

 

[Ladsm]

Holy Shizballs. I used to charge $1500 to do them as side jobs on the weekend.

 

[NicPaus]

@hallett21 has done a few for me. To bad your in WA.

 

[hallett21]

Holy Shizballs. I used to charge $1500 to do them as side jobs on the weekend.

That’s the cost of materials today.

I’m at 3500-4500. Depending on scenario

 

[hallett21]

@hallett21 has done a few for me. To bad your in WA.

For 9k I might fly up and do it lol

 

[MeCasa16]

For 9k I might fly up and do it lol

Day day late. I bit the bullet already.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

That’s the cost of materials today.

I’m at 3500-4500. Depending on scenario

This is what we charged to do them on solar installs in Texas that needed to go to a 200A.

Not in the 50s. My MIL had a ranch house built in early 50s with a 50A panel. It went out last week along with her heat pump and all together it was like $15,000 to fix.

Back in Hawaii a lot of the old single wall homes built in the post war years were button meter and 50A. It was an undertaking to upgrade those houses

 

[hallett21]

This is what we charged to do them on solar installs in Texas that needed to go to a 200A.


Back in Hawaii a lot of the old single wall homes built in the post war years were button meter and 50A. It was an undertaking to upgrade those houses

I had one just nailed to some plywood “siding”. Removed the plywood and nailed it to a tree until Edison would come disconnect it lol

 

[D19]

Materials have shot way up! I've been out of construction for awhile and couldn't believe how much stuff went up at Walters.

I'm swapping it out myself and relocating. Just want someone to come move my meter and overhead feed to new panel. I don't feel like going up there to do it. Anyone want some side work? LOL

 

[Backlash]

Materials have shot way up! I've been out of construction for awhile and couldn't believe how much stuff went up at Walters.

I'm swapping it out myself and relocating. Just want someone to come move my meter and overhead feed to new panel. I don't feel like going up there to do it. Anyone want some side work? LOL

I thought SoCal Edison would come out and move your meter for you, no??

 

[D19]

I thought SoCal Edison would come out and move your meter for you, no??

Ya. that's one way to do it! LOL

 

[Joe mama]

buddy of mine gave a quote the other day 4K with permit. He said he got beat by a guy on offer up 2200 no permit. This was in Rancho.
100A to 200A

 

[TimeBandit]

buddy of mine gave a quote the other day 4K with permit. He said he got beat by a guy on offer up 2200 no permit. This was in Rancho.
100A to 200A

Don't you need heavier wires run by the power company from the pole to the new 200A panel?

Or are we talking about a panel upgrade only, not a service upgrade??

 

[NicPaus]

buddy of mine gave a quote the other day 4K with permit. He said he got beat by a guy on offer up 2200 no permit. This was in Rancho.
100A to 200A

Probably no arc fault breakers at that price. Used to pay 2k for a 200 amp upgrade until those came into play.

 

[Joe mama]

Probably no arc fault breakers at that price. Used to pay 2k for a 200 amp upgrade until those came into play.

Haven’t had to upgrade existing branch circuits to arc fault on just a service upgrade. That could be a nightmare if Joe home owner or joe handyman was doing his own electrical installs.

 

[Mandelon]

I used to get this done for $2500 only a few years ago. The ARC fault breakers are expensive, but that seems like giraffe pussy high.

 

[NicPaus]

Haven’t had to upgrade existing branch circuits to arc fault on just a service upgrade. That could be a nightmare if Joe home owner or joe handyman was doing his own electrical installs.

Guess it depends on the inspector. Have done few kitchen remodels that required panel upgrade for those stupid arc faults to work. Few inspectors that want everything arc fault. I hate those breakers.

 

[TPC]

Tesla wanted $7.700 for the panel placement and hook up alone. Nothing else.

Lucky the wire to the street was adequate but I hear if not it’s on Edison to pull correct gauge.

Found a Cracker Jack electrician did it for
half that plus did a days worth of other elect work the wife wanted done. All kinds of crazy electrical shit Ali had him jumping through a fiery hoop.

The hard part was finding a stucco patch guy to sweeten up the install. The guy I finally got was fantastic. Couldn’t tell a thing.

Read that: finally. Hard as hell to get someone so it wouldn’t look like a soup sandwich.

 

[LuauLounge]

I'm not one to frivolously toss dollars around, but I wouldn't hire an unlicensed electrician with no permit from OfferUp to do a panel upgrade.

 

[hallett21]

Haven’t had to upgrade existing branch circuits to arc fault on just a service upgrade. That could be a nightmare if Joe home owner or joe handyman was doing his own electrical installs.

I’ve had it on almost all of them for 2-3 years now. Very frustrating

 

[HB2Havasu]

Just swap out the panel yourself. What could go wrong?

 

[Joe mama]

Guess it depends on the inspector. Have done few kitchen remodels that required panel upgrade for those stupid arc faults to work. Few inspectors that want everything arc fault. I hate those breakers.

I can see them required if there was a Kitchen remodel along with service change or new kitchen circuits.

 

[Joe mama]

I'm not one to frivolously toss dollars around, but I wouldn't hire an unlicensed electrician with no permit from OfferUp to do a panel upgrade.

No Shit!!! I would love to take a look at that one.

 

[stokerwhore]

No Shit!!! I would love to take a look at that one.

nah, i wouldn't lol.

 

[sintax]

That’s the cost of materials today.

I’m at 3500-4500. Depending on scenario

I have someone doing mine in Riverside for $3500, starting in a couple of weeks. Just got the disconnect date from Edison

 

[Riverbottom]

I need to upgrade a 50 AMP service with glass fuses. Not looking forward to bids after reading this thread.

 

[DC-88]

I need to upgrade a 50 AMP service with glass fuses. Not looking forward to bids after reading this thread.

Stick a couple pennies in them and upgrade for cents on the dollar Seattle prices aren't the norm though ...

 

[farmo83]

Isn't this all for nothing unless you have a big enough wire running to the house from the grid ?

I wouldn't think a 200 amp panel hooked up to a wire that can only care 50 amps from the power company would do much ?

Or are they all generally oversized and you just pick what service you want/need?

 

[JL95]

I got mine done for around $2400-$2800 permitted I don't exactly remember. The hardest part was i got tagged for a Meter spot from edison for no reason so coordinating with the city and Edison was a nightmare. Took about a month to line them all up. Sparky got it done in a few hours when it was show time.

Also be very cautious of offerup work my stucco guy was so bad lmao. Easiest money he's ever made.

 

[hallett21]

Isn't this all for nothing unless you have a big enough wire running to the house from the grid ?

I wouldn't think a 200 amp panel hooked up to a wire that can only care 50 amps from the power company would do much ?

Or are they all generally oversized and you just pick what service you want/need?

When you pull the permit the building department notifies the utility. It’s the utilities responsibility to upgrade their side of service. This is assuming you’re in a normal neighborhood and not 10 miles from a street.

You also need to give the building department a load calculation if you are adding more load to the service. If you’re changing a 100amp for a 200amp panel with no additional circuits the utility won’t upgrade their line.

An example of the permit application.

 

[NicPaus]

I got mine done for around $2400-$2800 permitted I don't exactly remember. The hardest part was i got tagged for a Meter spot from edison for no reason so coordinating with the city and Edison was a nightmare. Took about a month to line them all up. Sparky got it done in a few hours when it was show time.

Also be very cautious of offerup work my stucco guy was so bad lmao. Easiest money he's ever made.

They do a meter spot for Edison or LADWP. Need the meter location to move forward with permit. Usually the same location but not always. If not the same then it can get pricey as you would need a sub panel unless you are doing a full rewire.

 

[D19]

They do a meter spot for Edison or LADWP. Need the meter location to move forward with permit. Usually the same location but not always. If not the same then it can get pricey as you would need a sub panel unless you are doing a full rewire.

Back when I did a lot of TI, we would use pull boxes / gutters to relocate panels/etc.

I don't the rules these days but can't you just pull the home runs into the attic and run a box to the new location?

 

[JL95]

They do a meter spot for Edison or LADWP. Need the meter location to move forward with permit. Usually the same location but not always. If not the same then it can get pricey as you would need a sub panel unless you are doing a full rewire.

I am not too familiar with any of this, the only thing I'm running on was my electrician telling me out of the few hundred panel change outs he has done they have only done a handful of meter spots, mainly only when changing location to verify it is acceptable. IDK he was very surprised about it. The location stayed the same for me.
My panel caught fire from my AC condenser breaker arcing when it didn't fully reset. Shit show. 1990 panel had its time

 

[MPHSystems]

I got 3 bids. All about the exact same. This is Seattle, but these prices seem absurd. $7200. Then add the fees for the electric company, another fee I couldn’t read what it was, nor was it explained. Then of course add tax. Total was $8997. They added an exterior box with shut off for the fire department and just a basic square D box on the inside. It’s a single story 1500 sq ft. House built in the 50’s. The house has some other wiring issues I inquired about. Mainly that it has junction boxes everywhere in the attic and everything seems to be connected. He said he could only rewire the house, doesn’t work in attics, and would need us to drop the whole ceiling. 20k estimate.

F that. We need it done yesterday, so we will end up going up there and doing it ourselves.

I wish I was an electrical contractor, I could do the job for 1/2 that price…


Oh wait, I am and I can!

But not in Seattle.

 

[hallett21]

Back when I did a lot of TI, we would use pull boxes / gutters to relocate panels/etc.

I don't the rules these days but can't you just pull the home runs into the attic and run a box to the new location?

If you can find them yes lol. They always seem to be running through the worst spots though. Another option is using a “dog house” with a junction box at the old panel location.

 

[hallett21]

I am not too familiar with any of this, the only thing I'm running on was my electrician telling me out of the few hundred panel change outs he has done they have only done a handful of meter spots, mainly only when changing location to verify it is acceptable. IDK he was very surprised about it. The location stayed the same for me.
My panel caught fire from my AC condenser breaker arcing when it didn't fully reset. Shit show. 1990 panel had its time

A lot of the old panel locations now violate current code or due to development are in bad service entrance locations. So the utility now spots the location to make sure their service entrance cable isn’t in a bad spot.

A couple ones I’ve dealt with included

Wires going over someone else’s property to get to your service.

Wires too low over driveways

Wires crossing the entire home in the air to get to the service mast.

Wires crossing a pool

Edit. My inspectors won’t even walk onto the property if I don’t show them the meter spot.

 

[blownmirage]

Had a friend that hired some backyard electrician to do his panel upgrade, didn't work out so well, fried fridge, furnace and something else when they turned it on,
can't remember everything, backyard electrician just walked away and he had to hire a electrical contractor and fix all that was wrong, buy a new fridge, and circuit board for furnace, ended up costing him about 2 1/2 times more. He won't ever do that again

 

[badgas]

I was quoted $3,500 for a 200 amp panel upgrade This includes patching stucco paint etc.

We charge $2,550 with a Solar install.

 

[dspracing]

buddy of mine gave a quote the other day 4K with permit. He said he got beat by a guy on offer up 2200 no permit. This was in Rancho.
100A to 200A

Is he going to try doing this with no permit? My buddy told me we could do the same thing, he’s a union electrician.

I call Edison for the meter unlock which they perform right away no questions asked. We get the job done and ask them to come back and reterminate the lines at the mast and lock the meter…. Oh you did a panel upgrade??? Well you’ve got X days to get this permitted and signed off before we shut your power off.

I don’t remember the exact time but I think it was like 7 days. That was a big oh shit moment.

Raced down to the city, pulled permit, got it signed off and sent the proof to Edison. They came out a few days later pulled a new line from the pole and locked the meter.

 

[Joe mama]

Is he going to try doing this with no permit? My buddy told me we could do the same thing, he’s a union electrician.

I call Edison for the meter unlock which they perform right away no questions asked. We get the job done and ask them to come back and reterminate the lines at the mast and lock the meter…. Oh you did a panel upgrade??? Well you’ve got X days to get this permitted and signed off before we shut your power off.

I don’t remember the exact time but I think it was like 7 days. That was a big oh shit moment.

Raced down to the city, pulled permit, got it signed off and sent the proof to Edison. They came out a few days later pulled a new line from the pole and locked the meter.

I’ve done plenty without permits back in the day without permits. They didn’t have meter locks.

 

[Taboma]

I’ve done plenty without permits back in the day without permits. They didn’t have meter locks.

Back in 'That Day', I may have had a couple of these in my bag of tricks. 'That Day', was a ways back, like 53 years or so, before they got all sophisticated and shit.


I was checking with my kid the other day on a panel upgrade from 100A to 200A for a solar install, about $ 3,500. BUT, that's only to increase the buss rating to at least 125A, if the solar was large enough to require a 50A breaker.
The home I was inquiring about, had an UG service, which in order to increase the conduit size to accommodate increasing service capacity to 200A, would easily more than double that cost

DUMB SHIT EDIT ---- Failure to attach image oops. When life was simple.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Man, you guys in Cali are so screwed. Out here Electricians routinely pull meters and then call us to reseal the base after the fact.

Building department rarely gives a heads up on permits for panel upgrades. Wild how different it is in other parts of the country.