Electrical Service Upgrades

A panel upgrade replaces the breaker panel itself — usually because it's outdated, unsafe, full, or a known problem brand. A service upgrade increases the electrical capacity delivered to the property, which involves the service equipment ahead of and including the panel: service-entrance conductors, meter equipment, the main disconnect, and grounding and bonding. A service upgrade usually includes a new panel; a panel replacement by itself does not automatically increase your available amperage.

The rating of the main breaker is the usual starting point — it's typically the largest breaker at the top of the panel, marked 100, 125, 150, or 200. Homes with a fuse block or a split-bus panel and no single main breaker are harder to read, and the panel label isn't the whole story: the service conductors and meter equipment also have to support the rating. We verify the actual service size during the evaluation rather than relying on the sticker.

Not automatically. 200 amps is the common modern residential size because it comfortably covers an EV charger, heat pump, electric water heating, and a modern kitchen, but plenty of homes are well served at their existing capacity. A load calculation based on your home's square footage, existing equipment, and planned additions is what determines the answer.

Often yes. Many 100-amp homes can support a Level 2 charger, sometimes at a reduced charging current or with a load-management device, depending on what else is electric in the house. The load calculation decides it. If the calculation shows there isn't room, a service upgrade becomes part of the charger project.

In most cases yes, because the panel has to be rated for the new service size and the old one rarely is. We confirm what's needed during the evaluation and show it in the written scope so you know exactly what's included.

Sometimes. Whether the existing meter equipment can be reused depends on its condition, rating, and whether it meets current requirements for your jurisdiction and utility. This is one of the items we evaluate on site before quoting the job.

Work at the service point involves the utility, since power has to be disconnected and reconnected. We walk you through what your specific project requires and what has to be scheduled with the utility as part of the estimate, so nothing about the process is a surprise on the day of the work.

There's a planned outage while the service equipment is replaced. The length depends on the scope of the work and on utility scheduling, so we give you an expected window with your written estimate rather than a blanket promise. We'll also tell you what to do about refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, and home offices ahead of time.

Yes. Service and panel work is permitted electrical work in Oregon and Washington jurisdictions. We pull the applicable permit and coordinate the inspection so the finished installation is documented and code-compliant.

Underground services can be upgraded, but the scope differs from an overhead service — the conductors, conduit path, and utility requirements are different, and exterior work may be involved. We evaluate the existing configuration and tell you what your specific property requires and which portions fall to the utility.

There's no honest flat number. Cost depends on your existing service size, whether the service is overhead or underground, meter and panel location, the condition of the existing equipment, grounding and bonding requirements, and utility and permit requirements. We evaluate the property and give you a written estimate before any work starts. Call (971) 306-8484 to schedule.

That's one of the best reasons to size the service deliberately. Tell us what you're planning — an ADU, a heat pump, electric water heating, a shop, or a kitchen remodel — and we'll factor those loads into the calculation so you're not paying to revisit the service in three years.