Upgrade from 100A to 200A. Federal Pacific + Zinsco replacement, PG&E coordination, code compliance.
Most East Bay homes built before the 1990s have 100-amp panels — many with the original breakers. That was enough for the appliances of that era. It's nowhere close to what a modern household demands. AC, induction ranges, home offices, EV chargers — a 100A panel is a bottleneck.
A 200A upgrade gives you the headroom to run everything — now and for the next 30 years. We handle the full scope: new panel, breakers, meter base, PG&E coordination, city permit, and final inspection. You don't talk to the city or PG&E once.
Federal Pacific + Zinsco panels are urgent replacements, not patches. Documented breaker failure rates, insurance red flags, and fire risk. We won't add circuits to a known fire-risk panel — we replace it.
Every panel upgrade walkthrough starts with the same four questions. The answers place your job in a tier and set the timeline.
Panel upgrade pricing is almost entirely driven by the distance from PG&E's service drop to where the new panel lands. Same location + reuse of existing weatherhead = low end. Longer runs, new conduit, or a relocated service = higher end.
Pricing tiers by distance from the PG&E service drop.
Your final number depends on the distance, existing panel condition, and whether a concrete slab needs to be poured under the relocated service. We quote after a free walkthrough.
The install itself is 1–2 days of actual work. The calendar timeline is weeks to months because of PG&E and city scheduling — not because of the work.
Panel inspection, load requirements, PG&E drop distance measured, relocation decision.
Oakland: typically 1 week. Berkeley: 2–3 weeks. We submit same-day to start the clock.
Meter disconnect + reconnect window. The long pole on every panel upgrade — not the work itself.
Panel, breakers, meter base, grounding, labeling. 4–6 hour power-out scheduled around you.
Inspector signs off, PG&E reconnects, permit closes. Work officially on record.
The new panel location was ~30 ft from the PG&E drop. Normally that triggers PG&E engineering review plus a charge to extend cables — months and thousands added. We proposed running the 30 ft feed through the existing weatherhead instead. PG&E's side didn't change, city and PG&E both approved. Saved the homeowner the engineering fee and the delay.
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Full ScopeMulti-unit meter stack upgrade — Oakland, CA
We'll inspect your current panel, measure the PG&E drop distance, and give you a tier-exact quote — permit, PG&E coordination, and everything included. No surprises.
Our three tiers ($5k / $7k / $10k) reflect the one variable that actually moves the number. No sight-unseen quotes, no hidden surprises.
We pull the permit, schedule PG&E disconnect/reconnect, handle the inspection paperwork, and close the job on record. You don't talk to the city or PG&E once.
Siemens or Square D as standard replacement. Every circuit re-identified and labeled. Not a patch job — a full modernization.
4–6 hour disconnect is required by PG&E, but we time it around your fridge, heat, and at least one live outlet wherever possible.
If your panel is 100A or less, has Federal Pacific or Zinsco breakers, frequently trips, or you’re adding an EV charger or AC unit — it’s time to upgrade.
The install itself is 1–2 days. The calendar timeline is weeks to months because of PG&E scheduling and city permit turnaround — not because of the work.
Yes, power is off for 4–6 hours during the swap. We coordinate timing with you to keep heat, fridge, and at least one working outlet live as long as possible.
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers have a documented failure rate — they don’t trip when they should, creating fire risk. We strongly recommend immediate replacement.
If your panel is 100A, likely yes. A Level 2 EV charger needs a dedicated 40A or 50A circuit. We often bundle the panel upgrade with the charger install for a better price.
Panel, EV, rewire, or lights — send us a few sentences. Most calls returned the same business day.