Your electrical panel distributes power to every circuit in the house. An upgrade may mean replacing the panel itself, increasing the service size (for example 100A to 200A), or both.
Signs you may need an upgrade
- Planning an EV charger, heat pump, electric range, hot tub, or addition, and a load calculation shows you're short on capacity.
- No open breaker spaces, or lots of tandem breakers and add-on subpanels.
- Older 60A or fuse-based service.
- Panels with documented problem histories. An electrician can tell you if yours is one.
- Breakers that trip often, warm panel covers, rust or water in the panel.
What's involved
A service upgrade involves your utility. In most of New Castle County that's Delmarva Power, but Newark, Middletown, and New Castle have their own municipal electric utilities. The utility disconnects and reconnects service, and the meter base, service entrance conductors, and grounding may all be upgraded. Expect a permit, an inspection by an approved inspection agency, and a power outage of several hours on install day.
Alternatives worth asking about
Sometimes a load calculation shows you don't need a bigger service. Load-management devices, smart panels, or a "circuit sharing" EV charger can avoid an upgrade. A good electrician will tell you if that's an option.