Guide / Electrical panel quotes, United States

Electrical panel upgrade quote: what to check before you sign

Toshikatsu Oga / October 16, 2026

Step 1: who decided the size, and how?
Step 2: the lines a panel or service quote should show
Step 3: the permit, the inspection and the utility
Step 4: labor hours times a wage
Step 5: tax credits and rebates in 2026
Warning signs in the wording, not the numbers
What to ask the contractor, in one message
Questions
Sources

Ask how the size was chosen, who handles the utility, and what each part costs on its own line. City load worksheets we opened are based on Article 220 of the National Electrical Code: you add up the house's loads, apply demand factors and divide by 240 volts (Town of Danville, CA). A service change also runs through a permit, an inspection and the utility, which disconnects and reconnects the power (City of Laguna Niguel, CA, as an example). Labor can be set against BLS wages: electricians earn $30.38 median and $52.17 at the 90th percentile per hour nationally, plain wages, not billing rates (BLS OEWS, May 2025). And a quote that subtracts a federal panel credit is out of date: Section 25C is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS).

Step 1: who decided the size, and how?

The amperage on the quote (100A, 150A, 200A) affects the price of the panel, the meter base and the service conductors. So the first question is what it is based on. The City of Naperville, IL publishes a worksheet for "minimum size electrical service for a new or existing dwelling looking to add additional electrical load," "in accordance with Article 220 of the 2017 National Electrical Code" (Naperville). The Town of Danville, CA states its form "is based on Article 220 of the National Electrical Code (CEC 220.83, optional method)" (Danville form). CEC is the California Electrical Code, the state's adoption of the NEC. We did not open the NEC text itself, which NFPA publishes, so we do not quote it here.

The Danville form shows how the arithmetic works. General lighting is 3 VA (volt-amperes) per square foot. Each small appliance circuit is 1,500 VA, with at least two. Listed appliances such as an electric oven (8,000 VA) and dryer (5,000 VA) carry default values, and "If the Volt-Ampere rating on the actual appliance is higher than the minimum rating, use the actual VA rating." For additional loads to an existing house, the first 8,000 VA of these general loads counts at 100% and the rest at 40%. Air conditioners, EV chargers and pool equipment are entered from the equipment and added in full. The total divided by 240 gives calculated amperes, to "Compare Calculated Amperes to Service and Feeder Amperes to determine whether an upgrade is required or not" (Danville form).

Line on the worksheet	Arithmetic	VA
Lighting, 2,000 sq ft	2,000 x 3 VA	6,000
Small appliance circuits	2 x 1,500 VA	3,000
Laundry circuit	form default	1,500
Dishwasher	form default	1,200
Electric dryer	form default	5,000
Electric oven	form default	8,000
General loads, total	6,000 + 3,000 + 1,500 + 1,200 + 5,000 + 8,000	24,700
After demand factors	8,000 at 100% + (24,700 - 8,000) x 40% = 8,000 + 6,680	14,680
Air conditioner, nameplate	added in full	5,000
Total without EV charger	14,680 + 5,000 = 19,680; 19,680 / 240	82 A
EV charger, 48 A x 240 V	added in full	11,520
Total with EV charger	19,680 + 11,520 = 31,200; 31,200 / 240	130 A

Illustrative house, written for teaching. The air conditioner and EV charger ratings are assumed. In this example the existing loads fit a 100A service, and the EV charger is what pushes the calculation past it. Your electrician's method, your city's code edition and your actual nameplates may differ. That is the point: ask for the calculation in writing, so you can see which load drives the upgrade.

Step 2: the lines a panel or service quote should show

Line	What it should say	What you can check
Panel	Make, model, amperage, number of spaces, indoor or outdoor	The model number on the manufacturer's site; outdoor panels "listed for outdoor use"
Breakers	How many are new, which types, which circuits move	A count and a list, not "breakers as needed"
Service entrance conductors	Size and material (copper or aluminum), and conduit	The city's conductor chart by amperage, and the utility's requirements
Meter base	New or reused, and whether its location changes	Whether the utility has approved the location
Grounding and bonding	Grounding conductor, electrodes, water and gas pipe bonds	The city's handout lists each
Permit and inspection	Electrical permit, who pulls it, inspection visits	The permit number once issued
Utility coordination	Service order, disconnect and reconnect appointment, any utility fee	The utility's service order number
Drywall, stucco or siding patch	Included or excluded, and by whom	No public price; ask what is in it

Several of these lines have no public price at all: meter base, breakers, patching. For those, the check is what the line contains, not the dollar figure. As an example of what a city requires, the Laguna Niguel, CA handout says the new panel "must be installed per the 2025 CEC (2025 NEC) and be listed for outdoor use if installed on the exterior," that the "Grounding conductor to be sized according to panel data plate rating," that "Ground bonds to include Water pipe & Gas pipe," and that "Stucco lath repair requires inspection for proper flashing" (Laguna Niguel handout). Your city's rules may differ. A quote that names each of these items is one you can compare with another.

Step 3: the permit, the inspection and the utility

A service upgrade involves three parties: your electrician, your building department and your electric utility. One city's handout, used here as an example, shows how they connect. Laguna Niguel requires an electrical permit, and "A COPY OF THE SDG&E OR SCE SERVICE ORDER IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO PERMIT ISSUANCE." It says to "Contact the SDG&E or SCE service planner for their requirements and to set up the job coordination" and to "Call in your inspection request the day before your scheduled date from the utility" (Laguna Niguel).

On the day of the work, the same handout says: "Generally, the utility will disconnect in the morning and re-connect the same afternoon," provided the panel passes a preliminary inspection. "After inspection the city will release the meter to the utility company." It adds that "Changes in location must be approved by the utility company," and that a replaced underground service conduit "is inspected by the utility company" (Laguna Niguel). Your city and utility will have their own steps and fees. Ask the contractor which of these steps the quote covers, and whether you will be without power overnight if an inspection fails.

Step 4: labor hours times a wage

Find the crew size and the days, or the stated hours, and multiply. The BLS May 2025 national wage for electricians (SOC 47-2111) is $30.38 median and $52.17 at the 90th percentile per hour. For electricians' helpers (SOC 47-3013) it is $20.51 median and $28.05 at the 90th percentile (BLS OEWS).

Crew, one 8-hour day	Median	90th percentile
Electrician, 8 hours	8 x $30.38 = $243.04	8 x $52.17 = $417.36
Helper, 8 hours	8 x $20.51 = $164.08	8 x $28.05 = $224.40
Total	$407.12	$641.76

Illustrative crew, written for teaching; no public source fixes how long a panel change takes, so ask for the crew and days behind your quote. These are plain wages, not billing rates. Insurance, payroll taxes, the truck, tools, permit trips, overhead and profit sit on top, and no public rule fixes how much. Use the figure to ask what the labor line covers, not to call it high. Our guide on overhead and profit on a contractor quote covers the markup.

Step 5: tax credits and rebates in 2026

The federal tax credit is gone. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) did cover panels. IRS Publication 5967 lists "$600: electric panel/circuit upgrades" and says "Panelboards must be installed according to National Electric Code and have a load capacity of at least 200 amps" (IRS Pub. 5967; ENERGY STAR). Public Law 119-21 ended it: "The credit will not be allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025" (IRS FAQ). A 2026 installation that nets out a federal panel credit is counting money you will not get.

A state rebate may exist, depending on your state and income. The federal statute behind the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program allows "not more than $4,000 for an electric load service center upgrade," within "not more than a total of $14,000 in rebates." Within those caps, it can cover up to 100% of the project cost for households below 80% of area median income, and up to 50% for households from 80% to 150% (42 U.S.C. 18795a). States run the programs. The Department of Energy says "Home Energy Rebates are now available in select states" and to "Contact your State or Territory Energy Office for more information on the status and eligibility requirements" (DOE).

The rules changed in 2026. DOE announced new program guidance on June 1, 2026 (DOE bulletin). Its Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026, removes "program allowances for upgrades for fuel-switching (i.e. replacement of non-electric appliances)" and puts insulation and air sealing before heating and cooling upgrades, unless the home already meets a state-set insulation level (DOE Program Notice 26-2; Atlas summary of the new guidance). We could not find a DOE page that lists which states pay a panel rebate today. So if a quote counts a rebate, ask for the program name, your state, the amount, and who applies for it, in writing.

Warning signs in the wording, not the numbers

"You need 200 amps" with no load calculation. City worksheets compare calculated amperes with the service size (Danville form). Ask for yours.
"After your federal tax credit." Section 25C ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
"You'll need to pull the permit yourself." The FTC lists "Scammers ask you to get any required building permits" as a warning sign (FTC).
"Panel upgrade, complete" with no meter base, grounding, utility or patching lines. Each is a separate item in a city's requirements (Laguna Niguel example).
"This price is only good today." Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, a sale of $25 or more made at your home can often be cancelled until midnight of the third business day after the sale. The rule lists exceptions (16 CFR Part 429). See what to do when the price is only good today.
A large payment before the work. The FTC advises: "Don't pay the full amount for the project up front" (FTC). See how much deposit to pay a contractor.

What to ask the contractor, in one message

The load calculation, or the method used, showing why this amperage was chosen and which loads drive it.
The panel make, model, amperage and number of spaces, and a count of new breakers.
The size and material of the service entrance conductors, and whether the meter base is new and stays in the same place.
What the grounding and bonding line includes: grounding conductor, electrodes, water and gas pipe bonds.
Who pulls the electrical permit, who arranges the utility service order and disconnect, and any utility fee.
Crew size and days behind the labor line, and whether drywall, stucco or siding patching is included.
Any rebate the quote counts, by program name, state and amount, and who applies for it.

If you would rather not do it line by line, upload the quote and we do it, with every source and formula printed beside every number. We are paid by homeowners only and take no fee from contractors. Check a quote from $39, or get a free teardown first.

Questions

How do I know if I need a 200 amp panel?

Ask for a load calculation. City worksheets based on Article 220 of the National Electrical Code add up the house's loads, apply demand factors, divide by 240 volts and compare the result with the service size. A large new load, such as an EV charger, is added in full on worksheets like Danville's, so ask which load drives the result.

Who disconnects the power for a panel upgrade?

The electric utility. In one city's process (Laguna Niguel, CA), the utility's service order is required before the permit is issued, the utility generally disconnects in the morning and reconnects the same afternoon if the panel passes a preliminary inspection, and the city then releases the meter to the utility. Steps vary by city and utility.

Is there still a federal tax credit for an electrical panel upgrade in 2026?

No. Section 25C covered panel upgrades up to $600 for panels of at least 200 amps, but the IRS says the credit is not allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Can I get a rebate for an electrical panel upgrade?

Possibly, depending on your state and income. Federal law allows up to $4,000 for an electric load service center upgrade under the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program, for households below 150% of area median income. DOE says rebates are available in select states; ask your state energy office.

What does an electrician earn per hour?

The BLS May 2025 national wage for electricians is $30.38 median and $52.17 at the 90th percentile per hour. That is pay, not a billing rate.

Sources

Every figure above links to the public record it comes from. Wages were looked up in USCCDB v1.0, which carries the BLS file as published. Agency pages, reports and rules are quoted as published on October 16, 2026; check the source for changes.

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