Electrical Panel Upgrade in Houston, TX

Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s power system. If it’s outdated, undersized, or showing signs of failure, it’s not just an inconvenience — it’s a safety hazard. Emergency Electrician Houston provides professional electrical panel upgrades across Greater Houston, from 100-to-200-amp service upgrades to full breaker box replacements.

Signs You Need a Panel Upgrade

Most Houston homeowners don’t think about their electrical panel until something goes wrong. These are the warning signs that it’s time for an upgrade:

Your panel is more than 25 years old. Electrical panels have a typical lifespan of 25–40 years. If your home was built before 2000 and the panel has never been replaced, it’s worth having it inspected.

Breakers trip frequently. Occasional trips are normal. But if you’re resetting breakers weekly — especially when running common appliances like a hair dryer and microwave at the same time — your panel is likely undersized for your home’s electrical load.

You have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel. These panels were installed in thousands of Houston-area homes between the 1950s and 1980s. Both brands have documented defects that prevent breakers from tripping during overloads, creating serious fire risks. If you have either brand, replacement is strongly recommended.

You’re adding high-demand equipment. EV chargers, hot tubs, home additions, or upgraded HVAC systems all require additional electrical capacity. A panel upgrade ensures your home can handle the load safely.

Visible damage or burning smells. Scorch marks, corrosion, rust, or a burning smell coming from your panel are signs of immediate danger. Call us right away.

Our Panel Upgrade Process

Every panel upgrade follows the same professional process:

1. On-site assessment — We inspect your current panel, evaluate your home’s electrical load, and discuss your current and future power needs.
2. Written estimate — You receive a detailed, upfront quote with no hidden fees before any work begins.
3. Permit acquisition — We handle all City of Houston or county electrical permits on your behalf.
4. Utility coordination — We schedule the temporary power disconnection with CenterPoint Energy.
5. Panel installation — We remove the old panel, install a new 200-amp panel from Square D, Eaton, or Siemens, and transfer all circuits.
6. Circuit labeling — Every circuit is clearly labeled for future reference.
7. Testing and inspection — We test every circuit, verify proper grounding, and schedule the required city inspection.

Panel Upgrade Costs in Houston

Panel upgrade pricing depends on the scope of work:

• 100-to-200-amp service upgrade: $2,000–$4,000
• Panel replacement (same amperage): $1,500–$2,800
• Federal Pacific / Zinsco replacement: $2,000–$3,500
• Subpanel installation: $800–$1,500
• Meter base replacement (if required by CenterPoint): $500–$1,200

All prices include permits, labor, materials, and post-installation inspection. We provide free written estimates.

Panel Brands We Install

We install commercial-grade panels from trusted manufacturers: Square D (Schneider Electric), Eaton (Cutler-Hammer), and Siemens. We do not install budget-tier panels. Every panel we install meets or exceeds NEC 2023 code requirements and comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.

Serving All of Greater Houston

We perform panel upgrades across Greater Houston, including Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Cypress, Spring, Pasadena, The Heights, Montrose, Memorial, The Woodlands, and all neighborhoods within our 20-mile service radius.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a panel upgrade take? Most residential panel upgrades are completed in one day, typically 4–8 hours. Your power will be off for most of that time. We recommend planning accordingly — especially if you work from home or have medical equipment that requires power.

Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade in Houston? Yes. All panel upgrades in Houston require an electrical permit and a post-installation inspection. We handle the entire permitting process for you.

Will a panel upgrade increase my home’s value? Yes. A modern 200-amp panel is a selling point for buyers and appraisers. It also eliminates a common red flag on home inspections, which can prevent deal delays when you sell.

Can I upgrade my panel to support an EV charger? Absolutely. This is one of the most common reasons Houston homeowners upgrade their panels. A Level 2 EV charger typically requires a dedicated 40–50 amp circuit. If your panel doesn’t have the capacity, we can upgrade it and install the charger circuit in the same visit.