Electrical Service Upgrade

If your home has less than 200-amp electrical service, consider upgrading your electric service to prepare your home for clean energy.

Why should you consider an electrical service upgrade?

Your home’s electrical service determines how much electricity your appliances can use. Older homes typically have less than 200-amp electrical service. Electrical service upgrades increase your home’s value and prepare it for clean energy solutions like heat pumps and electric vehicles.

How to determine whether you need an electrical service upgrade

Homeowners can check out this site for instructions on how to determine the amperage of your home’s electric service. This Old House also has a helpful video that shows what an electrician will do to upgrade your electric meter and panel.

How to upgrade your electrical service

Talk to an electrician about how to upgrade your electrical service. A licensed electrician will perform the upgrade and work with your local permitting agency to ensure the job is code-compliant. This upgrade typically takes one day to complete, and usually costs $2,500 to $4,500, but can be more depending on your home.

Electrical service upgrades may be necessary for clean energy solutions including:

Air-source heat pumps | Ground-source heat pumps | Electric vehicles | Solar electricity

Video

Explanation of Electrical Service Upgrade | Part 1

This Old House | 5 min. 41 sec.

Master electrician Scott Caron demonstrates the first, outdoor phase of upgrading to 200-amp electrical service.

Video

Explanation of Electrical Service Upgrade | Part 2

This Old House | 4 min. 33 sec.

Scott demonstrates the second phase of the process: installing a new service panel. NOTE: All of this work should only be performed by a professional electrician.

Incentives and Financing

Federal Tax Credits

Inflation Reduction Act: 30% Federal tax credit capped at $600/year if upgrade completed to enable additional qualified home energy projects; 30% Federal tax credit uncapped if upgrade completed in conjunction with installing Solar Electricity.

Municipal Light Plant

If you live in a town served by a Municipal Light Plant (MLP) check your MLP’s website for incentives and rebates.

Federal Rebates

Inflation Reduction Act: Up to $4,000 depending on your household size and income

Example Cost for a 2,000 FT² Home

Cost after incentives is estimated by deducting Federal Tax Credit from up-front cost.
Cost after incentives may be substantially lower if your household qualifies for income-scaled Federal rebates.

Example up-front cost before incentives

$3,500

Example cost after
incentives

$2,900