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Electrical service wires connected to homes

Electrical Service Upgrades vs Electrical Panel Upgrades

The electrical system in your home has many parts that work together to function correctly. The electrical service and the electrical panel are two essential parts of that system. They each play a unique role in powering your home, but they confuse many homeowners. That can create serious problems when planning electrical additions for the home.

Electrical service and electrical panel upgrades, explained

The electrical system in your home has many parts that work together to function correctly. The electrical service and the electrical panel are two essential parts of that system. They each play a unique role in powering your home, but they confuse many homeowners. That can create serious problems when planning electrical additions for the home.

To help, we're here to explain the difference between an electrical service and an electrical panel and what it might look like to upgrade them. We'll explain when either needs an upgrade, how the upgrades work, and their costs.

Electrical Service Upgrades:

The electrical service is the infrastructure that brings power into your home from the power grid. In most cases, the service is a set of overhead lines that carries electricity from a hydro pole to your electrical panel via a pipe that runs through your home's roof. In newer neighbourhoods, the electrical service often runs underground.

Average homes typically use up to 100A of electricity. However, larger homes and those with pools, EV chargers, large garages, etc., generally need a 200A service.

When are electrical service upgrades needed?

When adding to your home, you may require more electricity to power your additions. If your 100A home can't keep up, a service upgrade is right for you! Home renovations and extensions, EV chargers, hot tubs, pools, and new equipment are just some additions that can increase your home's electrical demand.

an electrical service explainer

How much does an electrical service upgrade cost?

An electrical service upgrade ranges in price depending on the amount of wire needed and the amount of other required materials, to name a few factors. The costs typically range from $1600 to $3100. There may be additional costs involved depending on your municipality. You will need your local electrical provider to temporarily disconnect your home from the power grid for this work to occur. Homeowners get one free electrical disconnect annually in many locales, but not all. Contact your hydro provider to learn of any additional costs.

The job usually needs two electricians and takes one day to complete. The process involves replacing existing service conductors, the meter base, the electrical panel, and the pipe and weatherhead that houses wiring if it isn't the correct size. Fortunately, it is a quick and straightforward process. After completion, your hydro company will reconnect your home.

Electrical Panels

When are electrical panel upgrades needed?

Just like a service, a panel has a capacity for the power your home uses. If you have a 100A service, you will have a 100A panel. The panel must follow suit if you upgrade to 200A service because of higher power demand.

Panels aren't just about electrical capacity, though. If your home currently has fuses, it might be time to upgrade to a breaker panel, which is now preferred. If you prefer a more luxurious option, upgrading your existing panel to a smart panel allows you to monitor electrical usage in real-time, remotely turn off breakers, know why a breaker tripped, and find faulty appliances.

How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost?

An electrical panel upgrade ranges in price. The panel size and number of circuits to reconnect can change the job's price. The cost typically ranges between $1200-1600. Many customers also add a surge protector to the upgrade because it is one of the market's most affordable electrical protection devices. 

An electrical panel getting upgraded

The process takes one day of work and requires one electrician. The electrician shuts off the power supply while replacing the panel. They will then disconnect all breakers, fuses, and lines from circuits, replace the board, reconnect it, and install new breakers.

Understanding the difference between service and panel upgrades is crucial for homeowners. While the former expands the overall capacity of the electrical system, the latter expands and improves the safety of your power distribution. Regardless of the upgrade, you will ensure a safe, sufficient, and reliable power supply for your property.

As a licensed electrical contractor serving Southern Ontario, our team has extensive experience providing electrical service and panel upgrades. Contact us today at 1-844-667-6937, service@kraun.ca, or by filling out the form below to discuss your future upgrade needs. We offer free quotes and are looking forward to getting started!

Let's start a job together.

Serving the Hamilton and Niagara area.