Panel & service upgrades

Electrical Panel Replacement & Service Upgrades in Raleigh, NC

Free in-home quotes, no trip charge, licensed electricians, and a written price before any work begins.

Panel upgrade solutions in Raleigh and all of Wake County. Do some of your breakers trip often? Or maybe your panel still uses fuses, or perhaps you’re thinking of adding an EV charger, hot tub, or other home addition. An electrical panel upgrade brings your home’s electrical service up to modern safety standards and can increase your home’s electrical load capacity as well.

Get my free panel evaluation(919) 888-3500

4.9 ★ · 531 reviews · Licensed & insured · Eaton Certified Contractor · NC License #29565

4.9 ★531 reviewsGoogle and Yelp, combined
2011Founded in Wake CountyTwo local families, still here
$0Trip chargeFree in-home quotes, no estimate fee
5 yrWarrantyOn our workmanship, parts and labor
Signs it’s time

Signs your panel needs an evaluation

ARC Electric has upgraded electrical panels throughout Raleigh and the surrounding area, from small 100-amp fuse boxes to full 200-amp and 400-amp service upgrades. If you are experiencing any of these issues, do not hesitate to call for your free in-home quote!

A symptom isn’t a diagnosis. Flickering lights or a breaker that keeps tripping can come from a loose connection or one bad breaker, not a failing panel. That’s why we look first, and why a new panel is never our automatic answer.

  • Breakers trip frequently, even with normal use
  • Lights flicker or dim when appliances run
  • Rust, corrosion, scorch marks, a buzzing sound or a warm cover on the panel or meter box
  • Your home still has a fuse box, or a panel brand we recommend replacing
  • You’re out of spaces for new circuits
  • You’re adding an EV charger, hot tub, workshop, addition or electric appliances
  • Your panel is rated below 100 amps, or is more than 25–30 years old
  • Your homeowner’s insurance has flagged an outdated panel (common with Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels)

Three different jobs: which one do you need?

“Panel upgrade” gets used for all three. Knowing the difference makes your quote easy to read.

Fixes the panel

Panel replacement

A new breaker panel and new breakers, usually at the same amperage.

  • A brand we recommend replacing, like Federal Pacific or Zinsco
  • Heat damage, water damage or corrosion, on any brand of any age
  • Out of spaces, or no AFCI/GFCI breakers made for it
Fixes the service

Service replacement

New service equipment, like the meter base, main breaker or service wires, at the size you already have.

  • A rusted or overheating meter base
  • A corroded outdoor meter combo
  • Worn service wires or grounding

Like the Cary meter combo and Apex meter base we replaced this year.

Adds capacity

Service upgrade

A bigger service: up to 200 amps, or 400 amps for larger homes and heavy loads. Usually a new panel, meter base, larger service wires and updated grounding.

  • Your calculated load is close to, or over, capacity
  • You’re adding an EV charger, hot tub, heat pump, shop or addition
  • You’re switching gas appliances to electric

A new panel doesn’t raise your amperage by itself. Your capacity is set by your service: the meter base, the service wires and the main breaker. If you need more capacity, that’s a service upgrade, and your quote will say so.

Sizing

How we find the right size

We don’t sell the biggest service by default. We run a load calculation (the NEC Article 220 method inspectors use) and check the condition of your existing service equipment, then recommend the size your home actually needs.

100 A

Smaller or older homes, often with gas heat, range or dryer. Many are fine as they are.

150 A

A middle step for homes that have outgrown 100 amps but don’t need 200.

200 A

The standard for most modern homes, including many with an EV charger.

400 A

Larger homes and heavy loads: multiple HVAC systems, EV charging, a pool, hot tub or shop.

Quick check

Does your panel have room?

Your panel’s capacity is measured in volt-amps (VA). Tell us what’s in the house and what you’re adding, and see how much of that capacity you’d use.

The number on the main breaker at the top of your panel, times 240 volts
3 VA per sq ft for lighting and outlets
Heating & cooling
What’s electric now?
What are you adding?
48,000VA panel capacity
0VA calculated load
0VA to spare

Run the full calculationGet my free panel evaluation

Planning estimate using the NEC Article 220 standard method with typical defaults. A licensed electrician checks nameplates on site before a permit is filed.

Repair or replace?

Sometimes you don’t need a new panel

Our electricians aren’t paid commission, so they have no reason to sell you a panel you don’t need. When one of these fixes the problem, that’s what we’ll recommend.

Replace a breaker

One worn or failing breaker, in a panel that’s otherwise in good shape, with the right replacement available.

Repair a connection

A loose or overheated connection can cause flickering and tripping. If the bus isn’t damaged, fixing the connection may be all it takes.

Add a subpanel

Out of spaces, but plenty of capacity? A subpanel for a garage, shop or addition can be the answer.

EV load management

A load manager, such as the Siemens Inhab LM1160, can let an EV charger share capacity instead of requiring an upgrade. It isn’t right for every home, so we check whether it’s an option when we quote.

No-pressure pricing

Where we saved customers money

Real examples of reusing what was still good, pricing more than one option, and fixing the actual problem.

Apex · Signature No. 006

Reused what was still good

An overheating meter base on a 1974 home had to go. The riser and the feed to the subpanel were still good, so we reused them and kept the price down.

See the job
Cary · Signature No. 002

Priced two options, not one

For a 1969 home with aluminum wiring, we priced a full rewire and a lower-cost fix: a new panel with AFCI breakers, surge protection and AlumiConn connectors. The homeowners chose the fix.

See the job
Second opinion · Google review
“They quoted me $3800 to replace the entire electric panel. I called ARC for a second opinion. They were able to fix the actual issue the same day and for $190.”

Nancy C., Google ★★★★★

ARC Signature Work

Recent panel jobs

Real jobs, photographed on site and signed by the ARC electrician who did the work.

See all panels & service jobs

Want us to look at yours? It’s free, with no trip charge and no obligation.

Get my free panel evaluation(919) 888-3500
From our jobs

What we find, and what we leave behind

Our own photos from panel and service jobs. Every panel we install gets every circuit labeled.

Before and after of a 200-amp electrical panel replacement
A 200-amp panel replacement, before and after.
Two Federal Pacific panels in a commercial building before replacement
Before: two Federal Pacific panels in a commercial building.
Two new electrical panels installed in place of Federal Pacific panels
After: both replaced with new panels.
Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panel label and breakers before replacement
A Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel we were called to replace.
Old fuse panel with a pull-out main before replacement
An old fuse panel, before we replaced it with a modern breaker panel.
Heat damage at the bus connections inside an electrical panel
Heat damage at a panel’s bus connections. A new breaker can’t fix this.
New 200-amp meter base with main breaker on a brick home
A new 200-amp meter main: the meter base and main breaker in one outdoor enclosure.
Two new 200-amp panels installed side by side
Two 200-amp panels replaced side by side.
Know your panel

Panels we recommend replacing or evaluating for an upgrade

Some panels we recommend replacing outright. Others depend on condition, and a repair can be enough. Here’s where we stand on each, and why.

Replace affected equipment

Heat damage, water damage or corrosion

This one applies to any brand, any age, even a panel installed a few years ago. What we look for:

  • Heat damage: scorched or melted breakers, discolored bus or wires
  • Water damage: a leak or flood that reached the panel or meter
  • Corrosion: rust on the enclosure, bus or connections, often from moisture, a leak above, or an outdoor enclosure that’s rusting through

Damaged connections and insulation can compromise protection, and a new breaker won’t repair a burned or corroded bus connection. We replace the affected equipment as inspection and manufacturer guidance require. Eaton water-damage guidance

Recommend replacement

Federal Pacific Electric (Stab-Lok)

Testing documented Stab-Lok breakers that failed required trip-calibration tests, which raises real doubts about whether they’ll trip on an overload. A new panel replaces the whole breaker system. To be precise: the CPSC closed its investigation in 1983 without determining the equipment’s safety, and there was no blanket recall. CPSC findings

Recommend replacement

Zinsco and Zinsco-design Sylvania / GTE-Sylvania

The documented problems are overheated breaker-to-bus connections and breakers that don’t trip properly. Swapping individual breakers doesn’t fix a damaged bus. This applies to Zinsco-design equipment, not everything with a Sylvania label. Published breaker research

Evaluate for modernization

Pushmatic / Bulldog Pushmatic

These legacy panels can have aging mechanisms, limited room to expand and few options for modern protective breakers. Replacement breakers are still made, so the brand alone isn’t a defect. Replacing it makes the most sense when it’s deteriorated or you’re planning bigger electrical work. Replacement manufacturer

Inspect, consider replacing

Wadsworth

Another legacy system. Replacement breakers still exist, so we base the recommendation on deterioration, capacity, compatible parts, and what it costs to keep it running versus upgrading. Replacement manufacturer

Upgrade when warranted

Older fuse boxes

Properly sized fuses protect a circuit just fine. The concerns are aging connections, too few circuits, and oversized or bypassed fuses. A modern panel makes it easy to add circuits and AFCI/GFCI protection.

Inspect carefully

Challenger

Certain Challenger HAGF-15 and HAGF-20 GFCI breakers made February to April 1988 were recalled because their ground-fault protection could fail. That isn’t a recall of every Challenger panel. Depending on the panel’s condition and labeling, an approved replacement breaker may solve it without a new panel. CPSC recall

What’s not on this list. We don’t put every ITE, Murray, Bryant, Westinghouse or older Square D panel on a replace-it list. The model, its condition, parts compatibility and any specific recall are what matter, and that’s what we check on a free visit.

Home inspector or insurance company flagged your panel? We’ll look at it, tell you straight whether it needs replacing, and every replacement is permitted and inspected.

Pricing

Why we quote panels in person

A price given site unseen isn’t accurate, and we’d be cautious of any company that quotes a panel replacement without visiting your home or business. That’s exactly why our quotes are free and in-home, and you get a written price before any work begins.

What changes the price

  • Amperage, and whether it’s a replacement or an upgrade
  • Where the panel and meter are, and how easy they are to reach
  • Power company requirements for the shut-off and reconnect
  • Grounding and bonding that needs updating
  • Wiring repairs we find along the way
  • Your town’s permit fee
  • Any drywall that has to be cut

What your quote includes

As it applies to the work we’re quoting:

  • The panel and breakers
  • Service equipment: meter base, main breaker, service wires
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Whole-house surge protection (recommended option)
  • Every circuit labeled
  • Permit, inspection and power-company coordination
  • Cleanup and a final walkthrough
  • Our 5-year workmanship warranty

How a panel job works with ARC

From the first visit to the final walkthrough, one company handles all of it, including the paperwork.

  1. 1

    Free evaluation

    An ARC electrician looks at your panel, meter base and grounding, and works out your load. No trip charge.

  2. 2

    Written options

    Every reasonable option, priced, with the permit fee on its own line. No commission, no upselling.

  3. 3

    Permits & utility

    We file the permit, book the inspection and schedule the power company. Permits by town.

  4. 4

    Installation

    Most jobs are done in a single day, with the power off for part of it.

  5. 5

    Inspection & power on

    The inspection releases the power ticket, and we coordinate the reconnect with Duke Energy or the Town of Apex.

  6. 6

    Final walkthrough

    We walk you through the new panel, with every circuit labeled, and clean up before we leave.

The day of the job

What to expect while the power’s off

Time on site and time without power aren’t the same. In most cases the power only needs to be off for one day, and on our recent jobs it was off for about 4 to 6 hours. If a job will need longer, we tell you before any work begins.

What can make it longer: the power company’s reconnect schedule, the inspection that releases the power ticket, and damage we can’t see until the panel is opened.

Drywall: we keep cutting to a minimum and tell you where and how much before we start. We don’t patch or paint drywall (we’re amazing electricians, but our drywall and painting skills are lacking), so we’ll recommend local painting companies we’ve worked with.

How to get ready

  • You can stay home.
  • No heat or AC while the power is off. On really hot days, plan for it.
  • No internet either, which matters if you work from home.
  • Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible so they hold their temperature.
  • Open the garage door before we shut the power off. If you need it closed, we can help bring it down manually.
Modern protection

The protection a new panel makes possible

In plain terms, here’s what gets installed and what it does.

AFCI breakers

Arc-fault breakers trip on the arcing that starts electrical fires, like a loose connection or a damaged cord. Many older panels have no AFCI breakers made for them.

GFCI vs AFCI explained

GFCI protection

Ground-fault protection shuts off power in a fraction of a second when current leaks to ground, protecting people from shock in kitchens, baths, garages and outdoors.

Whole-house surge protector

It’s required on new construction. When we’re replacing an existing panel it isn’t mandatory, but we highly recommend it: one surge protector at the panel covers every circuit, including the electronics in your HVAC, appliances and EV charger.

Whole-house surge protection

Grounding & bonding

Grounding gives fault current a safe path, and bonding ties metal systems like gas and water lines together. We check and update both, and add gas line bonding where it’s missing.

Small outdoor equipment panel with two 240-volt GFCI breakers
GFCI protection at an outdoor equipment panel: two 240-volt GFCI breakers.

A new panel doesn’t replace the wiring in your walls. It protects the circuits it feeds, but aging wiring throughout the house is a separate job. If we see wiring that concerns us, we’ll show you.

While the panel’s open: generator-ready

A generator inlet and interlock lets a portable generator power the circuits you choose, safely. See the inlet and interlock we added in Holly Springs or our generator page.

Brands we install

Square D, Eaton and Siemens

We install the major brands your local supply house stocks, so parts and breakers are easy to get for decades. Each brand has two lines, and your quote shows which one we’re pricing.

Square D QO & Homeline

QO is Square D’s premium line, with compact ¾-inch breakers and a Visi-Trip indicator that shows which breaker tripped. Homeline is its standard line, with 1-inch breakers. The two lines’ breakers aren’t interchangeable.

Eaton CH & BR

CH is Eaton’s premium line, with compact ¾-inch breakers. BR is its standard line, with 1-inch breakers and parts at nearly every supply house. We’re an Eaton Certified Contractor.

Siemens

Siemens load centers and breakers are the third brand we install regularly, with parts easy to find locally. Siemens also makes the Inhab EV load manager we can install instead of a service upgrade in some homes.

Accountability

Who does the work, and who you call after

Licensed & insured

  • NC Unlimited electrical contractor, License #29565 (verify at NCBEEC.org)
  • Eaton Certified Contractor · Certified Generac installer
  • NECA member · BBB A+ accredited

Our own electricians

Nine electricians and three apprentices, in marked trucks and uniforms, background-checked. Every Signature job is signed by the electrician who did it.

5-year warranty

If there’s ever a problem with our workmanship, we cover the parts and labor to fix it for five years. If a part itself is defective, the manufacturer’s warranty covers the part and we cover the labor to replace it for five years. Need service? Call (919) 888-3500. We answer in-house during business hours, and after hours an answering service reaches the on-call electrician.

Full warranty terms
Reviews

What customers say about our panel work

Real Google reviews about panels, subpanels, grounding and service work.

★★★★★
“ARC was great all around. Called first thing in the morning and Jacob was out that afternoon. Quickly diagnosed our panel issue, showed us all the options, and he made it make sense for us. Great experience and would happily call again”
Bryan M., Google
★★★★★
“When I had electricial issues in my townhome I first called the big company that does a lot of advertising. They quoted me $3800 to replace the entire electric panel. I called ARC for a second opinion. They were able to fix the actual issue the same day and for $190. Nice, friendly and reliable.”
Nancy C., Google
★★★★★
“Nate came to my house to give me an estimate the other day. It was detailed, reasonable and the job was set. Travis and JD preformed the installation of the sub panel and grounding rods at my house. They were on time, prepared, professional and worked diligently until the job was complete. They took the time to answer questions and were willing to explain the things they were doing. I would not hesitate to have them do work for me again. Thanks to the quality work they did, ARC has gained a loyal customer.”
John J., Google
★★★★★
“Excellent experience from beginning to end. They were quick to respond to my request for quote and provided a competitive price to upgrade my service meter panel to accept a generator input and to add wiring and junction boxes for three lights above my garage doors. Technicians Tyler and Chris were on time and courteous and completed the work ahead of schedule. Look forward to working with them again!”
Clark O., Google

Read all 531 reviews

Get my free panel evaluation(919) 888-3500
Adding an EV charger?

Duke Energy’s credit can cover the panel work.

If you’re a Duke Energy Progress customer, the Charger Prep Credit pays up to $1,117 per charger toward the wiring, breakers and panel upgrades a home charger needs. It doesn’t cover the charger itself or the permit fee.

EV charger installation
  • You own the home, and the EV is registered at that address.
  • A licensed contractor does the work, with a permit.
  • You apply within 120 days of the invoice or the EV registration, whichever is later.
  • We itemize the invoice the way Duke asks for it: materials, labor and permit on separate lines.

Panel upgrades across the Triangle

We upgrade panels in Raleigh, Cary, Apex and all of Wake County, plus Durham, Chapel Hill and Johnston County. Our shop is in Fuquay-Varina.

Related services

The ARC Promise

Every panel we install is covered by the ARC Promise.

We started ARC because nobody we met was happy with the last electrician they hired. So we set three rules and put them in writing.

Read the Promise
  • Free in-home quotes. No trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation.
  • No commission. Our electricians are paid the same whether you spend $150 or $15,000, so nobody is selling you a panel you don’t need.
  • Free second opinions. Got a big panel quote from someone else? We’ll look at it, in person, for free.

Common electrical panel upgrade questions

How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel?

It depends on the amperage, whether the meter base or service wires need replacing, and what your town charges for the permit. We don’t guess over the phone: an ARC electrician looks at your setup in person, for free, and you get a written quote with every option priced and the permit fee on its own line.

Can you give me a price over the phone?

Not an accurate one. The price depends on things we can only see in person: your meter base, grounding, where the panel sits and what’s inside it. That’s exactly why our quotes are free and in-home. Be cautious of any company that quotes a panel replacement without seeing your home or business.

Do I need 200 amps?

Not necessarily. Most modern homes are well-served by a 200-amp panel, but plenty of homes are fine at 100 or 150 amps. Larger homes, homes with EV charging, or homes with high electrical demand (workshops, hot tubs, multiple HVAC systems) may need 400-amp service. A load calculation decides it, and we’ll recommend the right size during your free quote.

Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel?

Yes. Panel upgrades in Wake County require an electrical permit and a final inspection. ARC Electric can help with all required permits as part of your panel upgrade, so you don’t have to worry about all the paperwork and hassle.

Who schedules the power company?

We do. We schedule the shut-off, pass the inspection that releases the power ticket, and coordinate the reconnect with your power company, whether that’s Duke Energy or the Town of Apex.

How long does a panel upgrade take?

Most residential panel upgrades are completed in a single day, though scheduling the required permit and inspection can add a few days to the overall timeline. In most cases the power only needs to be off for one day, and if a job will need longer, we tell you before any work begins.

Can I stay home during the work?

Yes. Just plan for no heating or air conditioning and no internet while the power is off, which matters on hot days and if you work from home. Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible, and open the garage door before we shut the power off (we can help close it manually if needed).

Will drywall need to be cut?

Sometimes, and we keep it to a minimum. When cutting is needed, we tell you where and how much before we start. We don’t patch or paint drywall (we’re amazing electricians, but our drywall and painting skills are lacking), so we’ll recommend local painting companies we’ve worked with.

Can you keep my existing wiring?

Usually, yes. A panel replacement reconnects your existing circuits to the new panel. If we find wiring that’s damaged or needs attention, we’ll show you and price it separately. Keep in mind a new panel doesn’t replace aging wiring in the walls.

Will my solar or generator connection be affected?

We work on homes with solar. We do a full assessment when we quote the job and determine whether any special precautions or procedures are needed. An existing generator inlet or interlock is part of that assessment too.

Can you give me a second opinion on another company’s quote?

Yes, for free and in person. It’s part of the ARC Promise. Sometimes a repair is all you need.

Can I upgrade my electrical panel myself?

No — panel upgrades involve connecting to your home’s main electrical service and require a licensed electrician and a permitted inspection. DIY panel work is also a common cause of house fires and code violations. We strongly suggest using a properly licensed and insured electrician to do this work. NC electrical license status can be verified at NCBEEC.org.

Do I need a service upgrade to add an EV charger?

Not always. Plenty of homes have room for a charger on the panel they already have, and in some homes an EV load manager is an option instead of an upgrade. Try the quick check on this page or our full load calculator, or we’ll run the numbers on site.

Will Duke Energy’s EV credit pay for a panel upgrade?

It can. Duke Energy Progress’s Charger Prep Credit covers panel upgrades and breaker work needed for a home EV charger, up to $1,117 per charger. You have to own the home and have the EV registered at that address, and you apply within 120 days. Details are on our EV charger page.

Were Federal Pacific panels recalled?

No. The Consumer Product Safety Commission closed its investigation of Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers in 1983 without determining whether they were safe, and there was no blanket recall. Testing did document breakers that failed required trip-calibration tests, which is why we recommend replacing Federal Pacific panels rather than adding to them.

Do I need a whole-house surge protector?

It’s required on new construction. When we’re replacing an existing panel it isn’t mandatory, but we highly recommend it: the panel is already open, and one surge protector covers every circuit in the house. See whole-house surge protection.

Get a free in-home quote

Tell us what’s going on with your panel and we’ll call to set a time. Or skip the form and call now; a person answers.

  • No trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation
  • Price in writing before work starts
  • Licensed electricians, not paid on commission
(919) 888-3500

ARC Electric

  • Address: 2406 Waco Commercial Ct, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm
  • Emergency hours: 24/7, 365 days a year

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