Electrical Service Upgrade
Gragg Electrical Services performs professional electrical service upgrades to increase your home’s power capacity. Our electricians in East Canton, OH ensure your home can safely handle modern electrical demands.

Top Electrical Service Upgrade Service in East Canton, OH
A main electrical service upgrade is a comprehensive project that modernizes and enhances your home’s entire electrical foundation. Gragg Electrical Services is the leading expert in full service upgrades in the East Canton area. We replace your old, undersized service equipment with a new, high-capacity system. This is essential for older homes struggling to keep up with today’s power demands. An upgrade to 150 or 200 amps allows you to safely add major appliances, remodel your kitchen, or install an EV charger. It improves safety by replacing aging components and bringing your system up to current code. Trust our licensed electricians to manage this complex project with professionalism and precision. An electrical service upgrade is the ultimate investment in your home’s safety, capability, and value.
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Electrical Service Upgrade
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Electrical Service Upgrade
An electrical service upgrade is a complete overhaul of the main power-feeding equipment for your home. This project goes beyond just a panel change; it involves replacing all the core components that bring electricity from the utility’s lines into your house. This includes the service entrance conductors, the electric meter base, and the main electrical panel itself. The primary goal of a service upgrade is to increase your home’s total electrical capacity, typically from an older 60 or 100-amp service to the modern standard of 150 or 200 amps. The team at Gragg Electrical Services manages this entire complex process, ensuring a safe and seamless transition to a more powerful and reliable electrical system.
The most compelling reason for a service upgrade is to meet the demands of modern living. Homes built decades ago were not designed for the sheer number of electrical devices we use today. A 100-amp service can be easily overwhelmed by central air conditioning, electric cooking, and multiple computers and entertainment systems running at once. This leads to tripping breakers and flickering lights. If you are planning a major kitchen remodel, adding a home addition, or installing a powerful new appliance like a hot tub or electric vehicle charger, a service upgrade is not just recommended, it is often a necessity to safely handle the new electrical load.
The process of a service upgrade begins with careful planning and coordination with your local utility company. Our electricians will handle all the necessary permits and schedule a temporary disconnection of your power. On the day of the upgrade, the utility will de-energize the service drop to your home. Our team will then get to work, starting on the outside of your house. We will remove the old service mast or riser, the weathered service entrance cables, and the old meter base. We replace these with new, larger-capacity components that are rated for your new, more powerful service.
The new service entrance conductors we install are significantly thicker than the old ones to safely carry the higher amperage. We install a new, modern meter base that is clean and weather-tight, ensuring a secure connection for the utility’s electric meter. We pay close attention to the service mast and weatherhead, ensuring a strong, waterproof entry point for the wires on your home. This exterior work is crucial for the long-term durability and safety of your electrical service, protecting it from the harsh Ohio weather for decades to come. Every component we install is of the highest quality and meets or exceeds code requirements.
Inside your home, we replace the old, undersized electrical panel with a new, high-capacity main breaker panel. A 200-amp panel, for example, not only has a larger main breaker but also has more physical space for all your home’s circuit breakers. This provides plenty of empty slots for future circuits, so you will not have to worry about running out of space again. We carefully transfer each of your existing circuits into the new panel, ensuring every wire is connected to a new, reliable breaker and that all connections are properly torqued. We pride ourselves on creating a neat, well-organized, and clearly labeled panel.
A critical and mandatory part of any service upgrade is the installation of a new, code-compliant grounding electrode system. A safe electrical system relies on a solid connection to the earth. We will install new ground rods and connect the system to your metallic water pipes, as required by the current National Electrical Code. This ensures that your new, powerful service has the proper safety backbone to protect your home and family from shocks and faults. This grounding system is a non-negotiable part of the upgrade and is something our electricians perform with meticulous care.
Upon completion, a service upgrade provides immense benefits. It eliminates the frustrating performance issues of an overloaded system, like flickering lights. It dramatically enhances the electrical safety of your home by replacing old, worn-out equipment with modern, reliable components. It gives you the power and capacity you need to modernize your home with the latest technologies and appliances. Finally, a new 200-amp service is a significant feature that adds considerable value to your property. It is a powerful investment in your home’s future.e rebuilt so the utility can get you back on the grid as quickly as possible.
Gragg Electric is the best! They saved our Memorial Day Weekend! Corey was the best! Highly recommend this company!
Amazing service! Gragg managed to fit us in on a busy holiday weekend Friday. Corey was fantastic—he diagnosed and fixed the problem in no time at all.
Mike was phenomenal. Highly recommend this company. Great pricing and very prompt. I would give it 10 stars if I could .
Corey came after hours and handled business and he was phenomenal- didn't upsell me - just solved my problem and got me power again. Can't thank him enough
Came in and fixed our problem in less than 20 minutes. VERY THANKFULLY FOR COREY!!
Update….Used Gragg again on 5/15/26. Still same great service. They are our go to for electrical work always! Professional. Arrived timely. Explained issues. Nice guys. Reasonable price. We will call them in future for electrical work. Recommend them to anyone looking for an electrician.
I was selling my house and the buyers home inspection listed a few electrical items that they wanted to repair with our close date coming up I reached out to Gragg electrical they came out same day to give an estimate and did all the work a few days later. They were polite cleaned up and worked and acted very professional. Next the city inspector came out and said they did a good job but he wanted a couple things changed Gragg came back and met the inspector at the house they told me prior to the inspector arriving they would do anything they need to do to make everything right however they wanted to talk to the inspector because they didn’t agree with his list well they when over everything with the inspector and in the end Gragg Electrical was right and no repairs were needed. Very happy with the work and the crew and they would be the first place I would call if I need a electrician again
BRO! Gragg electrical services, and this guy here is awesome!!! If I ever have an electrical issue again I know who I'm calling. I thought he was going to be here after hours so I was prepared for the after hours dispatch fee. He got here before after hours so the dispatch fee was greatly reduced. I believe it only did take him maybe 15-20 minutes and he figured out the problem got her fixed. I don't think I've ever done a review for a company. But if it helps y'all and it helps him I'm down. Thank you so much again Mike. My daughter has power in her room again. I salute you dude.
Corey was dead spot on! You're lucky to have him for an employee! I will use Craig electric for all my electrical needs from now on!
Fast, friendly service at a very reasonable price. Highly recommend their services
I needed an electrician to replace some loose outlet slots on my mom‘s Louisville, Ohio house. I’m listing it for sale after her passing, unfortunately. Gragg electric, from the woman who answers the phone and schedules the appointment to the actual electrician, Michael, were all very helpful, professional and personable. Michael was very communicative and would text me arrival times and actually showed up on that time and even before. He was very accommodating, even doing this job before he actually “clocked on” for work. He brought his own shoe/boot covers and was respectful of me and of my mom‘s home. He even labeled Mom‘s main breaker box which, for some reason was not previously labeled. I would definitely recommend Gragg and Mike Thank you for making this stressful time a little less so
Excellent service! Mike was very professional, called appropriately ahead of time to make sure someone was home. He was upfront about all estimates needed, providing good information the whole time. He answered my questions appropriately and made me feel at ease about my electrical work. Overall, would recommend!
Had them come out for a new home purchase box inspection. My mother in law was home and she said the gentleman was very polite. I had talked to the lady in the office twice and she was very helpful and was able to save me some money! I would recommend this company for sure!
My technician was very informative, was great at breaking down what was going on, explaining how and why. Very very great experience 10/10 would recommend highly.
Mike was great! He called when he was in route, showed up on time and completed the work in a very timely fashion. I felt the cost was reasonable too!
The gentleman (Mike) very professional person, he also explained in detail what had to be done, he sat up everything that had to be done financing and everything. Put us on the schedule as quick as possible. A professional company. Thanks Mike for all you have done for us. Barb Stamps and John T Stamps. I highly recommend this company to anyone.
Mike carefully inspected my house and thoroughly explained the repairs I need. I would highly recommend this company.
Mike was absolutely wonderful to work with. He took time to explain the process to me and made sure I understood everything which actually ended up being very simple. I would HIGHLY recommend Gragg Electric because of Mike.
We would highly recommend this Company. Besides doing excellent work, they treated us extremely well. We felt as if everyone that works there had our best interest in mind.
I setup an appointment online over the weekend for a service call and received a phone call first thing Monday morning. They were able to have a technician out that morning. Mike W. came out and reviewed our problem with a breaker and was able to diagnose some of the issues that caused it. He also explained everything that was found and why it could cause a problem. Very professional and I thought the cost was reasonable.
Excellent service. We had a few outlets in our kitchen go out and lights were flickering. Mike came out so fast and not only got them working but also checked the whole house to make sure everything was working. He was very thorough and made sure we knew what was going on.
Mike did an excellent job diagnosing the issue and solved the problem despite adverse weather conditions. He was courteous and polite and very respectful.
Mike was very cordial, clear in his explanations of the work/estimate that would have to be done and the options that I have. I look forward to having them fix my electrical needs.
Great local company in East Canton. Very knowledgeable and skilled crews. I would highly recommend for your next electrical job!
The technician who came out was thorough and very pleasant. He determined what the issue was with malfunctioning landscape lighting and provided a reasonable quote for repair. Parts needed to be ordered and I’m expecting the same outstanding service when replacement parts are installed.
This was my first time using this company. Response time was great. There was no charge for coming and making an estimate for the work. The electrician was friendly and explained everything. I think this is a great company. Rates were reasonable and I am very pleased with their work.
I could not be happier with my experience, prompt, efficient, clean and diagnosed the problem quickly. I would highly recommend Gragg Electrc
Gragg Electric workmanship is top-notch. Their service and expertise are unmatched, but most importantly, especially in today's economy, they are HONEST and fair priced. I highly recommend them for any electrical work that you may need.
Great experience! Mike was very knowledgeable.Helped me understand all the details of my project without being pushy with sales! Definitely recommend him!
I called Gragg Electrical Services, LLC to come out regarding my dryer outlet not getting enough power. They were able to get me on the schedule the next day at no additional charge! Cory Boosz came out timely and found the issue. He kindly explained what was going on and some potential solutions. Cory did a great job fixing the problem and didn’t even have to turn the power off so I could continue working. He also cleaned up after he was finished. Thank you Cory and Gragg for providing us with kindness and relief during a difficult time. I will definitely be using this company again.
We just finished a detached garage build and needed the whole structure wired from the subpanel to the outlets and lighting. The electrician from Gragg was efficient, clearly experienced with this type of work, and the finished product looks exactly like what I had pictured. Everything is properly grounded, the circuits are sensibly distributed, and it passed the electrical inspection without a single correction. For a project I was a little nervous about managing it went about as smoothly as possible.
The lights in my living room had been flickering intermittently for months and two different electricians had looked at it without finding the cause. Gragg Electrical spent the time to actually trace the issue back to a loose neutral connection at the panel that had been creating voltage fluctuations throughout the circuit. Problem solved on the first real diagnosis. Sometimes you just need someone who is willing to look harder and these guys did exactly that.
Our kitchen renovation required running new circuits for a double oven and an island with dedicated outlet circuits and Gragg Electrical coordinated seamlessly with the rest of our contractors. The rough in work was done on schedule, the inspector had zero notes, and the finish work after drywall was clean and precise. My contractor told me they were the easiest sub on the whole job and that kind of professionalism ripples through an entire project.
We had an issue where we lost power due to the neutral wire breaking on the side of the house. I called Gragg Electric and they were able to send someone out within a few hours. We ended up needing to have not only the wire replaced, but the meter box and additional grounding installed to bring it up to current code. Everyone at Gragg Electric was very kind and professional and worked quickly to get our power restored. I would highly recommend them.
Corey was awesome. He did the job quickly and efficiently. He also answered all my questions.
Cory was so nice, respectful and knowledgeable. He had my problem solved within 15 minutes! I would definitely recommend Gragg in the future and will be working with them again to wire my She-shed!! So excited. A+++++
We had a very large tree fall between the power pole and the house tearing the wires from the house. Gragg is one of the nicest companies I've worked with. Mike W. was our Electrician for the hurry up job. He is professional and helpful, not to mention that he is very nice. I'm glad I picked Gragg Electrical Services and I will happily recommend them!
He was professional and very knowledgeable about the electrical work done.I would highly recommend.
They are quick, professional, and nice to work with. I would definitely recommend them and plan to work with them again.
Great service and people Mike was a pleasure to talk to and work with great company.
Urgent issue. Arrived on time and resolved the issue quickly and ensured everything was safe thank you
We had a recurring problem with loss of power to part of our house that was all on the same circuit. We had a subscription with another company, but when we called they couldn’t get us an appointment for several weeks. We called Gragg and they came out in 3 days. We had a technician name Cory, who was very knowledgeable and diagnosed and fixed the problem very quickly. He explained the problem in terms I could understand. He was competent and friendly to boot. You could tell he loved his job too.
Family can now live in safety because of the awesome people at Gragg Electrical Services. We had 3 outlets with the loosest recepticles you've ever seen. None of our cell phone chargers would stay plugged in... Great electricians and a blessing to our family. Came over to the west side of Massillon for no extra travel fee. Awesome, affordable, and family-oriented.
Called in and spoke with Brittany about needing an estimate, she was so kind and thorough. Cory came out to provide the estimate and was incredibly nice and professional. He took the time to explain everything clearly and answer my questions. I really appreciated his honesty and how easy he was to talk to. Great experience overall!
Very satisfied with quality of service and work will use Gragg for any further electrical work.
Service was quick and complete. I will definitely use them again for my electrical needs.
Excellent, friendly service. Fair price. Mike W. Did a great job!! Thank you
Mike was our technician and he did an outstanding job. He showed up on time, was diligent and solve our problem. I would highly recommend.
Cory was very professional when he arrived. He was respectful of our home and explained the new safety requirements that are now included in their work. I feel very confident working with Gragg.
Mike did an awesome job on our estimate! Was extremely thorough and helped me understand the whole process!
Cory was very knowledgeable and friendly about answering questions, I don’t know the ins and outs about home electricity. We went through the inspection in detail and gave an easy to understand explanation about what is needed. I recommend these folks to anyone looking for a home electrician.
The website is amazing and user friendly! Customer service was outstanding and courteous. Corey was very informative, knowledgeable, polite and prompt. I will be calling Gragg for future electrical work and referring others.
Dr. Frankenstein could take some notes from Kyle and Cam at Gragg Electric, who did an amazing job resurrecting our ancient generator from the dead. Kyle’s customer service was phenomenal. Brittany (hopefully that’s how it’s spelled; my apologies if it’s “Britneigh”) who scheduled the appointment was incredibly friendly and helpful. Cost was reasonable and what I would expect from the service rendered. I would definitely recommend Gragg Electric to others, and I will be having them back for my next electric project!
Great employee that came to our house. The gentleman told us exactly what we needed and why. Answered any questions we had. Great experience!
Mike and his team were able to finish a panel install and completed multiple fixes. Will definitely recommend to others.
Fantastic service! Highly recommend Gragg Electric. Affordable and reliable! Thanks for providing the necessary upgrades we needed.
Andrew and Harley put in an overhead light in my grandma’s living room. They were thorough, double checked and gave us options when something unexpected popped up, and were very kind to my grandma. Highly recommend for their timeliness, excellent communication and friendliness.
Had Mike come do the quote and it was fast and great service. Asked if he himself could come do the final work just from how thorough he was with everything. Highly recommend him.
He was quick and very noligable. Very nice and polite and gets the job done.
Had a great experience kind very professional they did a great job fixing our sign
This company is very nice. Everything went over smoothly and the pricing is reasonable. Thank you Cory for taking your time to find the issue. We finally have working outlets. I definitely recommend.
These guys are great! They were able to fit me in next day for loss power in one our rooms (open neutral). Cory was knowledgeable and professional during his visit. while troubleshooting, he was able to narrow down what might be the cause of the problem. I said "might" because he was not able to access the attic to search for a junction box, to validate his suspicion. I have attic access in the garage but the way the hvac was installed there is no way to get where the connections are. So now i am removing the broken whole house fan so I can have access to those junctions. $150 was worth the visit to help me get closer to finding this open neutral.
I called Gragg Electric because I had discovered that the old 60 amp fuse box that powers my clothes dryer was worn out. Mike came to my house, accessed the situation, came up with the best fix, went and purchased all the materials he needed and came back immediately and installed everything for a very reasonable price.The entire process took just less than 3 hours. Mike did a fantastic job and was totally professional and congenial and gave be advice on afew of my future projects. I could not more satisfied.
They had a tech out to handle my issue within an hour of my same day call. Mike W was knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend this local company.
This was the first place I called but Brittany at the office was extremely accommodating and stayed in contact with me throughout the day to get one of their electricians to my house same day. Cory is extremely knowledgeable and easy to talk to about any concerns. Our home was built in the 80s and there are a lot of what feels like odd decisions made with the electrical layout of our house. Cory helped diagnose a few of those quirks and we will definitely be sleeping easier now that we know there aren’t any major issues. The estimate for upgrading our panel and service was fair for today’s market.
Solid choice for local electrical work. Highly recommend if you are in need of a quality electrician. Handles both residential and commercial.
We had quit a few things that needed done at the house the crew that came out was very respectful! Explained everything they were doing, answered all questions we had, and did an amazing job at everything that needed done . I Will definitely recommend this company to everyone I know.
This company is amazing and actually cared that I wasn't able to come home until work was done and rushed to get me scheduled. Truly the best company around. Out of 14 that I called I'm confident I received the best price and service. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!
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Most Common Electrical Service Upgrade Questions
A main electrical service upgrade is a major home improvement project that modernizes your home’s power supply. Homeowners often have questions about what this process entails and why it is needed. Here are answers to the most common questions about electrical service upgrades.
There are a few ways a homeowner can determine the size of their home’s current electrical service. The most reliable method is to look at the main circuit breaker in your electrical panel. Open the door to your panel and look for the largest breaker, which is typically located at the very top or very bottom of the panel, and is often physically separate from the other breakers. This is the main breaker, and it will have a number stamped on its handle, such as “60,” “100,” “150,” or “200.” This number represents the amperage rating of your home’s service and is the maximum amount of current your entire house can draw.
If your panel is very old and does not have a single main breaker, you may have an old fuse box with a main pull-out fuse block. This block will also have an amperage rating on it. Another clue can be the size of the large service entrance wires that run from your weatherhead down to the meter. While it takes a trained eye to judge accurately, the thickness of these cables can give a rough indication of the service size, with 200-amp service wires being noticeably thicker than 100-amp wires. You can also sometimes find the service rating listed on old inspection stickers inside the panel door.
While these methods can give you a good idea, the only way to be absolutely certain of your service size and, more importantly, its condition, is to have a licensed electrician evaluate it. An electrician can confirm the rating of your service and will also perform a load calculation to determine if that service size is actually adequate for your home’s needs. They can also identify any safety issues with your panel or wiring that you might not be aware of. If you are considering any major additions, a professional assessment is a necessary first step.
Upgrading a home’s electrical service from 100 amps to 200 amps is a comprehensive process that involves replacing all the main components of your electrical service entrance. It starts with your electrician obtaining a permit and coordinating with your local utility provider for a temporary power disconnection. On the day of the upgrade, the utility company shuts off power to your home. The electrician then begins by removing the old 100-amp equipment. This includes the electric meter, the meter base or socket on the side of your house, and the service entrance conductors, which are the large wires running from the connection point on your roof down to the panel.
The electrician then installs a brand new, 200-amp rated meter base and a new, thicker set of 200-amp rated service entrance conductors. If you have an overhead service, this may also involve replacing the service mast on your roof with a stronger, larger diameter one to support the heavier wires. Once all the exterior equipment is replaced, the electrician moves inside and replaces your old 100-amp electrical panel with a new 200-amp main breaker panel. All of your home’s existing circuits are then carefully reconnected to new breakers inside the new panel. A new code-compliant grounding system is also installed.
After the installation is complete, the work must be inspected by the local electrical inspector. Once the inspector approves the work and confirms it meets all safety codes, they will authorize the utility company to restore power. The utility company will then send a crew to reconnect the service drop wires to your new equipment and install the meter. It is a full-day project that results in a completely new, robust, and safe electrical foundation for your home, capable of handling twice the power of your old service.
The terms “service upgrade” and “panel upgrade” are often used interchangeably, but they can mean slightly different things. A “panel upgrade” or “panel changeout” can sometimes refer to simply replacing the electrical panel box itself while keeping the existing service amperage the same. This might be done if the only problem is that the panel is a hazardous brand like FPE or Zinsco, but the existing 100-amp service conductors and meter base are still in good condition and sufficient for the home’s needs. In this case, only the panel is being upgraded.
A “service upgrade,” on the other hand, almost always implies that you are increasing the amperage capacity of the service. Therefore, a service upgrade will always include a panel upgrade, but it also includes much more. To increase the service from 100 amps to 200 amps, you must upgrade all the components to be rated for 200 amps. This means you are replacing the panel, the meter base, and the service entrance wires. A service upgrade is a more comprehensive project that addresses the entire system from the point of connection with the utility inward.
When most people talk about needing a “panel upgrade” because they are running out of power or want to add a major appliance, what they usually need is a full “electrical service upgrade.” Simply replacing the panel with a new 100-amp panel would not give them any additional power. It is important to be clear about your goals with your electrician. At Gragg Electrical Services, we will assess your needs and determine if a simple panel changeout is sufficient or if a full service upgrade is the right solution to meet your goals for safety and capacity.
During a complete electrical service upgrade, you should plan for your home to be without power for most of a full workday. The process typically takes our team of electricians between eight and ten hours to complete. The power outage is necessary because we are replacing the main arteries of your electrical system. The work cannot be done safely while the system is energized. We coordinate with your electric utility provider to have a crew come out first thing in the morning, usually around 8 or 9 AM, to disconnect the power to your home from their transformer.
Once the power is confirmed to be off, our team works diligently throughout the day to remove all the old service equipment and install the new, larger-capacity system. This is a labor-intensive process that must be done with great care and precision. We work as efficiently as possible to minimize the time you are without electricity. After our installation is complete, it must be inspected by the local building inspector. We coordinate this inspection for the same afternoon. The inspector’s approval is required before the utility company is allowed to restore power.
Once the work has passed inspection, the utility company will send their crew back to reconnect your home to the grid. Our goal is always to have your power restored by the end of the business day, typically between 4 and 6 PM. We understand that being without power is a major inconvenience, and we will communicate the schedule with you clearly. We advise homeowners to charge their mobile devices beforehand, make plans for meals that do not require cooking, and consider arranging to work elsewhere for the day if they work from home.
Whether you need a full electrical service upgrade to install a Level 2 EV charger depends entirely on the existing capacity of your electrical system. An electrician must perform a load calculation to determine this. A Level 2 charger adds a significant and continuous load to your panel, typically requiring a dedicated circuit of 40, 50, or even 60 amps. The load calculation will determine if your current service can safely handle this new load in addition to all your existing appliances.
If your home already has a 200-amp service and is not packed with other large electric appliances, it is very likely that you have enough spare capacity to add a new EV charger circuit without needing a service upgrade. Most 200-amp services are robust enough to accommodate the extra demand. However, if your home has an older 100-amp service, the situation is much different. A 100-amp panel is often already at or near its maximum safe capacity in a modern home. Adding a 50-amp EV charger circuit to a 100-amp service is often not possible without dangerously overloading the system.
In this common scenario, a service upgrade to 150 or 200 amps would be required before the EV charger could be safely installed. This ensures that your electrical system is not only capable of charging your vehicle but also of running the rest of your home at the same time without issue. If you are considering an electric vehicle, one of the first steps should be to have an electrician from Gragg Electrical Services perform a load calculation on your home. We can tell you definitively if your current service is sufficient or if an upgrade will be a necessary part of your EV charger installation project.
Yes, in many cases, a main electrical service upgrade can resolve persistent problems with flickering or dimming lights. This common issue is often a symptom of an undersized and overloaded electrical service. When a large appliance with a motor, like your central air conditioner or your refrigerator, cycles on, it draws a huge initial surge of current. If your 100-amp service is already near its capacity, this large, sudden draw can cause the overall voltage in your home to dip momentarily. This voltage sag is what you see as your lights dimming or flickering. It is a sign that your electrical system is straining to keep up with the demand.
By upgrading your service to 200 amps, you are fundamentally increasing the capacity and robustness of your system. The new, thicker service entrance conductors have a lower resistance, and the new, larger panel and main breaker can handle much greater electrical loads. This means that when that same large appliance kicks on, it represents a much smaller percentage of the total available power. The upgraded system can handle the sudden current draw with ease, resulting in a much smaller, often unnoticeable, voltage dip. This leads to a more stable and reliable power supply throughout your entire home, eliminating the annoying dimming and flickering.
However, it is important to note that flickering lights can sometimes be caused by other issues, such as a loose neutral connection either in your panel or at the utility’s connection point. During the process of a service upgrade, all of these main connections are taken apart and remade with new, clean, and tight terminals, which would resolve such a problem. If you are experiencing flickering lights, an electrician can help diagnose the cause. If the diagnosis is an overloaded service, then an upgrade is the definitive and correct solution to the problem.
No, upgrading your electrical service will not, in and of itself, increase your monthly electric bill. Your electric bill is based on your consumption, which is the amount of electricity you actually use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The electric meter tracks your usage, and the utility company charges you based on that usage. A service upgrade simply increases the total capacity or the “size of the pipe” that delivers electricity to your home. It does not change the amount of electricity your appliances and devices consume. Your usage habits are what determine the size of your bill.
Think of it like the water pipe coming into your house. Upgrading from a small pipe to a larger pipe does not mean you will automatically use more water. It just means you have the ability to run more faucets at the same time without losing water pressure. Similarly, upgrading from a 100-amp to a 200-amp service does not mean you will use more electricity. It just gives you the ability to run more appliances simultaneously without overloading your system. Your television, lights, and toaster will all consume the exact same amount of power as they did before the upgrade.
In fact, an upgrade can sometimes lead to a slight increase in efficiency. By replacing old, corroded connections with new, clean, and tight ones, you can reduce electrical resistance, which can translate to a tiny reduction in wasted energy lost as heat. However, the main point is that the upgrade itself is neutral to your bill. The reason people often associate an upgrade with higher bills is that they usually perform the upgrade so they can add new, large appliances, like a hot tub or central air conditioning. It is the use of these new appliances, not the service upgrade itself, that will increase electricity consumption and lead to a higher bill.
An electrical service upgrade is a major home improvement project, and its cost reflects the complexity of the work and the amount of expensive materials involved. The price for an upgrade from a 100-amp to a 200-amp service can vary significantly based on the specific circumstances of your home. The biggest factors influencing the cost are the current market price of materials, particularly the heavy copper or aluminum wire used for the service conductors, and the amount of labor required. A simple, straightforward upgrade will cost less than one with significant complexities.
Factors that can increase the cost include the need to replace or extend the service mast on your roof to meet modern height clearance codes. If significant interior work is needed to mount the new, larger panel, that can also add to the labor cost. The total cost of the project quoted by a professional contractor will include all the necessary components: the new meter base, the new service entrance cable, the new 200-amp main breaker panel, and a full complement of new circuit breakers for all of your home’s circuits. The price also includes the permit fees and the labor for coordination with the utility company.
While it is a significant investment, it is important to view a service upgrade in terms of the value and safety it adds to your home. It is not just a repair; it is a fundamental improvement of your home’s infrastructure. At Gragg Electrical Services, we provide detailed, all-inclusive, upfront pricing for all service upgrades. We will provide you with a firm quote that covers every aspect of the project, so you can budget effectively and confidently for this crucial home safety and modernization project.
Work With The Top Electrical Service Upgrade Service Near You
Contact Gragg Electrical Services to schedule a consultation for your electrical service upgrade. Our East Canton electricians are ready to provide the safe, reliable power your modern home requires.
