Electric Panel & Service Upgrades in Wakefield, NH & the Lakes Region

Signs You Need a Panel or Service Upgrade

• Breakers trip often, or you find yourself resetting the same one again and again
• The panel feels warm, buzzes, or shows scorch marks, rust, or corrosion (common in damp basements)
• You have a known problem panel such as Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco, or you're still on fuses
• Your home has 60- or 100-amp service and you're adding a heat pump, EV charger, electric range, or an addition
• There are no open spaces left and the panel is full of tandem or double-tapped breakers
• Lights dim when the well pump, furnace, or a big appliance kicks on
• A home inspector or insurance company flagged your panel

Panel Upgrade vs. Service Upgrade: What's the Difference?

A panel replacement swaps out the breaker panel inside your home while keeping the same service size. It's the right fix when the panel itself is unsafe, damaged, or out of space but your home has enough capacity.

A service upgrade increases the amount of power your whole home can use. Along with a new panel, it typically includes a new meter socket, service entrance cable or mast, grounding and bonding, and a larger main breaker, most often going from 100 amps to 200 amps. Because the utility has to disconnect and reconnect power, we coordinate that for you. We'll do a load calculation first and tell you plainly which one your home actually needs.

A service upgrade from start to finish: old service out and new meter socket mounted, new riser installed, and the finished install ready for the utility to reconnect.

Upgrades That Get Your Home Ready for What's Next

100-Amp to 200-Amp Service Upgrades

This is the most common upgrade we do. A 200-amp service gives most homes room for modern appliances, heat pumps, an EV charger, and future projects without overloading the system.

Heat Pumps, EV Chargers & Electric Heat

Adding a heat pump or EV charger is one of the biggest reasons homeowners call us. We run a load calculation to see whether your current service can handle it. If it can, we'll add the circuit without an upgrade. If not, we'll size the upgrade so it covers what you're adding now and what you might add later.

Generator-Ready Panels

If you're replacing your panel anyway, it's the perfect time to add a generator interlock kit and an outdoor power inlet. Doing it during the upgrade costs less than coming back later, and you'll be ready for the next storm. Learn more about generator installation.

Whole-House Surge Protection

A surge protector installed at the panel helps protect electronics, appliances, and the control boards in heat pumps and furnaces from power surges caused by lightning and utility switching. It's a small addition that's easiest to install during a panel upgrade.

What to Expect on Upgrade Day

1. Site visit & written quote: We look at your panel and service, run a load calculation, and give you a firm written quote.
2. Permits & utility coordination: We pull the permit and, for service upgrades, schedule the disconnect and reconnect with the utility.
3. Installation: With the power safely off, we install the new equipment, correct grounding and bonding, and connect and label every circuit.
4. Inspection & power restored: Most upgrades are a same-day job, with power back on by evening once the work is ready.
5. Walkthrough: We show you the new panel, explain the labeling, and send you photo documentation for your records.

Panel Upgrades Across the Lakes Region & Southern Maine

Based in Wakefield, we upgrade panels and electrical services for homeowners in Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Ossipee, Alton, and Rochester, along with the rest of our service area.