Replacing an outdated, undersized, or unsafe electrical panel is one of the highest-value upgrades you can make to a home or commercial building. We handle panel upgrades, service entrance replacements, and meter base swaps across Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Apex, and Cary.
Most homes built before the 1990s have 100-amp or 150-amp panels that were never designed for modern loads. Adding an EV charger, heat pump, induction range, hot tub, or finished basement to a 100A service is a common reason homeowners find out their panel is already maxed out. Commercial tenants often discover the same problem when adding HVAC capacity or production equipment.
Signs your panel needs to be replaced or upgraded:
A typical residential panel upgrade isn't just swapping the panel — it's a full service replacement. The scope generally covers:
North Carolina enforces the 2017 NEC (with NC amendments) for one- and two-family dwellings. Several sections drive the scope of nearly every panel upgrade we do:
1. Site walk and load calculation — We measure your existing service, count circuits, identify code issues, and run a load calculation per NEC Article 220 to confirm the right service size.
2. Written estimate — Itemized scope, materials, permit cost, and Duke Energy coordination. No vague "TBD" line items.
3. Permit and scheduling — We pull the permit and coordinate the power disconnect with Duke Energy so you know exactly when the power will be out.
4. Installation — Most residential panel swaps are completed in one day. Power is typically out for 4–8 hours.
5. Inspection and reconnect — We meet the inspector on site and handle the Duke Energy reconnect paperwork.
Most electricians can swap a panel. Fewer can run a proper load calculation, coordinate a service upgrade with the utility on a tight commercial timeline, or design a service that will still be adequate after you add solar, an EV charger, and a heat pump three years from now. Stephen Hobbs-Stone is both a licensed electrician and a licensed professional electrical engineer, which means the panel you install today is sized for where you're going — not just where you are.
For a standard residential 200A upgrade, the on-site work is typically completed in one day, with power out for 4–8 hours. The full process — from estimate to final inspection — usually takes 2–3 weeks because of permit and Duke Energy scheduling.
Yes. A panel or service upgrade always requires a permit in Wake County, and the work has to be inspected before Duke Energy will reconnect power. We handle the permit and inspection.
Not usually. Most residential swaps require 4–8 hours without power. We coordinate the disconnect time with you so you can plan around it (refrigerator, work-from-home, medical equipment).
That depends on a load calculation. For a typical 2,000–3,500 sq ft home with gas heat and a standard appliance load, 200A is plenty. If you have all-electric service, plan to add an EV charger or two, have a workshop, or run a heat pump and electric tankless water heater, a 320A/400A service often makes sense. We run the calc before recommending a size.
Sometimes — if the existing meter base is rated for the new service size and is in good condition. But if you're going from 100A or 150A up to 200A or larger, the meter base almost always needs to be replaced too.
It removes a major obstacle to sale. Buyers, inspectors, and insurance carriers all flag old or undersized panels. It also enables every electrical upgrade buyers now expect — EV charging, induction cooking, heat pumps, solar.
Yes. These are among the most common upgrades we do. Both panel brands have documented failure histories and most insurance carriers will require replacement.
Serving Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, and the surrounding Wake County area.
Or email service@lightenupelectrical.com