Replacing an outdated, undersized, or unsafe electrical panel is one of the highest-value upgrades you can make to a home or commercial building.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:
These three terms get used interchangeably, and they do not mean the same thing. The distinction matters because it is the difference between a job that adds capacity and a job that does not.
The answer comes from a load calculation, not a guess. NEC Article 220 sets out the method: connected load, demand factors, and the largest motor allowance produce a calculated load in amps, which is compared against the existing service rating. North Carolina applies the 2017 NEC with state amendments to one- and two-family dwellings.
A panel that is physically full is not automatically an undersized service. Tandem breakers or a subpanel often solve a space problem for a fraction of the cost of a service upgrade. Conversely, a service that looks fine on paper can be genuinely undersized once a heat pump, EV charger, and induction range are all added. We run the calculation before recommending scope, and we will tell you when a full upgrade is not warranted.
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 call the inspection in, follow it through to a pass, 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 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.
Heavy-up is regional trade slang for a service upgrade — increasing the electrical service capacity, for example from 100A or 150A to 200A. It is common terminology in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, and we hear it from clients who moved to the Triangle from there. It is not the same as a panel replacement. A panel replacement swaps the equipment while keeping the same service size; a heavy-up or service upgrade increases capacity and involves the service entrance conductors, meter base, main breaker, grounding, and Duke Energy coordination.
Panel work starts at $3,000. Where a specific job lands above that is driven by conditions you can ask any contractor to itemize: the AFCI breaker count (roughly $300 to $1,100), whether the service size is changing from 100A to 200A (roughly $650 to $1,300 for new service entrance cable), meter base condition, grounding work needed, the panel selected, and the $200 permit. Commercial and 320A/400A upgrades cost more due to added equipment and labor. We provide a written, itemized estimate after a site walk and load calculation — no flat quote without seeing the panel. Pricing reflects conditions as of Q3 2026.
Yes — panel upgrades are one of our most common jobs, and we serve Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, Raleigh, Willow Spring, Angier, Garner, New Hill, Morrisville, Benson, and Lillington. Stephen Hobbs-Stone personally handles every panel upgrade in our service area.
Common signs include breakers that trip repeatedly, visible rust or burn marks, a buzzing sound, reliance on extension cords because there aren't enough circuits, or an insurance company flagging the panel at renewal or sale. If you're not sure, we'll inspect it and tell you honestly whether it needs replacement or not.
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 pull the permit and carry the inspection through to a pass.
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.
Permit process, inspection scheduling, and typical conditions vary by town. These pages cover the specifics:
Serving Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, and the surrounding Wake County area.
Or email service@lightenupelectrical.com