Electrical Panel Upgrade in San Diego
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's electrical system. Everything flows through it. When that panel can't keep up with your household's demands, you notice. Breakers trip when you run the microwave and the coffee maker at the same time. Lights flicker when the AC kicks on. You want to add an EV charger, but there's no room left in the box.
CET Electric handles panel upgrades throughout San Diego County. We assess your current setup, coordinate with SDG&E, pull the permits, and install a panel that can handle your home's electrical load today and for years to come.
When Your Panel Needs an Upgrade
Most San Diego homes built before the 1990s came with 100-amp service. That was enough for the appliances and electronics of that era. It's rarely enough now. Between modern HVAC systems, home offices with multiple computers, kitchen appliances, and the growing number of devices we plug in every day, many older panels are working harder than they were designed to.
Here are the signs we see most often when a panel upgrade is overdue:
Your breakers trip frequently, especially when running multiple appliances. This happens because the panel can't supply enough power to all the circuits at once. Resetting the breaker works temporarily, but the problem keeps coming back.
Your lights flicker or dim when large appliances turn on. This tells you the panel is struggling to distribute power evenly across your home.
Your panel uses fuses instead of circuit breakers. Fuse boxes were standard in homes built before the 1960s. They work, but they lack the safety features of modern breaker panels and often can't be insured.
You have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel. These brands are known for breakers that fail to trip during an overload, which creates a serious fire risk. Many insurance companies won't cover homes with these panels still installed.
You're planning to add an EV charger, hot tub, or major appliance. These additions typically require a dedicated 240-volt circuit and draw significant power. If your panel is already near capacity, an upgrade becomes necessary before installation.
What a Panel Upgrade Involves
A panel upgrade is more involved than swapping out a box on the wall. The process starts with an assessment of your current electrical system and your home's power needs. We look at what you have, what you want to add, and what your home will realistically need over the next decade or more.
Once we understand the scope, we coordinate with SDG&E on your behalf. This is a step many homeowners don't realize is required. SDG&E needs to know about changes to your electrical service and will disconnect and reconnect power as part of the upgrade process. We handle this communication so you don't have to navigate the utility's procedures yourself.
We pull the necessary permits from the City of San Diego or your local jurisdiction. Electrical panel work requires inspection to ensure everything meets current code. Skipping permits might save a few dollars upfront, but it creates problems when you sell your home or file an insurance claim.
The installation itself typically takes one day for a straightforward upgrade. We remove your old panel, install the new one, connect all your circuits, and test everything to make sure it's working properly. For homes with overhead service, the cost typically runs between $3,500 and $5,500. Underground service is more complex and usually costs between $7,000 and $20,000 depending on how much trenching and conduit work is required.
After installation, we schedule the final inspection with the city. Once the inspector signs off, SDG&E restores your permanent power connection, and you're done.
Why San Diego Homeowners Work with CET Electric
We're not the cheapest electrical contractor in San Diego. We're upfront about that. What we offer is a level of service and communication that keeps property managers, homeowners, and general contractors coming back to us year after year.
When you call our office, someone answers the phone. When we schedule a time to arrive, we show up. Our technicians wear uniforms and drive marked vehicles. We explain what we're doing and why before we do it. And we make sure you understand the invoice before you pay it.
A panel upgrade is a significant investment in your home. It's also one of those projects where cutting corners creates real risk. Faulty panel work can cause fires, damage appliances, or create code violations that surface later when you least want them to. We do the job right the first time, handle the coordination with SDG&E and the city, and stand behind our work.
100 Amp to 200 Amp Upgrades
The most common upgrade we perform is taking a home from 100-amp to 200-amp service. This doubles your electrical capacity and gives you room to grow. A 200-amp panel can comfortably handle a modern household with central air conditioning, an electric dryer, a home office setup, a hot tub, and an EV charger.
For larger homes or properties with workshops, guest houses, or significant power needs, we also install 400-amp panels and subpanels. We can help you determine what capacity makes sense based on your current usage and future plans.
Get a Panel Upgrade Estimate
If you're experiencing breaker trips, planning to add an EV charger, or you know your panel is outdated, give us a call. We'll take a look at what you have, explain your options, and give you a straightforward estimate.
Call CET Electric at (619) 934-8626 or fill out our contact form to schedule an assessment. We serve all of San Diego County, from Oceanside to the border and everywhere in between.