Electrical Panel Upgrade
Panel Upgrades in Seattle & Puget Sound
Safely upgrade your home or business to 200-amp or 400-amp electrical service. Licensed, permitted, and code-compliant installation across the greater Seattle area and South Sound.
200-Amp Panel Upgrades for Seattle Homes
Is your home still running on a 60-amp or 100-amp electrical panel? If you own a house built before the 1990s in Seattle, Tacoma, or the surrounding Puget Sound region, there’s a good chance your electrical service can’t safely handle the demands of modern living — smart appliances, home EV chargers, heat pumps, and home offices all add significant load.
Le BROs Construction specializes in electrical panel upgrades throughout King, Pierce, Thurston, and Snohomish counties. We replace outdated fuse boxes and undersized breaker panels with modern, code-compliant 200-amp or 400-amp service panels — and we handle every permit, every inspection, and every detail from start to finish.
Signs You Need a Panel Upgrade
- Breakers tripping frequently, especially on multiple circuits
- Flickering or dimming lights when appliances turn on
- Your home has a fuse box (not a breaker panel)
- You’re adding a major appliance, EV charger, or hot tub
- Planning a home addition, DADU, or major renovation
- Insurance company requires panel replacement (Federal Pacific, Zinsco)
- Burning smell from outlets or the panel itself
- Your panel is over 25–30 years old
What’s Included in Our Panel Upgrade Service
- Comprehensive load calculation and panel sizing assessment
- Full permit application with Seattle, Tacoma, or county AHJ
- Utility coordination for service disconnect (PSE / Puget Sound Energy)
- New main breaker panel installation (Square D, Siemens, Eaton)
- Meter base inspection and upgrade if needed
- Grounding and bonding to current NEC code
- AFCI and GFCI breaker compliance for modern code
- Final inspection and sign-off
Panel Upgrade Cost in Seattle & Puget Sound
The cost of a residential electrical panel upgrade in the Seattle area often starts at $6,000 for a standard 200-amp service upgrade. Factors that affect pricing include:
- Current panel size and type (fuse box vs. old breaker panel)
- Whether a meter base upgrade is required
- City/county permit fees (varies by jurisdiction)
- Accessibility of your electrical panel and service entry
- Any necessary wiring corrections discovered during installation
We provide transparent, itemized written estimates before any work begins. No surprise charges, no hidden fees.
Dangerous Panels We Replace
Federal Pacific / Stab-Lok: These panels have a well-documented history of breaker failures and fire risk. Many Seattle-area insurers now require replacement.
Zinsco Panels: Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania panels have aluminum bus bars prone to arcing and overheating. If your Puget Sound home has one, it’s time to upgrade.
Fuse Boxes: Screw-in fuses are no longer code-compliant for most residential applications and can’t support modern electrical loads.
Serving All of Greater Seattle & South Sound
We perform panel upgrades in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton, Redmond, Issaquah, Gig Harbor, Olympia, Lacey, Puyallup, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Burien, and surrounding areas throughout King, Pierce, Thurston, and Snohomish County.
Panel Upgrade FAQ
In the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area, a standard 200-amp residential panel upgrade typically costs between $2,000 and $4,500, including permits and final inspection. Pricing varies based on your existing setup, permit jurisdiction, and whether a meter base upgrade is needed. We provide free written estimates.
Yes — a permit is required by law for all electrical panel replacements in Washington State. Le BROs Construction pulls all permits on your behalf, coordinates with your local AHJ, and ensures your work passes final inspection.
Most residential panel upgrades are completed in a single day. Utility coordination (PSE meter disconnect) may require 1–3 additional business days to schedule. We manage this entire process for you.
Yes, your power will need to be temporarily disconnected during the installation — typically for 4–8 hours on the day of work. We schedule this around your availability and minimize disruption as much as possible.
In some cases, yes — a subpanel can distribute circuits to a garage, workshop, or addition without replacing your main service panel. Our electricians will assess your current capacity and recommend the most cost-effective and code-compliant solution.