What is the Difference Between a Panel Upgrade and a Service Upgrade?

What Is an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Your electrical panel is like the traffic control center for your home’s electricity. It takes the power from the utility company and distributes it to all your outlets, lights, and appliances.

A panel upgrade means replacing the panel itself—usually to accommodate more circuits or improve safety. Here’s when you might need one:

• Your panel is old (think: 1970s or earlier) and wasn’t built for today’s power-hungry homes or built up to today’s electrical safety standards

• You still have fuses instead of circuit breakers (big red flag!)

• You need more circuits and your current panel is too small to accommodate more

• Your breakers trip constantly or feel hot to the touch

• The panel is rusted or damaged (this is a safety hazard!)

Upgrading your panel doesn’t increase the amount of power coming into your home—it just improves how that power is managed. 

What Is a Service Upgrade?

A service upgrade is about increasing the total amount of power your home receives. If your electrical panel is the traffic control center, your electrical service is the highway that brings power from the utility lines into your home.

Most older homes were built with 100-amp service, which was fine decades ago when people had one TV and a handful of appliances. But today? Between air conditioners, high-powered kitchen appliances, home offices, and electric vehicles, many homes need 200-amp service or more.

A service upgrade typically involves:

• Installing a new meter socket and new service entrance cables (the wires that connect your home to the utility grid).

• Possibly upgrading the grounding system for safety

• Possibly replacing the panel itself if it can’t handle the higher amperage

Key Differences Between a Panel Upgrade and a Service Upgrade

A panel upgrade only changes how electricity is distributed in your home, while a service upgrade increases the total amount of power your home gets. 

Do You Need a Panel Upgrade, a Service Upgrade, or Both?

In most cases, both the panel and the electrical service get upgraded together. Often, increased power demand is the sole reason to upgrade a panel. However if your panel is simply old enough to need replacing or you have an unsafe recalled panel, chances are it’s connected to a 100-amp service, which was fine decades ago but isn’t ideal for modern homes. Even if you’re not maxing out your system now, upgrading your service at the same time future-proofs your home for new appliances, EV chargers, and other power-hungry upgrades down the line. On the flip side, if you’re upgrading your electrical service, your existing panel won't be compatible with the increased power demand. Electrical panels are typically specific to the service size and will need to be upgraded accordingly.

Costs and Timeline: What to Expect

Many panel and service upgrade projects can be completed by CPN Electric in 1 day. But more complicated upgrades may take several days to complete. The cost of these upgrades depends on quite a few factors but generally will range from $5,000 to $12,000. Learn more about factors that may influence cost here: 

The Complete Breakdown: How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade a Main Electrical Panel in 2025?

How CPN Electric Can Help with Your Panel or Service Upgrade

Electrical work isn’t something to DIY—especially when it involves your home’s main power supply. At CPN Electric, we specialize in both panel upgrades and service upgrades, ensuring your home has safe, reliable power. Our team helps homeowners navigate their options, secure necessary permits, and complete installations with minimal disruption to your daily life.

We take pride in doing the job right the first time—no shortcuts, no unnecessary upsells, just quality work that keeps your home running smoothly.

Learn More or Get a Personalized Quote

Upgrading your home’s electrical system is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. If you’re still unsure whether you need a panel upgrade, a service upgrade, or both, we’re here to help. Contact us via text, phone or email (818) 356-5178, Office@CPNelectric.com

 👉 Need a quote? Fill out our contact form to get a personalized assessment for your home.

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