Here’s what to expect when you’re looking into a panel upgrade.

1. Panel upgrades may be required for a few reasons. When large loads are being added to a home sometimes the electrical infrastructure needs to be updated. By far, the most common reason for panel upgrades is safety. Whether the existing panel is a defunct brand which may not safely trip or protect your home wiring, the bussing shows signs of degradation, or sub-par workmanship was done in the panel. All of these situations may necessitate a panel upgrade. When they do, call King Electric and Solar.
2. King Electric and Solar will perform a site walk to verify the work that needs to be done. This includes determining if new ground rods, intersystem bonding, or if the existing service mast can be used.
3. King Electric and Solar will handle all permitting and utility coordination. Once permits are secured, we will reach out to the utility. In PG&E territory it may take 6-8 weeks to schedule a utility crew to temporary disconnect your home from the electrical grid. In SMUD wait times are typically shorter- 3-5 weeks.
4. Once the day of the installation comes everything comes together quickly. You will be without power for ~8 hours on this day. First the utility company comes and disconnects the panel. Then our crew carefully disassembles the electrical panel. Leaving all the wires connected to your home.
5. Once disassembly is complete, the crew can start working on installing the new panel. They carefully feed the existing wiring back into the panel without damaging any wiring.
6. Once the panel is re-installed additional work like stucco repair, ground rods, and intersystem bonding kits are installed to ensure the panel is 100% up to code.
7. Next the Authority having jurisdiction (your city or county) comes to the site and performs the rough inspection. If everything looks good they apply the meter tag which allows the utility company to re-energize the panel.
8. The utility company now returns to site and re-energizes the home
9. The King Electric and Solar Crew completes on-site work such as verifying all electrical circuits are on and functioning, no breakers are tripping, and also check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. This is required for all permits in California.
10. The next day King Electric and Solar will call for final inspection. The inspector will stop by and verity power has been restored and the panel is working correctly. They will inspect the smoke and carbon attestation form and close-out the building permit.

Congratulations! Your home is now safer and ready for an electric future.