Electrical Panel Upgrade & Replacement in New Jersey
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system. An outdated, overloaded, or undersized panel creates real safety risks, trips breakers under normal load, and stops you from adding the things modern homes run on: central air, an EV charger, an induction range, a heat pump, a finished basement.
Voltus Energy Solutions upgrades and replaces panels for homes across Essex, Union, and Morris counties, and for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings throughout New Jersey.
We are a certified SBE (Category 1 & 4), MBE, and SEDB in New Jersey, licensed under NJ Electrical Contractor License #34EI01906000. Every panel upgrade is performed by licensed electricians and inspected to meet current NEC and local code requirements.
When You Might Need To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel
A panel upgrade is worth evaluating if you are seeing any of the following:
- Breakers trip regularly under normal load
- You are relying on power strips or extension cords because there is not enough capacity
- Lights dim or flicker when the air conditioning or a large appliance starts up
- The panel is warm to the touch or makes a buzzing sound
- You still have a fuse box, or a split-bus panel with no main breaker
- You are planning a renovation, an addition, central air, an EV charger, or a heat pump
An undersized or deteriorating panel is both a safety issue and a code problem. Upgrading gives your home the capacity and safety margin it needs for what you run today and what you are likely to add next.
What a panel upgrade costs
Pricing depends on one thing more than any other: what service size you are going from, and what you are going to.
- Panel replacement starts at $1,500. The panel itself, without the service entrance.
- Service upgrade, 100A to 100A starts at $3,000. Usually where a damaged panel is replaced and the service is brought up to current code.
- Service upgrade, 100A to 200A starts at $4,500. New meter pan, new service entrance cable, and PSE&G coordination.
- 200A to 400A and above is quoted after an assessment.
- Subpanel installation or replacement starts at $1,500.
Every panel job includes permits, utility coordination, inspection, and a surge protector on every new panel. We confirm your exact number before any work starts.
What is the service entrance?
This is the term that decides which price you land on, so it is worth knowing. The service entrance is everything that brings utility power from the street to your main disconnect: the overhead drop or underground lateral, the service entrance conductors, the weatherhead and mast or riser on an overhead service, the meter pan, and the main disconnect itself.
The panel is what sits after that and distributes power to your circuits. Replacing the panel alone leaves the service entrance as it is. A service upgrade replaces or re-rates the service entrance too, which is why it costs more, requires PSE&G coordination, and involves a scheduled disconnect and reconnect.
If your service entrance equipment is corroded, undersized, or damaged, replacing only the panel does not fix it – and an inspector will usually say so.
What You Get with Our Electrical Panel Services
Every panel upgrade or replacement includes a complete scope of work:
- Assessment of existing electrical service and load requirements
- Removal of the existing panel and installation of a new panel sized for your building’s demand
- Cleanup and proper disposal of the old equipment
- Coordination of all required permits and inspections
All work is performed to current NEC standards and coordinated with local inspection authorities. The job is not complete until it passes inspection.
Electrical Panel Upgrade & Service Pricing in NJ
Every home is different, but here is how our pricing typically works so you can budget with confidence:
- Subpanel installation or replacement starts at $1,500. Site conditions affect the final price, including panel location, capacity, and the condition of the existing wiring.
- Service upgrades start at $3,000 for 100A to 100A and $4,500 for 100A to 200A. A service upgrade is more than a panel replacement. It includes coordination with your local electric utility on the upgrade documents, permitting with your local building department, checking and updating the bonding of your water main and hot water tank, and installing a new grounding electrode system.
Every new panel we install includes a surge protector to help minimize damage from electrical surges that can damage valuable equipment like appliances, HVAC systems, and electronics. Keep in mind that no surge protector is guaranteed to provide complete protection – surges above a device’s rating can still cause damage.
See our full published pricing for other services. Ready for an exact number? Request service and we’ll give you a firm quote for your home – not a range.
Helpful guides from our blog: what a panel upgrade costs in NJ · how many amps your home needs · heat pumps and your panel · CCO electrical requirements in NJ
Flexible financing available through Wisetack. Break projects of $500 or more – panel upgrades, rewiring, EV chargers – into easy monthly payments. Prequalifying is quick and uses a soft credit check. Ask for a financing link with your estimate, or call (973) 382-9995.
Popular service areas: Millburn, Short Hills, Chatham, Summit, West Orange, and Montclair.
Why Choose Us
Licensed and Insured
Every panel upgrade is performed under NJ Electrical Contractor License #34EI01906000 with full general liability, umbrella, and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear Pricing, No Surprises
You receive a detailed scope of work and flat-rate pricing before any work begins. No hidden charges, no unapproved additions.
24/7 Emergency Availability
Panel failures and electrical emergencies don't wait for business hours. We provide after-hours and emergency response when you need it.
FAQs
In many cases, yes. A panel upgrade focuses on the service equipment itself. We inspect the existing wiring to confirm it is safe and compatible with the new panel. If any branch circuits need attention, we identify that separately.
Yes. Electrical panel replacements require a permit and inspection in New Jersey. We handle all permitting and coordinate directly with the local inspection authority.
Fuse boxes use single-use fuses that must be replaced when they blow. Modern circuit breaker panels use resettable breakers that provide better protection, higher capacity, and easier maintenance. If your building still has a fuse box, it should be evaluated for replacement.