A lot of Everett homes are still running the same 100-amp panel they were built with — back when “high draw” meant the toaster and the TV going at once.
Then life piled on. Heat pump, electric range, a car that plugs in, a garage full of tools. That panel is now doing a job it was never sized for, and it lets you know. Breakers that trip on laundry day aren’t being dramatic — they’re telling you something.
A jump to 200-amp service is the Washington standard for any new or replaced panel now, and for good reason: it gives you headroom for what you run today and whatever you bolt on next. (Eyeing an EV charger? A 200-amp service is usually the price of admission — more on that below.)
We evaluate it, pull the permit, coordinate the utility, swap the panel, and meet the inspector. You get your slots back.
Call (425) 374-1557 for a free panel evaluation
How to tell it’s time
You don’t need all of these. One is worth a look; two or more and we’d really like to come out:
- Breakers that trip under normal load, or just won’t reset
- A house built before the early ’90s that’s never been upgraded
- A Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Pushmatic panel (keep reading — these matter)
- Scorching, rust, or a warm smell around the panel
- You’re adding an EV charger, hot tub, or heat pump
- You’re running the house off power strips because you’re out of slots
Upgrade vs. patch — the honest version
Not every panel problem is a full replacement, and we’ll tell you which camp you’re in.
Sometimes it’s a patch — swap a bad breaker, add a dedicated circuit for a new dryer or shop, split off a subpanel for the garage, clean up the double-tapped mess a previous owner left. If the panel itself is sound and just full, that’s often all you need. A breaker or dedicated-circuit job usually runs a few hundred dollars.
Sometimes it’s an upgrade — the 100-amp panel is maxed, aging, or unsafe, and no amount of patching fixes that. A full 100→200-amp upgrade around Everett typically lands $2,500–$5,000, depending on meter and mast work, panel location, and PUD coordination. You get a written number after we look, not a guess over the phone.
While we’re in the panel, ask about a whole-home surge protector. It mounts right at the panel and takes the hit so your HVAC board, appliances, and everything plugged into them don’t — cheap insurance against a lightning strike or a utility spike, and the easiest add-on during an upgrade.
What the upgrade actually involves
Here’s the sequence:
- Evaluation — a licensed look at the panel, load, and meter so the new service is sized right, not guessed
- Permit — filed through Everett or Snohomish County; we handle the paperwork
- Utility coordination — we loop in Snohomish County PUD when the meter or service drop needs upgrading too
- Install — old panel out, new 200-amp main breaker panel in, often a new meter base while we’re there
- Inspection — the county signs off before the panel goes hot
We run that whole chain end to end, so you’re not the one chasing the permit desk or the utility.
About those Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels
This one’s worth slowing down for.
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels have a nasty habit: the breakers often don’t trip when they should. A circuit overloads, the breaker just… sits there, the wire keeps heating — and that’s how fires start. The Consumer Product Safety Commission documented the pattern years ago, and plenty of home insurers now flag the panel during underwriting. Zinsco panels have their own version of the same flaw.
So if one of these is on your wall, we don’t call it an upgrade. We call it a fix.
Why a licensed electrician (and not a handyman)
A panel upgrade ties into your service drop, your meter, and the utility — three things you want one accountable, licensed crew handling end to end, not a favor from someone’s cousin. We’re Washington L&I registered, we pull the permit, and we’re the same folks you can call when it needs service down the road. Done wrong, a panel is a fire risk and an insurance headache. Done right, you stop thinking about it.
Quick answers
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Everett? Most 100→200-amp upgrades run $2,500–$5,000, depending on meter and mast work, panel location, and PUD coordination. You get an exact written quote after a licensed evaluation.
Can I upgrade the panel without rewiring the whole house? Usually, yes. We replace the panel (and often the meter base) and reconnect your existing circuits. Full rewiring only comes up if the wiring itself is unsafe — and we’d flag that before touching anything.
How long does a panel upgrade take? Most are a one-day job, plus the inspection and any PUD scheduling. We manage that timeline for you.
Do I need a permit to upgrade an electrical panel? Yes — and an inspection before the panel is energized. We file it. That’s on us.
Why does an EV charger need a 200-amp panel? A Level 2 charger adds a big, steady load a 100-amp panel often can’t carry on top of everything else. The upgrade makes room for it safely. See our EV charger installation page.
Beat the next tripped breaker
Sized right, permitted, inspected — and it protects your home’s safety and its resale value at the same time. It’s part of the full range of electrical services we run across Everett and Snohomish County.
Call (425) 374-1557 · Licensed · Bonded · Insured · WA L&I Registered