PDQ Electric – Electrical Contractor in Las Vegas
THE HOMEOWNER’S PANEL DECISION GUIDE
Considering an electrical panel replacement or 200-amp service upgrade in Las Vegas or Henderson? Understand whether replacement is needed, how breaker space differs from electrical capacity, whether a subpanel or tandem breakers may work, and what affects the final price.
USE THE CORRECT TERMS
Replacing a panel and increasing electrical-service capacity are different projects. A new panel may retain the existing service rating. A service upgrade increases the electrical capacity available to the property.
Installs a new panel while potentially retaining the existing service rating.
Increases electrical capacity, such as changing from 125 amps to 200 amps.
DO NOT CONFUSE THESE
Breaker spaces are physical positions inside the panel. Service ampacity is the electrical capacity available to the property. A panel can be full but still have enough capacity. It can also have open breaker spaces but insufficient capacity for another large electrical load.
The panel has no available positions for additional circuits, but the existing electrical service may still have enough capacity.
A subpanel creates additional breaker spaces. It does not increase the capacity of the utility service.
Existing and planned electrical loads may exceed what the current service can support, even when the panel has empty breaker spaces.
An unused breaker position does not confirm that the service has enough capacity for an EV charger, spa, electric HVAC system or other large load.
Do not base an upgrade solely on house size, panel age, one month's electric bill, the number of breakers or EV ownership. The evaluation should consider HVAC, cooking, water heating, dryers, EV charging, pools, spas, accessory structures and other existing or planned loads.
Monthly energy use and simultaneous electrical demand are different measurements. Your electric bill alone does not establish how much additional equipment the service can support.
An EV charger does not automatically require a panel upgrade. A service upgrade becomes one possible solution when the existing service lacks sufficient capacity and other reasonable alternatives are unsuitable.
UNDERSTANDING THE ESTIMATE
The panel itself is only one part of the price. Access, utility service, grounding, wall construction and inspection requirements can change labor and materials substantially.
Panel work cannot be priced accurately from photographs alone. PDQ examines the complete installation before providing repair, replacement or service-upgrade options.
Indoor, outdoor, garage, closet, finished wall and working access all affect the installation.
Service mast, attachment height, utility conductors, underground conduit and trenching can change the scope.
A larger enclosure may require cutting drywall, stucco or siding and modifying framing or finish work.
Built-in cabinets, shelving, decorative enclosures, storage, appliances or landscaping can make the existing location unsuitable.
Ground rods, water-pipe bonding and grounding-electrode conductors may need correction as part of permitted work.
Limited access, insulation, long conductor routes and extreme attic heat increase installation time.
Meter-main configuration, conductors, raceways, mast condition and damaged equipment affect replacement options.
Plans, permit processing, field inspection and required corrections affect the schedule and final scope.
Disconnect, reconnect, meter work and utility-owned infrastructure cannot be controlled solely by the electrician.
PDQ is your one-stop shop for panel replacement and stucco repair. We handle the electrical panel work and repair the stucco affected by the installation. Your written estimate will specify the included stucco repairs and any other finish work.
PERMITS, INSPECTION AND UTILITY COORDINATION
Panel replacement involves more than installing a new breaker box. The scope, equipment, applicable permit process, inspection and any required NV Energy disconnect and reconnect must be coordinated.
PDQ evaluates the property first, then explains the required work and coordination before installation is scheduled.
PDQ examines the panel, meter, grounding, utility service, access and planned electrical loads.
The work is defined, equipment is selected and the applicable permit process begins.
When utility de-energization is required, PDQ coordinates the temporary disconnect and reconnect appointment. Utility scheduling can affect the installation date.
PDQ installs the equipment and completes the approved conductor, grounding and related electrical work.
The required inspection or meter-release process is completed, utility reconnection is coordinated, and PDQ tests and labels the installation.
Physical installation time is not the entire project schedule. Panel work may occur in one working day, but permitting and utility coordination begin beforehand. Same-day reconnection is the goal and cannot be guaranteed.
CHOOSE THE EQUIPMENT
Compare the actual equipment included in the proposal. Manufacturer, breaker availability, physical spaces, service rating and future electrical needs all matter when selecting a replacement panel.
Ask about manufacturer, breaker availability, indoor or outdoor rating, spaces, tandem eligibility, bus rating, main-breaker rating and warranty.
May provide monitoring, load management, EV integration and backup prioritization, but costs more and can depend on proprietary hardware, software or subscriptions.
Panel work can be an efficient time to add listed surge protection. It reduces risk from certain transient voltage events but does not protect against every event.
Confirm the number of usable breaker positions and the electrical-service rating separately. A larger enclosure or additional breaker spaces does not automatically increase service capacity.
Discuss planned EV charging, solar, battery storage or generator equipment before choosing the panel. These projects can affect the appropriate equipment and configuration.
Get the equipment details in writing. Compare the panel model, spaces, main breaker, branch breakers, included accessories and warranties when reviewing quotes.
Understand What Changes
A larger panel allows the home to support more electrical demand. It does not force the home to use more electricity, make existing appliances more efficient or create an energy-savings payback. Its value comes from safety, capacity, serviceability and future flexibility.
Know what your estimate covers: Panel replacement and repairs elsewhere in the home are separate scopes of work. Ask which problems the proposed work will address and which require additional evaluation or repairs.
Residential Service Sizes
The right service size depends on the home's existing electrical loads and future plans. A smaller service is not automatically inadequate, and a larger service does not provide unlimited capacity.
May suit smaller or lower-demand homes. It is not automatically inadequate merely because it is older.
Can be adequate for many homes depending on HVAC, fuel types, appliances and future plans.
A common modern service size with flexibility for many homes, but not unlimited capacity.
May fit very large or unusually high-demand residences after a load calculation and utility review.
A 200-amp panel can be replaced while retaining 200-amp service.
These loads should be evaluated together before choosing a service size.
Understand the proposed configuration: Some residential “400-amp” configurations use 320-amp continuous-rated metering and multiple distribution panels. Ask what equipment and service arrangement your estimate includes.
Identify Your Existing Equipment
Do not label every older electrical panel automatically dangerous. Identify the exact manufacturer, model, product line, recall status and physical condition before deciding whether replacement is needed.
Look for Federal Pacific, FPE or Stab-Lok markings. These names help identify the equipment for further evaluation. Confirm the actual panel and breaker product line rather than relying only on the home's age.
Look for Zinsco, GTE Sylvania or Sylvania markings and narrow breakers that may have colored handles. The exact product line and equipment condition should be evaluated before choosing a repair or replacement scope.
Often labeled Bulldog Electric or Pushmatic, this equipment uses push-button breakers rather than standard toggle handles. Identify the installed components and evaluate their condition and serviceability.
Screw-in plug fuses are not automatically unsafe. The evaluation should consider overfusing, modifications, service capacity and wiring condition.
Some recalls affect only particular models, date codes or components. Match the installed equipment to the actual recall information instead of assuming every panel from the same manufacturer is affected.
If your insurance company requests replacement: Ask for the exact equipment concern and written requirements. The panel model, physical condition and requested scope should be clear before you approve the work.
Solar and Battery Storage
Every solar project requires an interconnection review. Many require electrical modification at or near the panel, but solar installation does not automatically mean the service ampacity must increase.
Conductors from an inverter or combiner may terminate through a disconnect and a two-pole solar breaker. The breaker can consume two positions and may be relatively large depending on inverter output.
No adjacent breaker spaces, unavailable breakers, bus limitations, main-breaker configuration, obsolete equipment or existing solar can change the interconnection method.
Possible solutions include breaker reorganization, a solar-combiner panel, a subpanel, a power-control system, adjusted inverter output or an approved supply-side connection. Panel replacement is another option when appropriate.
A backup gateway, transfer equipment, critical-loads panel, service disconnect and load management can make a solar-plus-storage installation substantially more involved. Discuss backup plans before selecting the panel equipment.
Solar interconnection capacity is not the same as household load capacity. A solar project can require panel modification even when the home has adequate service ampacity. Conversely, a 200-amp panel does not automatically accept every solar system.
Who Performs the Panel Work?
Many solar companies include a panel change in the solar package but subcontract the electrical work. Subcontracting is common and does not automatically mean poor work. Risk increases when price and speed receive more attention than equipment selection, supervision and long-term serviceability.
Depending on the agreement and project coordination, you may be able to have a separate electrical contractor evaluate and complete the panel work before solar installation. This provides direct responsibility, equipment choice and an independent opinion on whether replacement is necessary.
PDQ has encountered solar installations with incorrectly sized disconnect fuses, incorrectly sized panel breakers or mismatched overcurrent-protection components. An oversized fuse or breaker can compromise the protection intended for conductors and equipment. An undersized device can cause nuisance trips, lost production and repeated service calls.
A breaker that physically fits is not necessarily correct. Correct selection considers inverter output, continuous current, conductor ampacity, disconnect rating, panel rating, manufacturer instructions and approved plans.
Built for Southern Nevada
Las Vegas summer conditions can make exterior and attic work slower. Crews require heat-recovery and hydration breaks, attics become more difficult to work in, and the home may lose air conditioning during the power outage.
If the project is optional, consider cooler months. Cooler conditions can reduce installation difficulty and labor time, which may reduce the overall installation cost. Discuss timing during your on-site evaluation.
Scheduling and Installation Day
The physical installation may occur in one working day, but permitting and utility coordination begin before installation day and can control the overall schedule.
In PDQ's experience, a planned NV Energy temporary disconnect/reconnect appointment is often scheduled approximately one to two weeks in advance. This reflects typical experience and is not a guaranteed utility timeline.
Confirm the applicable utility fee and payment procedure when scheduling. The customer pays the utility fee directly through the NV Energy account; PDQ does not mark it up.
Expect to be without power for the morning and afternoon, potentially into late afternoon or evening. PDQ works urgently between the utility disconnect and planned reconnection.
Same-day reconnection is the goal, not a guarantee. PDQ has experienced cases where NV Energy could not return until the following day. Inspection delays, unexpected corrections, utility workload or field conditions can also delay reconnection.
Prepare for the possibility of an overnight outage. Plan for air conditioning, refrigeration, medical equipment, internet, security systems, garage doors, gates, pool equipment, pets and vulnerable residents. In summer, have a safe alternative location available.
Understand the Complete Scope
A panel replacement can involve more than the panel itself. Existing utility infrastructure and conditions at the property can affect the approved scope, cost and schedule.
The electrician cannot guarantee utility-owned infrastructure or utility scheduling. These requirements should be reviewed before committing to a service upgrade.
Permitted work may require corrections related to the installation. Replacing a panel does not necessarily require rewiring the entire home.
PDQ is your one-stop shop for panel replacement and stucco repair. We handle the electrical panel work and repair the stucco affected by the installation. Your written estimate will specify the included stucco repairs and any other finish work.
Understand the Complete Scope
A panel replacement can involve more than the panel itself. Existing utility infrastructure and conditions at the property can affect the approved scope, cost and schedule.
The electrician cannot guarantee utility-owned infrastructure or utility scheduling. These requirements should be reviewed before committing to a service upgrade.
Permitted work may require corrections related to the installation. Replacing a panel does not necessarily require rewiring the entire home.
PDQ is your one-stop shop for panel replacement and stucco repair. We handle the electrical panel work and repair the stucco affected by the installation. Your written estimate will specify the included stucco repairs and any other finish work.
Pricing Can Vary Considerably
Panel-change pricing can vary substantially between installers. Obtain multiple written quotes and consider PDQ Electric as one of the companies providing a quote. Compare the actual equipment, complete scope, exclusions, scheduling, utility process and warranty.
PDQ does not expect homeowners to make a major decision from one estimate. Compare what each proposal includes and excludes before comparing the final price. PDQ handles panel replacement and the stucco repairs specified in your written estimate.
Protect the Investment
Keep the proposal, installation records and warranty information together so you can refer to the approved scope, installed equipment and completed inspections.
Documentation helps explain the completed work. A permitted, documented installation may be easier to explain to insurers, inspectors and future buyers, but panel replacement does not guarantee lower insurance premiums or increased resale value.
Pause Before Signing
Before approving a panel replacement or service upgrade, understand the identified problem, the proposed solution and the alternatives that were evaluated.
Ask what makes replacement necessary. PDQ can evaluate the existing equipment, explain the identified problem and discuss reasonable alternatives so you can compare the proposed work before making a decision.
PDQ's Approach
Panel work cannot be priced accurately from photographs alone. PDQ examines the complete installation before providing repair, replacement or service-upgrade options.
Manufacturer, condition, main breaker, bus rating, breaker spaces, meter equipment and service conductors.
Overhead or underground service, grounding, working clearance, wall opening, attic route and access.
Existing electrical loads, planned equipment, solar, battery storage, EV charging and available alternatives to a full panel replacement or service upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
FREE ON-SITE PANEL ESTIMATE
PDQ will evaluate your electrical panel, service capacity and planned loads, then explain whether repair, replacement or a service upgrade is appropriate. Call, text photos or email to schedule your free on-site estimate.
