What Panel Upgrade Day Looks Like: A Pittsburgh Homeowner’s Walkthrough

By pwsadmin | September 28, 2026

You scheduled the panel upgrade. The electrician is coming. The utility will cut power for a few hours. Everything runs on your microwave-digital-clock sense of urgency for the rest of the day. But what’s actually going to happen on your property from 7 am until the new panel is running?

Renaissance Electric handles panel upgrades in Pittsburgh and new circuits for homes across the city and its suburbs.

Here’s a realistic walkthrough of a standard Pittsburgh 200-amp panel upgrade day, based on what our crews do on a typical install.

The week before

Work happens before the day arrives. We’ve already:

Pulled the electrical permit from the city or borough
Scheduled the Duquesne Light service cut with 48 to 72 hours of notice
Done a load calculation to confirm 200A (or 400A) is the right size
Ordered the new panel, main breaker, meter socket if needed, service mast if needed
Walked the site with you so we both know what’s happening

You’ve gotten a text or email confirming the start time and the expected power-out window. Typical Duquesne Light service cuts in Pittsburgh happen between 9 am and 1 pm. We work around that window.

Morning, 7:00 to 8:30

Two-person crew arrives. First 30 minutes is walkthrough, protection, and setup:

Drop cloths over anything near the panel (furniture, carpet)
Cover the floor below the panel with plastic sheeting
Confirm the shutoff plan with you (what’s off and for how long)
Take photos of every existing breaker label for reference
Shut off the main breaker and test every circuit to confirm dead

You won’t lose power until Duquesne Light cuts the service. At this stage we’re just prepping inside.

Mid-morning, 8:30 to 11:00

Duquesne Light’s truck arrives (we’ve confirmed the appointment the day before). The lineman:

Disconnects the service drop at the weatherhead or underground
Pulls the meter
Tags the disconnect so nobody re-energizes mid-work

Power is now officially off. Everything in the house is cold. Estimated window: 2 to 4 hours until re-energization.

Our crew now starts the actual panel work:

Disconnect all branch circuits at the old panel, one at a time, labeling as we go
Remove the old panel from the wall
Mount the new panel (usually in the same spot, sometimes a wall away if we’re relocating)
Install the new main breaker and ground bar
If service size is changing, install the new meter socket and service mast
Upgrade the grounding: new ground rod(s), bond to plumbing, verify equipment grounding

Late morning, 11:00 to 1:00

Branch circuits go back onto the new panel, one at a time:

Each circuit is landed on its correct breaker size
AFCI and GFCI breakers are installed where code requires (kitchen, bath, bedrooms, laundry, garage, all outdoor)
Neutrals and grounds go on their respective bars, one wire per lug
Every breaker is labeled with its new circuit number

We photograph the new panel layout and compare it to the old photo. If something was mislabeled before (common in older panels), we correct it now.

Early afternoon, 1:00 to 2:30

Duquesne Light returns to re-energize:

Install the new meter
Reconnect the service drop
Energize the service
Verify voltage at the meter

Power is back on at the house. We turn on the main breaker at the panel, then turn on each branch breaker one at a time, checking for no trips.

Testing, 2:30 to 4:00

With the panel live, we walk the house with you:

Verify every circuit works (outlet-by-outlet testing with a plug-in circuit tester)
Check GFCI and AFCI breakers by pressing the test button on each
Re-set any digital clocks on appliances, the range, the microwave
Walk through any specific circuits you asked about
Label the inside of the new panel door with a complete circuit directory

Cleanup and paperwork

Remove drop cloths and plastic
Sweep debris
Hand you the permit paperwork and the manufacturer’s documentation on the new panel
Leave a QR code or email link to the inspection schedule

The next few days

The electrical inspector comes out within 5 business days of the install (sometimes sooner, depending on workload). We coordinate the visit. The inspector looks at the panel, the grounding, the meter, and tests a few outlets. If everything passes, they sign off and mail the permit closeout.

Nothing on your end changes. You’re using the new panel from day one. The inspection is paperwork.

Common questions we get on the day

Will I have internet? Not while power is off. Your router needs electricity. Bring your phone’s hotspot or plan to take a walk.

What about the fridge? For a 4-hour power outage, keep the fridge and freezer closed and you’re fine.

What if it rains? We work in light rain. Heavy rain or active thunderstorms postpone the Duquesne Light service cut, which pushes the whole job.

Can I stay home? Yes, and we actually prefer it. You know the house, you can answer questions, and you can tell us about any circuit quirks before we land them on the new panel.

Can I leave? Also yes, as long as we have your phone number and you can get back within 30 minutes if something comes up.

How long the whole job takes

Straight 200A upgrades on Pittsburgh homes with accessible panels: 6 to 8 hours on-site, plus the Duquesne Light window. You’ll have a working panel by late afternoon, and most disruption is concentrated in the middle 3 to 4 hours.

Service upgrades with new mast, meter, and service entrance cable add 2 to 3 hours. Panel relocations add another 2 to 4 hours.

If you’ve been putting off a panel upgrade because the day sounds chaotic, most of the anxiety is about the unknown. The actual work is routine, predictable, and we’ve done hundreds of them. Happy to walk through exactly what would happen at your specific house before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a panel upgrade take?

A standard 100A to 200A upgrade is a single-day job, roughly 6 to 8 working hours plus Duquesne Light’s disconnect/reconnect visits. Homes requiring meter socket relocation, mast repair, or service-entrance re-routing can stretch into two days.

Will my power be out all day during a panel upgrade?

No. Most of the install happens with power on, working inside the new panel while the old one is still live. The actual power-off period is 2 to 4 hours, long enough to swap the main feeders and verify the new panel before calling Duquesne Light to reconnect.

What do I need to do to prepare for a panel upgrade?

Clear a 3-foot working space around the existing panel, unplug sensitive electronics (computers, TVs) during the power-off window, and plan meals around 4 hours of fridge/freezer closure (don’t open them while power is out). We handle the permit, Duquesne Light coordination, and inspection.

Need a Licensed Pittsburgh Electrician?

Renaissance Electric & Power Systems has been serving Pittsburgh homeowners since 1997 with licensed, insured work backed by our PA contractor registration (PA-032900). Whether you need a panel upgrade, EV charger installation, recessed lighting, or whole-home surge protection, we handle it start-to-finish.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE (9473) or request a free estimate.

Service areas: Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Peters Township, Fox Chapel, Sewickley, Robinson Township, McCandless, Franklin Park, Hampton Township, O’Hara Township, Edgeworth, Sewickley Hills, and Bell Acres.

Posted in Panel Upgrades & Service