Electrical Panel Upgrades in Pittsburgh

Old, full or failing breaker box? We replace panels, add circuits and handle the permit, the inspection and Duquesne Light from start to finish.

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Panel Replacement Done Right the First Time

Your electrical panel decides how much your house can safely run at once. A lot of Pittsburgh homes still have the panel that came with a 1960s update, or a fuse box, or a brand that insurers flag on sight. Those panels were never sized for a kitchen full of appliances, central air, a heat pump or an EV charger.

Renaissance Electric and Power Systems has been replacing panels for Pittsburgh homeowners since 1997. We size the new panel to your real load, pull the permit, coordinate with Duquesne Light when the power has to come off, and stay until the inspector signs off. Every installation is backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.

A gray haired electrician in a black polo examines an open breaker panel on a white basement wall with a flashlight.
An old gray breaker panel set into a hallway wall with handwritten circuit labels next to each breaker, floral curtain alongside.

Signs Your Panel Needs to Go

  • Breakers trip when two appliances run at once
  • The panel or a breaker feels warm, buzzes or smells hot
  • You still have screw in fuses or a fuse box
  • Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco breakers
  • Rust, water stains or scorch marks inside the cabinet
  • No open spaces left for a new circuit
  • Lights dim when the dryer or AC kicks on
  • Your insurer or a home inspector flagged the panel

How a Panel Upgrade Works

1. Load Check

We look at the panel, the service coming in and what you plan to add, then size the new panel to fit.

2. Permit

We pull the electrical permit with your township or the City of Pittsburgh before any work starts.

3. Utility Shutoff

When the job needs it, we schedule the disconnect with Duquesne Light so you are not left guessing.

4. Install

Old panel out, new panel in, every circuit landed, labeled and checked, with grounding and bonding brought up to code.

5. Inspection

The inspector reviews the work. We are on site for it and fix anything they ask for.

6. Power Back On

Duquesne Light reconnects, we test every circuit and walk you through the new panel.

Panel and Circuit Work We Handle

Panel Replacement

Swap an old, full or failing breaker box for a new panel with room to grow.

200 Amp Service Upgrades

Move from 60 or 100 amps to 200 amp service with a new meter base and service entrance.

Federal Pacific and Zinsco

Replace the panels insurers and inspectors flag before they cause a problem.

New Circuits and 240 Volt Lines

Dedicated circuits for ranges, dryers, heat pumps, hot tubs, shops and EV chargers.

Subpanels

Add capacity for a finished basement, an addition or a detached garage.

Surge Protection at the Panel

A whole home surge protector installed right at the new panel.

Permits, Inspection and Duquesne Light

Panel and service work in Allegheny County needs an electrical permit from your borough or township, or from the City of Pittsburgh if you live inside the city. The county does not issue them itself. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection and meet the inspector on site.

When the power has to come off at the meter, Duquesne Light has to disconnect and reconnect it. We set that up and keep you posted. Utility timing can move, especially on full service upgrades, and we tell you about any delay as soon as we hear about it.

The 2020 National Electrical Code added a rule (NEC 230.67) calling for surge protection when a home's service is replaced or upgraded, so we can install a whole home surge protector during the same visit.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE
An electrician in a hooded sweatshirt on a ladder wires a row of new meter sockets on the brick wall of a house in winter.

What Affects the Cost of a Panel Upgrade

Every house is different, so we quote after we see yours. The estimate is free. These are the things that move the number:

  • Panel only or a full service upgrade
  • Amperage and number of spaces you need
  • Overhead or underground service
  • Meter base or mast replacement
  • Moving the panel to a new location
  • Grounding and bonding upgrades
  • Circuits that need new wire or AFCI protection
  • Permit and inspection requirements in your town

What Homeowners Say About Our Panel Work

Real Google reviews from customers who had a panel or service replaced.

When Adam and Tristan were here to install a service panel upgrade, they worked tirelessly, efficiently (they took less time than I had expected), and made their work appear clear and elegant. Let me stress: these guys know exactly what they're doing, soup to nuts, and they take no shortcuts regarding Pittsburgh's code and inspections. They do it right.

Robert F.

Eric is an outstanding expert in the company, he explained how I needed to move my electric meter to the outside of my home and that my electric panel was outdated and needed to be replaced. Moving a meter and replacing an electric panel is a lot of work and the electricians from the company finished the whole job in one appointment!

Andrew B.

Our breaker box was severely outdated and was in need of replacement. The team was on time, professional, and efficient, completing the work on time as promised. Lastly, it's important to note that they used top of industry components.

Cj P.

Eric was the professional who handled the electric panel upgrade I needed. He also installed a new 3A line with an outlet. He was also very pleasant to talk to and answered all of my questions with professionalism and curtesy.

Vladimir M.

Panel Guides From Our Electricians

Panel Upgrade Questions

Can you upgrade a 100 amp panel to 200 amps?

Yes, but it usually takes more than a new panel. Going from 100 to 200 amps is a service upgrade: the meter base, the service entrance cable and often the mast are sized for the old service, so they get replaced too, and Duquesne Light has to approve and reconnect the larger service. Our service upgrade page walks through it.

Do I need a new panel or a full service upgrade?

If your service is already large enough and the problem is an old, full or unsafe panel, a panel replacement is enough. If you are adding big loads like a heat pump, an EV charger or an addition on a 60 or 100 amp service, you likely need the service upgraded as well. We do a load check at the free estimate and tell you which one you need.

Can I upgrade my panel without rewiring my house?

Usually, yes. The existing circuits are moved into the new panel. We do check them as we go, and circuits with old cloth or knob and tube wire, or wire that is too small for its breaker, get flagged so you can decide what to fix. If a larger section needs it, we can talk about rewiring.

Is a 200 amp upgrade worth it?

It is worth it if you are adding load or your current panel is unsafe. Central air, an electric range, a heat pump water heater, a hot tub or an EV charger can push a 100 amp service to its limit. If you are not adding anything and the panel is in good shape, we will tell you that too.

Can I replace my own electrical panel in Pennsylvania?

Panel and service work needs a permit and an inspection, and Duquesne Light has to disconnect the power at the meter. A mistake in a panel can start a fire or energize metal in the house. This is work for a licensed, insured electrician.

How long is the power off?

Most panel replacements are done in a single day, with the power off for part of it. Full service upgrades depend on Duquesne Light's schedule for the reconnect, so we plan the day with you ahead of time.

Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade?

Yes. We pull it from your borough or township, or from the City of Pittsburgh inside city limits, and we schedule and attend the inspection.

What affects the cost of a panel upgrade?

The biggest factors are whether you need a panel only or a full service upgrade, the amperage, overhead versus underground service, the condition of the meter base and grounding, and whether the panel has to move. We give you a written quote after the free estimate.

Are Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels dangerous?

Both brands have a history of breakers that may not trip when they should, and many insurers and home inspectors flag them. If you have one, we recommend replacing it rather than swapping breakers.

Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?

Not always. A Level 2 charger needs its own 240 volt circuit and room in the panel. We check your load first. Many homes only need the new circuit, some need a new panel, and some need a full service upgrade. See our EV charger installation page.

Get a Free Panel Upgrade Estimate

Licensed PA electricians since 1997. A person answers the phone, and we give you a straight answer on what your panel needs.

Why Renaissance

Licensed & insured PA, Registration #PA-032900

Serving Pittsburgh since 1997, 28+ years

5-star rated on Google

EV charger certified installers

Residential and light commercial

Up-front pricing, no hidden fees

Power out or something burning? Call us any time. We offer 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE

Request Your Free Estimate

Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-681-WIRE, answered during business hours.

    PA Registered Contractor #PA-032900  ·  28+ Years in Pittsburgh  ·  Fully Insured  ·  5-Star Google

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