200 Amp Service Upgrades in Pittsburgh

More power for a heat pump, an EV charger or an addition. We upgrade the whole service, from the mast and meter to the panel, and work with Duquesne Light for you.

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Free Estimate

When the Panel Is Not the Only Problem

A new panel only helps if the service feeding it can carry the load. Many Pittsburgh homes still run on 60 or 100 amp service, with a meter base, mast and service entrance cable sized for the house as it was decades ago. Add central air, an electric range, a heat pump water heater, a hot tub or an EV charger and that service runs out of room fast.

A service upgrade replaces everything from the point where Duquesne Light's wires reach your house down to the main breaker. Renaissance Electric and Power Systems has done this work in Pittsburgh homes since 1997. We size the new service to your real load, pull the permit, schedule the utility disconnect and reconnect, and stay with the job until the inspector signs off.

The roof corner of a shingle sided house with a steel service mast and weatherhead rising through the roof and the electric meter mounted below the window.
Close up of a gray service mast and weatherhead on an asphalt shingle roof with the triplex service drop looped into it.

Signs You Need a Service Upgrade

  • Your home has 60 or 100 amp service
  • You are adding an EV charger, heat pump or hot tub
  • The main breaker trips or runs warm
  • The mast, weatherhead or meter base is rusted or leaning
  • Service cable on the house is cracked or frayed
  • The meter sits inside or in a spot that is hard to reach
  • Lights dim when large appliances start
  • You are finishing a basement or building an addition

How a Service Upgrade Works

1. Load Calculation

We add up what the house uses now and what you plan to add, then size the service to match.

2. Permit and Utility

We pull the permit and submit the service request so Duquesne Light can plan the disconnect and reconnect.

3. Disconnect

On install day the utility cuts power at the service so the old equipment can come out safely.

4. New Service

New mast or service entrance, meter base, grounding and bonding, and the main panel, all sized for the new amperage.

5. Inspection

The inspector reviews the new service before the power goes back on. We meet them on site.

6. Reconnect

Duquesne Light reconnects and sets the meter. We test every circuit and walk you through the new setup.

Service Work We Handle

100 to 200 Amp Upgrades

The most common upgrade in Pittsburgh homes, with room for an EV charger, a heat pump and more.

Meter Base Replacement

Replace a worn or undersized meter socket, or move it to a spot the utility can reach.

Mast and Weatherhead

Replace a rusted, bent or storm damaged mast and the service entrance cable.

Overhead and Underground Service

We handle both, including the trench and conduit work underground service needs.

Panel Replacement

Most service upgrades include a new main panel with room to grow.

EV Ready Service

Size the service and panel for a Level 2 charger now or later.

Working With Duquesne Light

A service upgrade cannot happen without the utility. Duquesne Light has to approve the larger service, disconnect the power on install day and reconnect it after the inspection. We submit the request, schedule around their crews and keep you posted at every step.

Utility timing is the part nobody fully controls. When Duquesne Light moves a date, we tell you as soon as we hear and work to get the job back on the calendar. Customers mention that follow up in their reviews.

The permit comes from your borough or township, or from the City of Pittsburgh inside the city. 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 job.

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An electrician installs wiring into new meter sockets and an open disconnect on the brick wall of a multifamily house.

What Affects the Cost of a Service Upgrade

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

  • Amperage of the new service
  • Overhead or underground service
  • Mast and service entrance condition
  • Meter base replacement or relocation
  • Panel replacement and number of circuits
  • Grounding and bonding work
  • Distance from the meter to the panel
  • Permit and utility requirements

What Homeowners Say About Our Service Work

Real Google reviews from customers who had their service upgraded or repaired.

Renaissance put a new electric service in for me. Eric was so helpful and kind. Adam and David worked in the heat and were very professional. I WLL recommend Renaissance to all my friends and family.

Julie P.

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.

Eric and Adam were went above and beyond to repair our issue with a downed mast + cable. Was very responsive and made sure an inspector got out to see the repairs were done that day. Would recommend and saved us from spending the night in the dark.

Paul D.

Renaissance Electric has been top-notch, start to finish. 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.

Service Upgrade Guides From Our Electricians

Why Your Lights Flicker

Read the guide

Service Upgrade Questions

What is included in a 200 amp service upgrade?

Everything from where the utility wires reach your house to the main breaker: the mast or service entrance, the meter base, the grounding and bonding, and usually a new main panel. Duquesne Light handles their side of the connection and sets the meter.

Can you upgrade from 100 to 200 amps?

Yes. It is the most common service upgrade we do. The meter base, service cable and main panel are replaced with equipment rated for 200 amps, and Duquesne Light approves and reconnects the larger service.

Do I have to rewire my house to upgrade the service?

No. Your existing circuits move to the new panel. We check them as we go and point out any old cloth or knob and tube wiring so you can decide whether to deal with it now or later. See our rewiring page for that work.

Is upgrading to 200 amp service worth it?

It is when you are adding load. A heat pump, an electric range, a hot tub or an EV charger can push a 100 amp service past what it can safely carry. If your plans fit your current service, we will say so.

How long does a service upgrade take?

The electrical work is usually done in one day. The full timeline depends on the permit and on Duquesne Light's schedule for the disconnect and reconnect, so we plan the date with you in advance.

Will my power be off all day?

The power is off from the utility disconnect until the inspection passes and Duquesne Light reconnects. We schedule the steps close together to keep that window as short as we can.

Does my meter have to move outside?

Sometimes. Older Pittsburgh homes can have the meter inside or in a spot the utility will not accept for a new service. If yours needs to move, we tell you at the estimate and handle it in the same job.

Overhead or underground service, does it matter?

Yes. Overhead service runs through a mast and weatherhead on the house. Underground service runs in conduit from the utility's equipment. The work and the cost are different, and we quote for what you have.

What affects the cost of a service upgrade?

The new amperage, overhead or underground service, the condition of the mast and meter base, whether the meter moves, the panel and grounding work, and your town's permit requirements. We give you a written quote after the free estimate.

Do I need 400 amp service?

Most homes do not. Very large or all electric homes with several big loads may. Read 100, 200 or 400 amp service for how we size it, and we will run the numbers at the estimate.

Get a Free Service Upgrade Estimate

Licensed PA electricians since 1997. A person answers the phone, and we tell you exactly what your service 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.

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

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