Electrical Service Upgrades
A service upgrade is more than swapping a breaker panel. We replace the meter base, service entrance conductors, and weatherhead, then coordinate with FPL to bring your home up to the amperage it needs. Permitted and inspected in Palm Beach County and Brevard County.
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What a Full Service Upgrade Includes
Most electricians quote the panel. We quote the whole service entrance. A full service upgrade from Others Electric covers every component from the utility connection to the breaker panel.
Meter Base Replacement
The meter socket is often the oldest and most corroded piece of the service entrance. We replace it to meet current utility and NEC standards for the new amperage.
Service Entrance Conductors
The cables running from the weatherhead to the meter base and panel must be sized for the upgraded amperage. Undersized conductors are a code violation and a fire hazard.
Weatherhead & Conduit
The weatherhead brings utility lines into your home. We replace it when it's undersized, corroded, or not meeting clearance requirements from the roofline or windows.
New Main Panel
A new breaker panel sized for the upgraded service — 200A or 400A — with capacity for the circuits your home needs today and in the future.
Utility Coordination
We contact FPL — which serves both Palm Beach County and Brevard County — to schedule the meter pull and utility-side work. You don't make any calls.
Permit & Inspection
We pull the permit with your county and schedule the electrical inspection. All work is documented and signed off.
When You Need a Service Upgrade
- Your home is on 100A service and you're adding a generator, EV charger, or heat pump
- FPL or your insurer flagged your meter base or service entrance
- Your panel is at capacity and the service entrance won't support a larger panel
- You're adding a major addition, ADU, or pool equipment with significant load
- Your current service is 200A and you need 400A for a large home or dual-panel setup
- Your meter base or weatherhead is corroded, damaged, or failing inspection
- Your home still has aluminum service entrance conductors from the 1970s
- Your homeowners insurance flagged the service entrance for renewal
Service Upgrade vs. Panel Upgrade
A panel upgrade replaces the breaker box. A service upgrade goes further — it increases the amperage delivered to your home and replaces the meter base, service entrance conductors, and weatherhead that carry that power.
If your home currently has 100A service and you need 200A, you need a service upgrade. If your home already has 200A service and you just need a newer panel with more breaker spaces, a panel upgrade may be sufficient. We assess this on the site visit.
100A, 200A, and 400A Service
What each service size supports and when an upgrade makes sense.
Older Homes
Standard in homes built before the 1980s. Adequate for basic loads, but insufficient for modern whole-home generators, EV chargers, or significant HVAC. Most Florida insurers now flag 100A service on older homes.
Current Standard
The current residential standard in Florida. Supports generators, EV chargers, and modern HVAC. Most homes up to 3,000 sq ft are well-served by 200A. Required by most insurers on updated panels.
Large Homes & High Demand
Two 200A services delivered through a 400A meter base, typically split across two panels. For large homes, homes with multiple EV chargers, ADUs, or commercial-grade equipment. Requires a 400A meter base and utility approval.
Service Upgrade Process in Florida
- 1
Site Assessment & Quote
We inspect your current service entrance: meter base condition, service entrance cable sizing, weatherhead, and panel. We check the utility's requirements for your address and provide a written quote covering all components.
- 2
Permit Application
We apply for the electrical permit with Palm Beach County or Brevard County. All service upgrade work requires a permit in Florida. We handle the application.
- 3
Utility Coordination
We contact FPL directly to schedule the meter pull. This is the step most homeowners don't know about — the utility must physically remove your meter before we can work on the service entrance, and reinstall it when we're done.
- 4
Installation
On installation day: meter is pulled by the utility, we replace the meter base, service entrance conductors, weatherhead, and panel. All existing circuits are reconnected and labeled. Power is typically off 4–6 hours.
- 5
Inspection & Utility Reconnect
The county inspector reviews the completed work. Once approved, the utility reconnects at the new service size. We schedule both and are on-site for each.
Working with FPL: What to Expect
Meter pull & coordination
FPL serves both Palm Beach County and Brevard County. They pull meters on a scheduled basis. We submit the service entrance work notice and coordinate the disconnect/reconnect timing for you. FPL does not charge for the meter pull on standard upgrades, but scheduling windows vary — typically 1–3 business days.
Reconnect after inspection
Once the county inspection passes, we schedule the reconnect with FPL. Same-day or next-business-day restore is typical when the work is planned in advance — which is how we schedule every upgrade.
Bundle with a generator install
If you need both a service upgrade and a generator installation, doing them together means one permit, one utility coordination window, and one crew visit. It is almost always less expensive than scheduling them separately.
Service Upgrade Cost in Florida
A full service upgrade in Florida runs $2,500–$6,000 for most homes. The range is wide because the scope varies significantly depending on your current setup.
Current service size
Going from 60A or 100A costs more than upgrading from 150A because more hardware needs replacing.
Meter base condition
A corroded or damaged meter can that needs full replacement adds cost over a clean swap.
Weatherhead and conduit
Older homes often need a complete weatherhead and service entrance conduit replacement, not just a swap.
Underground vs. overhead service
Underground service entrance work is more involved than an overhead weatherhead replacement.
Utility requirements
FPL sometimes requires specific meter base brands or additional hardware. We verify before quoting.
Permit fees
Permit fees vary by county and by the dollar value of the work. We include permit fees in the written quote.
We give a firm written quote after seeing the service entrance. No estimates that balloon once work starts — everything is priced before we schedule.
Service Upgrade FAQs
Service Upgrades Near You
We pull permits and coordinate with FPL throughout Palm Beach County and Brevard County.