How Much Does a 200-Amp Panel Upgrade Cost in California? (2026)

If you're adding an EV charger, solar, a battery or a heat pump — or your panel is a 100-amp service from the 1980s — you've probably been told you need a "200-amp upgrade." The first question is always the same: how much? Here's an honest breakdown for California homes in 2026, without the sticker shock.

Panel swap vs. full service upgrade — this is what sets the price

Almost every quote you get is really one of two different jobs, and mixing them up is why prices look all over the place:

• Panel-only swap — same amperage or a straightforward change of the panel box and breakers, service size unchanged. This is the lighter job.
• Full 200-amp service upgrade — new service equipment, new meter main, and coordination with PG&E. More labor, more materials, sometimes utility work.

Industry-wide in 2026, a panel swap commonly runs in the low-to-mid four figures, and a full service upgrade runs higher once new service equipment and utility coordination are involved. We don't quote a number sight-unseen — the honest price depends on your specific service, and the on-site assessment is free.

What actually drives your number

• Panel swap or full service upgrade — the single biggest factor (see above).
• Distance from the meter and how the service is run (overhead vs. underground — underground/trenching adds cost).
• Whether PG&E has to change the service drop or meter — often they handle that at no charge (more below).
• Code corrections — grounding, bonding, and bringing the whole service up to current NEC.
• Your city's permit and inspection.

Does PG&E charge me for the upgrade?

For most residential service upgrades, PG&E does not bill you directly — if the existing service drop can't handle the new load, they replace it as part of maintaining the grid. You pay for your electrician's work and the city permit. There's usually only a PG&E cost if you're relocating the service to a new spot or converting overhead to underground. We confirm exactly what applies to your address during the assessment.

How long will my power be out?

Usually just a few hours the same day: we shut off, swap the panel or service, and coordinate with PG&E to reconnect. We give you the estimated window before we start and plan the day to disrupt you as little as possible.

Signs you actually need a 200-amp upgrade

• An obsolete Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel (a documented fire risk — here's why).
• A 100-amp service with no headroom once the AC, oven, dryer and water heater run.
• Breakers that trip often, flickering lights, or a warm/buzzing panel.
• You're adding an EV charger, solar, a battery, or a heat pump.

The only way to know for sure is a real NEC Article 220 load calculation — not a guess. That's exactly what a licensed C-10 does on the free assessment (and what powers your Electrical Score), so you upgrade once, correctly, and never pay for capacity you don't need.

The bottom line

The right price for your home comes from your actual service, the run, and any code corrections — quoted in plain English, in writing, before we start. Astral serves Mountain House, Tracy, Lathrop, Manteca, Stockton and Livermore, and the estimate is always free.