200A panel upgrades in Salt Lake County: cost, permits, timeline
Most homes along the Wasatch Front were wired for a very different set of loads than the ones we plug in today. Between EV charging, heat pumps, induction ranges, hot tubs and finished basements, a 100A service runs out of room quickly.
Here is what a 200A upgrade actually involves, in plain terms, so you can plan the project instead of reacting to it.
Do you actually need 200A?
We start with a load calculation, not a guess. It accounts for square footage, heating and cooling, kitchen and laundry equipment, and any EV or spa loads you plan to add in the next few years.
- A full panel with no open spaces is not the same as an undersized service. Sometimes a subpanel or tandem breakers solve it for far less.
- Adding a Level 2 EV charger plus central AC to a 100A service is usually where the calculation pushes past the limit.
- If the meter base, service entrance conductors, or grounding electrode system are original, upgrading everything at once is cheaper than doing it twice.
What the work includes
- New 200A panel, main breaker, and properly rated breakers for existing circuits.
- New meter base and service entrance conductors, overhead or underground.
- Updated grounding and bonding, including ground rods and water pipe bonding to current code.
- Circuit labeling, AFCI and GFCI protection where the code now requires it, and permit inspection.
Permits and utility coordination
A service upgrade is a permitted job in every Salt Lake County and Davis County jurisdiction. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with Rocky Mountain Power. You do not need to call the utility yourself.
The sequence is: permit issued, utility disconnect scheduled, panel and service changed out, inspection passed, utility reconnects. Municipal turnaround varies, which is the part of the timeline least under our control, so we build the schedule around the inspection window.
Timeline and power outage
The physical changeout is typically a one day job. Your power is off for the working portion of that day, generally six to eight hours. We tell you the window in advance so you can plan around refrigeration, home offices, and medical equipment.
Total project time from signed quote to final inspection is usually one to three weeks depending on permit and utility scheduling.
Budgeting
Cost depends on overhead versus underground service, meter relocation, mast and weatherhead condition, panel location, and how much existing wiring needs correction once the old panel is off the wall. We give you a fixed written scope after we look at the actual conditions, including permit fees, so there is no moving target.
If you are planning EV charging, a generator, or a basement finish, tell us during the quote. Sizing the upgrade for those loads now costs very little extra and avoids a second service call later.
Frequently asked questions
- How long will my power be off during a panel upgrade?
- Plan on most of one working day, typically six to eight hours, from utility disconnect to reconnect.
- Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in Utah?
- Yes. Panel and service upgrades require a permit and inspection in Salt Lake County and Davis County jurisdictions. We handle the permit and the inspection scheduling.
- Will a 200A panel support an EV charger?
- In most homes, yes, but it depends on your other loads. A load calculation confirms it, and load management devices can make a Level 2 charger work even on a tighter service.
