Do I need a 200 amp panel?

If you are adding an EV charger, electric heat, or a large addition, almost always yes. We size the service to your real loads plus room to grow, not a guess.

Is a Federal Pacific panel really a problem?

Yes. Those breakers have a documented history of failing to trip under fault. That is a fire risk. Replacing it is one of the highest-value electrical upgrades you can make.

Panel Upgrade San Antonio | 100 to 200 Amp

Panel Upgrades in San Antonio, the quick facts

Panel Upgrades and Replacements in San Antonio, TX from Wattsmith Electric, a licensed, insured, veteran-owned electrical contractor.
Service upgrades and panel replacements sized for modern loads, permitted and inspected.
Pricing is flat-rate, quoted and approved before any work starts, with no hourly meter.
Licensing status: Texas electrical contractor, TECL 41806.
Call (210) 446-5446 for panel upgrades in San Antonio.

Why it does not pay to wait

An overloaded or obsolete panel is a daily fire risk, not a someday problem. Federal Pacific and Zinsco breakers have a documented history of failing to trip under fault, and a full panel forces dangerous double-taps. Every day you wait is another day running a known hazard.

Your panel is the heart of the house. A 100 amp panel wired in the 1980s was never meant to run a modern kitchen, a heat pump, an EV charger, and a shop out back. Upgrade it to 200 amp and you stop fighting for capacity every time you add a circuit.

We pull the permit, coordinate the utility disconnect, set the new panel, land every circuit clean and labeled, and get it inspected. You end up with headroom, a clear directory, and work that passes the first time.

What we handle

100 amp to 200 amp service upgrades
Panel and meter combo replacements
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panel replacement
Sub-panel installation for shops, additions, and pools
Whole-home surge protection added at the panel
Permit, utility coordination, and inspection handled

Signs you need this

You have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel
The panel is full and you are out of breaker slots
You are adding an EV charger, hot tub, or heat pump
The panel is rusted, warm, or double-tapped

What you can check yourself first

Before you call, here is what you can safely check on your own. Even if you still call us, you will walk in knowing more than you did.

Open the panel door and read the main breaker rating. 100 or 125 usually means an older service; 200 is modern.
Look for the brand. A Federal Pacific (FPE) or Zinsco label is a known safety concern worth a call.
Count your spare slots. If every slot is full or doubled up, you are out of room to add anything.
Snap a photo of the panel label and the meter outside. That alone lets us give you a tighter number.

Straight pricing

In San Antonio, a 100 amp to 200 amp panel upgrade generally runs about 1,500 to 4,000 dollars, depending on your home.

What drives the number

Panel and meter location, and whether the meter can and mast also need replacing
The condition of the existing grounding and bonding, which older homes often lack
Permit and utility coordination, which we handle
Whether you add surge protection or a sub-panel at the same time

Wattsmith quotes the exact figure flat after we see the job, and you approve it before we start. The range is context, not your bill.

Panel upgrades are quoted flat after we see the panel, the meter, and the service. The number you approve is the number you pay.

Three options on every job, priced flat. You choose the scope.
The diagnostic fee applies toward the work performed.
The price you approve is the price you pay.

How our pricing works

Tell us what is going on

Tap what you need, tell us when, and a real electrician calls you back.

Step 1 of 2

What do you need?

When works for you?

Today if you canThis weekI am flexible

Sparks, burning smell, or a dead panel? Call (210) 446-5446 now instead of waiting on a callback.

Who are we calling?

Best number to reach you

We only use your number to call you back about this job.

By continuing, you agree that Wattsmith may call or text you back about your request.

You approve one flat price before any work starts. No hourly meter, no surprise invoice.

We hit your window, or your diagnostic is on us.

A Wattsmith electrician calls you back within 15 minutes during business hours.

The Wattsmith On-Time Promise

We hit your window, or your diagnostic is on us.

We give you a real arrival window, not a vague morning-to-evening guess. We hit it. If we are ever going to run late, you hear it from us first, with a reason. Miss your window with no heads-up, and the diagnostic fee is on us. That is veteran discipline you can hold us to.

Where we work

Panel Upgrades across the San Antonio metro

We bring panel upgrades to San Antonio and the surrounding communities. Find your area below or call and we will confirm we cover you.

(210) 446-5446 See all services

FAQ

Panel Upgrades questions

Straight answers. If you do not see yours, call us and ask.

Most residential upgrades are a one-day job. There is a power-off window while we swap the panel and the utility reconnects. We schedule it so you are down for the shortest time possible.

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Need panel upgrades done right?

Flat-rate pricing quoted up front. Licensed, insured, veteran-owned. A Wattsmith electrician calls you back within 15 minutes during business hours.

(210) 446-5446 Get Your Flat-Rate Quote

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Panel Upgrades in San Antonio