Service Changes and Upgrades
A service change replaces the electrical infrastructure between the utility connection and your panel. New meter base, new service entrance conductors, new panel, new grounding system. It's a larger project than a panel replacement, and the difference between the two is where most of the confusion starts.
If you got a quote that was higher than expected, or you were told the panel isn't the only thing that needs to be replaced, or you're trying to add equipment your current service can't handle, this page covers how to sort it out.
Every home is different. We evaluate your specific service entrance, panel, and local code requirements on-site before providing an estimate. This page describes the general scope so you know what to expect.
Panel Replacement vs. Service Change
Two contractors look at the same house. One quotes a panel replacement. The other quotes a service change. The numbers are far apart, and neither one explained why.
A panel replacement is work inside your house. The panel is mounted on an interior wall in a garage, basement, utility closet, or hallway. We remove the old panel and install a new indoor-rated (NEMA 1) enclosure with new breakers. The meter base, service entrance conductors, and amperage all stay the same. More on that at panel replacement.
A service change replaces everything from the utility connection point down, including the outdoor-rated (NEMA 3R) equipment exposed to weather. On an overhead service, that includes the weatherhead, mast, meter base, service entrance conductors, panel, and grounding. On an underground service, it includes the meter base, underground conductors, panel, grounding, and potentially the conduit if it's damaged or undersized.
| Component | Panel Replacement | Service Change |
|---|---|---|
| Where the work happens | Inside the home | Inside and outside |
| Enclosure rating | Indoor (NEMA 1) | Outdoor weatherproof (NEMA 3R) at meter and disconnect |
| Panel and breakers | Replaced | Replaced |
| Meter base | Stays | Replaced |
| Service entrance conductors | Stay | Replaced |
| Mast/weatherhead or conduit | Stays | Replaced if needed |
| Grounding system | Verified | Rebuilt to current NEC |
| Amperage | Stays the same | Can be increased |
| Utility coordination | Sometimes | Required |
If two quotes look nothing alike, this is usually the reason. The contractors aren't quoting the same scope of work.
Why You Might Need a Service Change
Most homeowners aren't looking for a service change. It comes up during an evaluation for something else.
The home needs more power
An EV charger, a heat pump, a home addition, or a conversion from gas to electric appliances. If the service entrance conductors can't carry the increased load, replacing the panel alone won't fix the capacity problem. The conductors and meter base have to be sized to match.
The service entrance equipment has deteriorated
Corroded meter bases, degraded conductor insulation, water damage inside conduit, a cracked weatherhead. These conditions can go unnoticed for years. They show up when an electrician opens the equipment for what was supposed to be a panel replacement and finds damage that can't be left in place.
The Xcel lever bypass requirement
Anytime a panel is changed at the service, Xcel Energy requires the meter base to include a lever bypass mechanism. If the existing meter base doesn't have one, it gets replaced. That replacement often pushes what started as a panel replacement into a service change, because pulling the meter base means disconnecting and replacing the conductors between the meter and the panel.
Insurance or home inspection
A home inspector, insurance carrier, or code enforcement officer identifies a problem with the service entrance. The meter base is damaged, the mast is leaning, or the grounding system doesn't meet current standards. Sometimes the panel is fine but the equipment around it isn't.
Selling the house
A buyer's inspector catches things that have been there for decades. A deteriorated service entrance that's been working fine can still fail a home inspection. The seller either addresses it or negotiates around it.
Overhead vs. Underground
Your service type is determined by what's already at your house. You don't choose between overhead and underground. The service change matches what's there.
Overhead
Wires run from a utility pole to a weatherhead on the roof or high on the wall. A rigid steel mast routes the conductors down to the meter base. The service change involves the weatherhead, the mast, the roof penetration and flashing, the meter base, the conductors, the panel, and the grounding. More components and roofline work make overhead projects more involved than underground.
Underground
Wires run from a utility transformer through buried conduit to the meter base. No roof work. The main variable is the conduit: if it's intact and large enough for the new conductors, it stays. If it's collapsed, undersized, or damaged, it has to be replaced, which means excavation.
Both types require utility coordination, permitting, inspection, and a full-day power outage. The detail pages cover the process and scope variables for each.
200 Amps vs. 400 Amps
The right amperage for your home comes from a load calculation per NEC Article 220. It accounts for what's drawing power now and what you're planning to add.
A 200-amp service handles most residential homes. That includes one Level 2 EV charger and a heat pump alongside normal household loads. The majority of service changes are to 200 amps.
400-amp service applies in specific situations:
- Large homes (5,000+ square feet) with heavy electrical loads throughout
- Multiple high-draw appliances running simultaneously
- Commercial-grade equipment in a home workshop or studio
A 400-amp service is a larger project. It requires a CT (current transformer) metering setup, and the utility may need to verify that the transformer serving your home can deliver 400 amps. That review adds time.
We run a load calculation on every service change and walk you through the results.
Planning Ahead
Two things are worth knowing before a service change starts.
Busbar sizing
The internal busbar size in the new panel determines how much solar capacity the home can support later under NEC interconnection rules (NEC 705.12). A slightly larger busbar at the time of installation costs very little more but avoids replacing the panel a second time if you add solar, an EV charger, or a heat pump later.
Electric Ready requirements
A standalone service change does not trigger Colorado's Electric Ready provisions (HB 22-1362). Those apply to new construction and major renovations. But if the service change is part of a larger renovation that crosses the major renovation threshold, the Electric Ready provisions may apply to the new or altered portions of the home. We assess whether any triggers apply during the evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a panel replacement and a service change?
A panel replacement swaps the panel and breakers inside the house. The meter base, service entrance conductors, and amperage stay the same. A service change replaces the meter base, service entrance conductors, panel, and grounding system. It's a larger project that addresses the full service entrance, not just the panel.
How long does a service change take?
The on-site work is typically one day. The full project timeline is longer because it includes permitting, a utility disconnect/reconnect application, and scheduling. The utility application alone can take weeks. In some cases, Xcel scheduling has taken up to three months.
How do I know if I have overhead or underground service?
Look at your meter base on the outside of your house. If wires run up the wall to a pipe on the roof, with a cable dropping from a utility pole to that pipe, you have overhead service. If there are no wires running up the wall and the power enters from below ground, you have underground service.
Will my power be off all day?
On the scheduled work day, yes. The utility disconnects power in the morning. Work runs the full day. The inspector comes. The utility reconnects after the inspection passes. In some cases, grounding work can be done before the outage day, which reduces the scope of work while the power is off.
Is 200 amps enough for an EV charger and a heat pump?
For most homes, yes. A 200-amp service can handle one Level 2 EV charger and a heat pump alongside normal household loads. The only way to answer it for your specific home is a load calculation per NEC Article 220, which we run on every service change.
Who does the work at Dunlap Electric?
The same person who evaluates your service and writes the estimate. We don't hand jobs off to a crew or a subcontractor. One master electrician, start to finish.
This page describes general project scope and is not a quote, diagnosis, or commitment. References to the National Electrical Code (NEC) are based on the 2023 NEC as adopted by Colorado at the time of writing and are for context only. They do not replace the currently adopted code in your jurisdiction. Your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and electrical inspector determine what applies to your project. The specific scope and requirements for your home can only be determined by a licensed electrician during an on-site evaluation.
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