Overhead Service Change
If your home's electrical service comes in through a mast on the roof, and the equipment between the weatherhead and the panel needs to be replaced, that's an overhead service change. It's more than a panel replacement. The entire service entrance gets rebuilt.
An overhead service change replaces the weatherhead, the service mast, the meter base, the service entrance conductors, the panel, and the grounding system. This page covers what's involved, why overhead work is different from underground, and what to expect from start to finish.
This page describes the general scope of an overhead service change. Every home is different. We evaluate your specific service entrance, panel, wiring, and local code requirements on-site before providing an estimate.
What Gets Replaced
A panel replacement swaps the panel and the breakers inside the house. An overhead service change replaces everything from the weatherhead down to the panel, plus the grounding system. The scope is larger because the problem goes beyond the panel itself.
Weatherhead
The waterproof cap at the top of the mast. The service entrance conductors come out through the weatherhead and form a drip loop where they connect to the utility's service drop. The weatherhead keeps rain and snow from running down inside the mast.
Service mast
The rigid galvanized steel pipe that runs from the meter base up through or along the house to the roofline. Xcel Energy and code (NEC 230.28) require rigid galvanized steel for overhead masts because the mast has to support the weight and tension of the utility's aerial drop. A standard residential overhead service uses a 2-inch pipe. The section above the roofline must be a single unbroken piece. No couplings allowed above the roof.
Hub, clamp, and neutral clamp
The hub connects the mast to the top of the meter base or meter/combo panel. The clamp and neutral clamp attach to the mast and provide the connection point for the utility's neutral wire. These are small components, but they're part of the overhead assembly that gets replaced.
Meter base
The exterior enclosure that houses the utility meter. The existing meter base is replaced with one that meets current utility specifications. In Xcel Energy territory (which covers most of our service area), the new meter base must include a lever bypass mechanism that allows the utility to service the meter without interrupting power. Other providers in the area, including CORE Electric Cooperative, have their own meter and access requirements.
Service entrance conductors
The wires running from the meter base up through the mast and out the weatherhead. These carry the full electrical demand of the house. If the existing conductors are undersized for the new service rating, or the insulation has degraded, they get replaced.
Roof flange
Where the mast passes through the roof, a flange seals the penetration against water. We install the roof flange on standard asphalt shingle roofs. If the mast location changes and the old penetration needs patching, that's roofing work handled by a roofer.
Panel
The interior distribution equipment. Same scope as a panel replacement: new enclosure, new breakers, new connections to every circuit. The new panel meets the same code requirements that apply to any panel replacement, including surge protection (NEC 230.67), exterior emergency disconnect (NEC 230.85), and Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) / Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection where required by your jurisdiction.
Grounding system
On a service change, the entire grounding system is brought up to current National Electrical Code (NEC) standards. This includes two ground rods, a ground bond to the cold water pipe within 5 feet of where it enters the building, and the grounding conductor from the panel to the meter. Grounding is often the most variable part of the project because the work depends on conditions that aren't visible until the project is underway.
What You Own vs. What the Utility Owns
Not everything between the utility pole and your panel belongs to the utility. This is one of the most common points of confusion, and it directly affects what's in scope for the project.
In a typical overhead setup, the utility owns the line from the transformer to the service drop. That's the wire running from the pole (or between poles) to your house. The homeowner owns everything from the weatherhead down: the drip loop where the utility's line connects to your feeders, the mast, the meter base, the service entrance conductors, the panel, and the grounding system.
The connection point is where the utility's service drop meets your feeders at the drip loop. Xcel Energy sends a crew with a bucket truck to make that connection. They crimp their wires to yours. Everything below that splice is your responsibility.
Ownership boundaries vary by provider. CORE Electric Cooperative, which serves parts of Douglas, Arapahoe, and southern Jefferson County, has its own ownership and access requirements. We sort out which components are in scope during the on-site evaluation.
Why an Overhead Service Change Is Needed
Most homeowners don't seek out a service change. It usually comes up during an evaluation for something else: a panel replacement, an EV charger installation, or a home inspection.
The home needs more power than the current service can deliver
The existing service entrance conductors are sized for the current rating. If the home needs a higher rating to support new equipment (EV charging, heat pump, addition), the conductors, meter base, and mast have to be upgraded to match.
The service entrance equipment has deteriorated
Corroded meter bases, weathered mast connections, cracked weatherheads, or degraded conductor insulation. On overhead services, these components are exposed to sun, wind, rain, and snow year-round. They take more weather than underground equipment, and conditions can go unnoticed for years. They surface when an electrician opens the equipment for a panel replacement and finds damage that can't be left in place.
The Xcel lever bypass requirement
Xcel Energy requires a lever bypass meter on all service changes. If the existing meter base doesn't have a lever bypass, and the project scope touches the meter, that requirement pushes the project from a panel replacement into service change territory.
Code compliance on the exterior equipment
Replacing service equipment triggers the exterior emergency disconnect requirement (NEC 230.85). Homes with interior-only panels need an exterior disconnect added between the meter and the panel. In some cases, this means replacing the meter base with a meter-main combination unit or installing a separate disconnect enclosure.
The Process
Every overhead service change follows the same sequence. The timeline is longer than a panel replacement because utility coordination is involved, and the utility's scheduling is outside our control.
On-site evaluation
We look at the existing weatherhead, mast, meter base, service entrance conductors, panel, and grounding system. We check the mast location, the roof type, clearance heights, and the condition of the existing equipment. We assess the grounding scope based on the cold water pipe location and soil conditions. No estimate gets written without seeing the full picture.
Permit
An electrical permit is required in every Colorado jurisdiction. We pull the permit and handle the paperwork. The permit fee and the time to file and coordinate everything is part of the project.
Utility application
We submit the disconnect/reconnect application to your utility provider (Xcel Energy for most of our service area, CORE Electric Cooperative in parts of Douglas, Arapahoe, and southern Jefferson County). The utility sets the date based on their scheduling. This step determines the project timeline. It can take weeks depending on workload and season. In some cases, Xcel scheduling has taken up to three months.
Materials
Materials are ordered once the utility date is confirmed. Every installation is custom. Panel size, wire sizing, meter base type, mast configuration, and grounding components are all determined by the specific conditions and needs at your home.
Pre-work (when possible)
Grounding can sometimes be done before the scheduled utility disconnect date. The panel and mast work require the power to be off, so those wait for the Xcel disconnect date. This is different from underground work, where the panel can sometimes be installed early.
The outage day
We show up an hour before the scheduled Xcel disconnect time to prep. Tools and materials get laid out. Once Xcel disconnects power, the old service equipment comes out. The new meter base or meter/combo panel goes up. The hub gets installed on top. The mast location is laid out. If the existing hole doesn't line up with the new mast, a new penetration is made through the roof. The roof flange goes in. The steel mast gets screwed into the hub and strapped to the structure. Feeder wires run up through the mast. The weatherhead goes on top. The clamp and neutral clamp get installed on the mast. Grounding is completed. Every circuit gets reconnected and tested. The panel directory is traced and labeled.
Power is off for the full working day. We need access to every room to trace circuits and verify the panel directory.
Meter
Xcel Energy requires a lever bypass meter on all service changes. The meter gets changed out to a lever bypass unit.
Overhead connection
After the work is done, Xcel sends a crew with a bucket truck to reconnect the service drop. They crimp the utility's wires to the feeders coming out of your weatherhead. This step is on Xcel's schedule. High winds can ground bucket trucks, which means the reconnection may be delayed by weather.
Inspection
The city or county inspector reviews the installation. The inspection has to pass before the utility will restore permanent power. If the inspector requires a correction, it gets made and a re-inspection is scheduled. Corrections are included in the estimate.
Power restoration
Once the inspection passes, the inspector sends a meter release to the utility. The meter gets set and power is back on.
Documentation
You get a passed inspection on file, a panel directory identifying every circuit by location, and warranty documentation. We provide a 1-year parts warranty from the date of final inspection and a lifetime workmanship warranty.
What Affects the Scope
No two overhead service changes are the same. The scope depends on what's on the roof, what's on the wall, and what's inside the house.
Mast location and configuration
Most overhead services run through the roof. The mast goes up through the roof decking, and the weatherhead sits above the roofline. In some cases, when the service is on a second story or the wall is high enough, the mast can be mounted to the side of the house below the roofline instead. Every house is different. The mast location, height, and mounting method depend on the specific property.
Clearance requirements
The utility line from the pole to your house has to meet minimum height clearances. Xcel requires 12 feet of clearance over pedestrian areas and 16 feet over driveways. These clearances affect how high the mast needs to be. If the mast extends more than 48 inches above the roofline, guying (steel cable bracing) is required to handle the tension from the service drop.
Roof type
Standard asphalt shingle roofs are straightforward. We handle the flashing. Tile, metal, and flat roofs are more complex. Tile is brittle and can crack under foot traffic. Metal expands and contracts with temperature changes, which affects the seal. Flat roofs need different waterproofing methods. These roof types may need a roofer involved for the flashing portion of the work.
Cold water ground distance
The grounding conductor must run from the panel to the cold water pipe within the first five feet of where it enters the building (NEC 250.52). That run has to be continuous. No splices. In homes where the panel and the water entry are on opposite sides of the house, or where the basement is finished, this can mean routing wire through walls or cutting drywall for access.
Soil conditions
Ground rods have to be driven eight feet into the earth. Along the Front Range, dense clay and rock can make that difficult. If bedrock is hit before the rod is fully driven, it may need to go in at an angle or be buried in a trench instead. A second rod is standard because a single rod rarely meets the required ground resistance on its own (NEC 250.53).
Whether the mast location needs to change
Sometimes the new mast can go through the same hole. Sometimes it can't. If the mast location moves, the old roof penetration needs to be patched by a roofer, and a new penetration gets made. This adds scope to the project.
Weather
Overhead work is more weather-dependent than underground. Roofline work can't happen safely in rain, snow, or high wind. Chinook winds along the Front Range affect mast structural requirements. And Xcel's bucket trucks won't operate in high winds, which can delay the reconnection.
Roof Protection
The roof penetration is the part of an overhead service change that homeowners ask about most. It makes sense. Nobody wants a new roof leak.
On standard asphalt shingle roofs, we handle the roof flashing as part of the service change. It's not a separate trade or an extra trip.
For tile, metal, or flat roofs, the flashing method is different. Tile is fragile. Metal panels expand and contract. Flat roofs don't shed water the same way. On these roof types, we may coordinate with a roofing contractor for the flashing portion of the work. We identify the roof type during the evaluation so there are no surprises on the work day.
Planning Ahead
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.
On a standalone service change, Colorado's Electric Ready requirements (HB 22-1362) don't apply. Those are triggered by 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.
This page covers overhead service changes where the service type stays the same. If you're considering converting from overhead to underground, that's a different project with a different scope. Overhead-to-underground conversions involve the utility converting their infrastructure, and the timeline and coordination are more involved. We can discuss that option during the evaluation if it's something you're interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an overhead service change different from a panel replacement?
A panel replacement swaps the panel and the breakers inside the house. Your amperage and service entrance stay the same. An overhead service change replaces the weatherhead, mast, meter base, service entrance conductors, panel, and grounding system. It's a bigger project that changes the home's capacity or addresses deteriorated service entrance equipment.
How long does an overhead service change take?
The on-site work is typically done in one day. The full project timeline is longer because it includes permitting, utility coordination, and scheduling. The utility application process alone can take weeks, and in busy seasons it has taken up to three months.
How long will my power be off during an overhead service change?
Power is off for the full working day on the scheduled outage date. Grounding work can sometimes be done before the outage day while the home still has power. The panel and mast work require the power to be off, so those wait for the Xcel disconnect date.
Will there be a hole in my roof?
If the mast goes through the roof, there will be a penetration sealed with a roof flashing. We handle the flashing on standard asphalt shingle roofs as part of the service change. If the mast location changes and the old hole needs patching, that's roofing work handled by a roofer. Tile, metal, or flat roofs may need a roofer involved for the flashing as well.
What if my home is in an HOA or has architectural review requirements?
Exterior electrical equipment (meter bases, disconnects, masts) may need approval from an architectural review committee before installation. This applies in several communities in our service area, including Highlands Ranch, Genesee, and Ken Caryl. We identify these requirements during the evaluation and coordinate accordingly.
What happens if the electrical inspection doesn't pass?
We correct whatever the inspector flags and schedule a re-inspection. The utility will not restore permanent power until the inspection passes. The job isn't finished until it does.
Who does the work at Dunlap Electric?
The same person who evaluates your service entrance 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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