Electrical panel upgrade cost in Southern California
Fixr says upgrading to 200 amp service typically costs $1,800 to $4,500, and This Old House says a 100 to 200 amp upgrade typically costs $1,300 to $3,000. Both are national figures. We did not find a published Southern California price for this job, so local quotes are the only way to learn what you will pay.
Researched October 2026. These are published estimates, not quotes. A price for your job comes from a local business.
What the published figures say
| What it covers | Published figure | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to 200 amp service | $1,800 to $4,500 | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Upgrade to 100 amp service | $1,200 to $1,800 | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Panel upgrade, all sizes, national average of $3,000 | $1,500 to $4,500 | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Electrician hourly charge for most jobs | $40 to $120 per hour | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Share of the job cost that can be labour | 40% to 60% | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Permit for panel work | $50 to $300 or more | United States | FixrJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Upgrade from 100 to 200 amps | $1,300 to $3,000 | United States | This Old HouseMarch 31, 2026 |
| All panel upgrades | $800 to $4,000 | United States | This Old HouseMarch 31, 2026 |
| Permit for a panel upgrade, depending on location | $50 to $300 | United States | This Old HouseMarch 31, 2026 |
| Meter box unit | $50 to $250 | United States | This Old HouseMarch 31, 2026 |
| Meter box installation | $1,800 to $3,500 | United States | This Old HouseMarch 31, 2026 |
What the published guides say
Fixr says upgrading to 200 amp service typically costs $1,800 to $4,500, depending on your current amperage and the age of your panel and wiring. It puts an upgrade to 100 amp service at $1,200 to $1,800. For all panel upgrades it gives a range of $1,500 to $4,500, with a national average of $3,000.
This Old House says upgrading from 100 to 200 amps typically costs $1,300 to $3,000. For all panel upgrades it says $800 to $4,000, with most homeowners paying $1,300 to $3,000. Replacing a meter box is a separate job. This Old House gives $50 to $250 for the unit and $1,800 to $3,500 for installation.
These are national figures
Both guides give national figures. We did not find a published price for this job in Orange County, San Diego County, Temecula or anywhere else in Southern California. We will not guess one.
Local quotes are the only way to get a local price. Ask two or three licensed electricians to price the same job in writing, and ask each one what is included.
Why the numbers differ
The two guides do not match, and neither is wrong. They were written at different dates, and they cover different job sizes. Fixr quotes a 200 amp upgrade, while This Old House quotes a 100 to 200 amp upgrade. The age of your panel and wiring also changes the work.
Fixr says labour can be 40% to 60% of the total cost, and that electricians charge $40 to $120 per hour for most jobs. A job that takes more hours will cost more. A permit adds to the total too. Fixr puts it at $50 to $300 or more, and This Old House puts it at $50 to $300 depending on your location.
Licence and how to check it
In California, an electrician needs a C-10 Electrical licence, issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). You can check a licence online or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). The CSLB also has a search by licence number or by business name.
Contractors must put their licence number on their business card and on all bids and contracts. The CSLB says a written contract is required for all home improvement projects over $500. The down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Local Business America does not check licences or rank businesses.
Permits, the utility and help with costs
Fixr says panel work requires a permit, and This Old House says most panel upgrades do. In the unincorporated part of Orange County, Development Services lists an Electrical Panel Change Out permit type. Cities run their own permit offices, so ask your city's building office what it needs. We did not find permit fees or wait times for any Southern California city.
We could not confirm which parts of the work belong to you and which belong to your electric utility. That is a question for your utility, so ask it before work starts. Some utilities run programmes that help with costs, such as Southern California Edison's Common Facility Cost Treatment Program and its Charge Ready Home programme. These may have changed, so read each programme's own page and ask about your address.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to upgrade a panel to 200 amps?
- Fixr says $1,800 to $4,500 and This Old House says $1,300 to $3,000 for a 100 to 200 amp upgrade. Both are national figures. We found no Southern California price, so get local quotes.
- Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade?
- Fixr says panel work requires a permit, which costs $50 to $300 or more. Orange County lists an Electrical Panel Change Out permit type. Ask your own city's building office.
- What licence does an electrician need in California?
- A C-10 Electrical licence from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
- How do I check an electrician's licence?
- Check online on the CSLB website or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). The licence number must be on the contractor's business card and on all bids and contracts.
- How much of the cost is labour?
- Fixr says it is not uncommon for labour to be 40% to 60% of the total cost of the job. It also says electricians charge $40 to $120 per hour for most jobs.
- Is there help paying for a service upgrade?
- Southern California Edison runs the Common Facility Cost Treatment Program and Charge Ready Home. Programmes change, so read each one's own page and ask your utility.
- How much can a contractor ask for up front?
- The CSLB says the down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.