Electrical Panel Upgrades in OKC.
When your panel can’t keep up with the home you have, the appliances you’ve added, and the things you want to do next. It’s time. We replace older panels, upgrade 100-amp service to 200-amp, and install modern panels for OKC metro homes. Permits pulled. Code-compliant. Finished cleanly.
Most homeowners ignore the signs, until the panel forces the issue.
An aging electrical panel doesn’t usually fail suddenly. It tells you something is wrong for months, sometimes years, before it becomes urgent. Here’s what to watch for.
Breakers trip frequently
If you have to reset the same breaker over and over, the circuit is overloaded for the current panel, or the breaker itself is failing.
Lights flicker when the AC kicks on
Voltage drop under load means the panel can’t deliver clean power to everything that’s plugged in. It’s a sign the service is undersized.
You have an older, original panel
Older original panels are well past modern capacity. They can’t handle today’s HVAC, appliances, or electronics, and they’re a red flag for insurers.
The panel is full or out of space
If there’s no room for new circuits and you’re using tandem breakers to squeeze in additions, the panel needs to be upgraded. Not crammed.
The panel is hot, buzzing, or has burn marks
Any heat, buzzing, smell, or visible scorching is a serious safety issue. Don’t wait: call us today and don’t open the panel yourself.
You're adding an EV, hot tub, or pool
Most homes were sized for the original load. Adding a 240V EV charger, hot tub, or pool often requires upgrading to 200-amp service first.
We've upgraded panels across the OKC metro. We know what your home needs.
Kelvin Electric is a family-owned, licensed electrical contractor that has served the Oklahoma City metro. Brandon Allen, our owner and master electrician, has personally overseen panel upgrades across virtually every type of OKC home, from original 1950s panels in Bethany to undersized 100-amp panels in older Edmond developments to commercial service equipment along OKC’s commercial corridors.
Every panel upgrade we do is permitted, inspected, and finished to current Oklahoma electrical code. We coordinate directly with OG&E, OEC, or your local cooperative for service disconnection and reconnection.
What you get from us: a straight assessment of what your panel actually needs, a clear all-in quote up front, and clean, code-compliant work from a crew that does this every week.
Three steps. No mystery.
We’ve made the panel upgrade process as simple as we can, because you shouldn’t need an electrical degree to understand what you’re paying for.
1. In-Home Quote Visit
We come to your home, assess your current panel and meter, look at the existing load, and ask about what you’re planning to add. Takes 30-60 minutes.
2. Clear Quote, No Surprises
You get an all-in quote that includes the panel, breakers, labor, the permit, the inspection, and coordination with OG&E or your cooperative. Nothing added at the end unless we find something we couldn’t see during the inspection, and even then, we stop and confirm with you first.
3. Install, Permit, Inspection
We schedule the day, coordinate power-off with the utility, swap the panel cleanly, finish to code, pull the permit, get the inspection passed, and clean up. You go from old panel to new panel in a single day for most jobs.
How Kelvin Electric Pricing Works
No guessing. Here is how pricing works, so you know what to expect before we arrive.
Service Call: $175
If something isn’t working right, we come out and work to fix it, usually within the first hour. The service call is $175, plus any parts needed. If it looks like the job will run past an hour or is more than a quick fix, we stop, explain what we found, and you decide what happens next.
Quote From Photos or Video: No Charge
For many smaller jobs we can quote from photos or video at no charge. If we arrive and find more than the photos showed, we stop and walk you through what we found before any work begins.
In-Person Quote: $175, Credited to Your Job
If we need to see the job in person, the quote visit is $175. If you choose to move forward with the work, that $175 is credited toward it.
What's included in every panel upgrade.
An upgrade isn’t just swapping one box for another. The work includes the panel itself, every breaker, the service-entrance wiring, the meter base if it needs updating, the grounding system, and all the labor and permitting to do it safely and to code.
Here’s exactly what you get when we upgrade your panel: included in the quoted price, with no surprises at the end.
- New 200-amp main panel: Square D, Eaton, or Siemens. Your choice
- All new breakers sized to your circuits: Including AFCI/GFCI where code requires
- Service-entrance conductors & mast: Replaced if undersized or damaged
- Meter base assessment & replacement if needed: Coordinated with utility company
- Grounding system updated to current code: Including ground rod and bonding
- Electrical permit pulled with your city: Fee included in quote
- Inspection coordinated & passed: We handle scheduling with the inspector
- Utility disconnect & reconnect coordination: With OG&E, OEC, or your cooperative
- Clean up & haul-away of old panel: You don't lift a finger
Trusted brands. Proven reliability.
Square D
QO & Homeline Series
Eaton
CH & BR Series
Siemens
PL Series
Leviton
Smart-Capable Panels
An aging panel doesn't get better on its own.
We’re not in the business of fear-selling. But it’s also true that the longer an undersized or aging electrical panel runs, the more the small problems compound, and the more expensive they get to fix when they finally force the issue.
Here’s what an aging panel can actually cost you over time.
Cost of Doing Nothing
- Fire risk grows: Aged panels with loose connections or overheating breakers are a leading cause of residential electrical fires.
- Appliances get damaged: Dirty power and voltage drop wear out HVAC, refrigerators, and electronics prematurely.
- Insurance gets complicated: Many insurers won't write or renew on homes with outdated panels or known-failure panel brands (FPE, Zinsco).
- You can't add anything: No EV charger, no hot tub, no pool, no new HVAC, no addition, until the panel is upgraded.
- Home value takes a hit: Buyers and inspectors catch outdated panels every time. It becomes a negotiation point at the worst possible moment.
- Emergency repairs cost more: A planned upgrade is far less expensive than an emergency replacement after a failure.
A new panel changes how your home works.
An upgraded panel isn’t just safer. It opens up everything you’ve wanted to do with your home. The capacity is there. The peace of mind is there. And the project doesn’t have to be repeated for decades.
Here’s what your home looks like after we’re done.
After Your Upgrade
- Breakers stop tripping: Modern circuits handle modern load. No more resetting the kitchen breaker every time you run the microwave.
- Add anything you want: EV charger, hot tub, pool, finished outbuilding, second HVAC system. Your panel has the capacity now.
- Insurance is happy: Modern code-compliant panels remove a common underwriting hurdle.
- Resale value protected: The next buyer's inspector won't flag your service panel as an issue.
- Safe, quiet, reliable power: Clean voltage to everything plugged in: lights don't flicker, electronics last longer, HVAC runs at full efficiency.
- 30+ year service life: A properly installed modern panel will serve your home for decades.
Often paired with a panel upgrade.
EV Charger Installation
Tesla Wall Connectors, NEMA 14-50 outlets, and Level 2 charging stations. A panel upgrade is often the prerequisite for adding home EV charging.
Surge Protection
Panel-mounted whole-home surge protection installed during the panel upgrade: protects every appliance, electronic, and HVAC system from grid fluctuations.
Home Rewiring
Sometimes a panel upgrade reveals the need for broader rewiring: aluminum branch wiring, ungrounded outlets, or knob-and-tube remnants.
Panel upgrades Across the Oklahoma City Metro
Kelvin Electric serves homes across central Oklahoma. Choose your city for local details.
Common questions homeowners ask.
Don’t see your question? Call (405) 267-7760 and we’ll give you a straight answer.
How does Kelvin Electric charge for service calls and quotes?
A service call is $175, plus any parts, and we aim to fix the problem within the first hour. If it looks like the job will run past an hour or is more than a quick fix, we stop, explain what we found, and you decide what happens next. For many smaller jobs we can quote from photos or video at no charge. If we arrive and find more than the photos showed, we stop and walk you through what we missed before any work begins. If we need to quote in person, the visit is $175, and it is credited toward the work if you choose to move forward.
How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in Oklahoma City?
We provide an in-home quote visit and a clear, all-in quote before any work begins. No bait-and-switch pricing. See how Kelvin Electric pricing works on this page, or call (405) 267-7760 for a quote.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Most residential panel upgrades take a single day on-site, with power off for 4 to 8 hours during the swap. Larger or more complex jobs, service relocation, mast replacement, outdoor service equipment changes, can stretch to two days. We schedule the work to minimize disruption to your routine.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade?
Yes. Every panel upgrade requires an electrical permit from your city or county. We pull every required permit and coordinate inspection. The permit fee is included in our quote. Be wary of any contractor who suggests skipping the permit: unpermitted electrical work can void your insurance and complicate future home sales.
What's the difference between 100-amp and 200-amp service?
100-amp service can handle a typical mid-century home with basic appliances. 200-amp service handles modern electrical loads including central HVAC, electric ranges, hot tubs, EV chargers, pools, and home additions. Most homes built after 1985 came with 200-amp service from new; older homes often need upgrading. For most homes today, 200-amp is the right answer.
Will my power be off during the upgrade?
Yes, power has to be off while we swap the panel: typically 4 to 8 hours. We coordinate with OG&E or your electric cooperative to disconnect and reconnect service at the meter, and we schedule the work to minimize disruption. Plan for a half-day to full-day without power, but most of our customers don't even need to leave the house.
Do I need a panel upgrade to install an EV charger?
Often, yes. A Level 2 EV charger draws 30-50 amps continuously when charging. Most older 100-amp panels can't add that load without overloading. We assess your current panel's capacity during the EV charger consultation: sometimes a sub-panel works, sometimes a full upgrade is the right call. More on EV charger installation.
Are Federal Pacific (FPE) or Zinsco panels dangerous?
Both Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are documented as having failure-to-trip issues: breakers that don't shut off circuits when they should. Many electricians and insurers consider them a fire hazard. If you have an FPE or Zinsco panel, we strongly recommend replacing it. We do this work regularly across the OKC metro.
Do you offer financing for panel upgrades?
Ask us during your in-home inspection. We have options available depending on the scope of the project and your situation. We want to make upgrading your panel affordable, not stressful.
What if my home has an older, original panel?
Older original panels are well past modern capacity and many insurers flag them. We replace older panels with modern 200-amp panels regularly. This is one of our most common upgrades in older neighborhoods like Bethany, Del City, and parts of Oklahoma City.
Ready for a panel that's ready for anything?
Schedule an in-home quote visit. We’ll assess your current service, talk through what you’re planning to add, and give you a straight, all-in quote. No pressure, no surprises.
Email: [email protected]