Compare
Panel upgrade vs. subpanel
Both add capacity. Which one is right depends on where the load lives and what your service can carry.
Panel upgrade
Replaces the main service panel, typically moving to 200 amps. The right call when the whole property needs headroom — EV charging, heat pumps, a shop — or the existing panel is obsolete.
Subpanel
A satellite panel fed from the main. The right call when one area needs circuits — a garage, an ADU, a kitchen remodel — and the main service still has measured capacity to spare.
Start with a load calculation. If the main service has headroom, a subpanel is the smaller job; if it is at capacity, the upgrade pays for itself by making every future project possible.
FAQ
Common questions
Can a subpanel be added to an older main panel?
Only if the main panel is safe and has capacity. If it is a known-defective brand or already loaded, we quote the upgrade instead — adding load to a failing panel is not something we will do.