San Diego County's panel upgrade experts. We manage the entire utility company service order process, pull all permits, and complete your upgrade in one day — giving you the documentation your insurance company requires.
Stab-Lok breakers — installed in millions of homes from the 1950s–1980s. Breakers fail to trip during overloads, creating a serious fire hazard. The #1 panel flagged by San Diego insurance companies.
Breakers can fuse to the bus bar and fail to trip — or melt inside the panel. Widely found in San Diego homes built between 1960–1980. Insurance underwriters routinely reject these panels.
Panels with 60 amps or less are severely undersized for modern homes. Frequently flagged during home sales and insurance renewals. Upgrading to 200-amp service is the standard solution.
Unlike other parts of California, panel upgrades in San Diego County require a formal utility company service order before any work can begin. Here's exactly what happens:
We visit your home, assess your panel, and give you a firm written quote at no cost.
We submit your service order request to your utility company. A planner is assigned, visits your home, and issues a formal work order. This typically takes 4–8 weeks.
Once the utility company work order is received, we apply for your city permit. Every panel upgrade in San Diego County requires a permit — no exceptions.
utility company disconnects power at the meter. We remove the old panel and install your new 200-amp service. utility company reconnects the same day.
A city inspector signs off on the installation, verifying all work meets California Electrical Code and NEC requirements.
We provide you with the complete permit, inspection approval, and job photos — everything your insurer needs to reinstate or renew your policy.
We initiate and manage the full service order process — you never have to call the utility company yourself.
All permits pulled with the appropriate city or county jurisdiction before any work begins.
New code-compliant 200-amp main panel with proper grounding, bonding, and breaker labeling.
We schedule the utility company to disconnect power for the install and reconnect the same day.
Final inspection scheduled and passed. Your permit is closed out correctly in city records.
Complete documentation package — permit card, inspection approval, and photos for your insurer.
The utility company service order process typically takes 4–8 weeks. After we submit the request, an utility company planner is assigned to your home, performs a site visit, and issues a formal work order. Only after receiving that work order can we apply for a city permit and schedule your installation. This is why starting early is critical — especially if you have an insurance deadline.
Yes — always. A city permit is legally required for every panel upgrade in San Diego County. Any contractor who tells you permits aren't necessary is performing illegal work that could result in fines, failed home sales, and voided insurance coverage. Kaspar Electric pulls all required permits on every single job.
California insurance companies are increasingly canceling or refusing to renew policies on homes with Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels due to their known fire risks. A permitted panel upgrade performed by a licensed C10 contractor, with a passing city inspection, satisfies most insurance company requirements.
A standard 200-amp panel upgrade in San Diego County typically ranges from $3,000 to $4,500 depending on service type (overhead vs. underground), panel location, and whether trenching is required. This includes all utility company coordination, city permit fees, installation, and the final city inspection. Call (619) 922-9527 for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Overhead service means power lines run from a utility pole to your home via an aerial connection. Underground service means conduit is buried from the street to your meter. Underground upgrades require additional steps including a pre-meet with an utility company trench inspector, trenching, conduit installation, and a trench inspection before backfill — which adds time and cost to the project. We handle both types throughout San Diego County.