Older or overloaded panels are a safety risk and a headache. We upgrade services and panels so your home or building has the capacity it needs, safely and to current code.
- 200-amp panel upgrades
- Sub-panels
- Meter & disconnect
- Breaker replacement
- Whole-home surge protection
- Code corrections
An outdated electrical panel is more than an inconvenience; it’s a major fire hazard. In Southwest Florida, many homeowners are required by their insurance companies to replace old, unsafe panels—such as Federal Pacific or Zinsco brands. Elite Electrical Contractors specializes in safe, efficient electrical panel upgrades and heavy-ups. We handle all coordination with local utility companies like FPL and LCEC, as well as municipal permitting, ensuring your home’s power supply is modern, reliable, and up to code.
Frequently Asked Electrical Panel Services Questions
How do I know if I need an electrical panel upgrade?
You may need an upgrade if your home still uses fuses, breakers trip constantly, you notice flickering lights, or you are adding heavy electrical draws such as an EV charger, pool heater, or heat pump. In Southwest Florida, panels manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE), Zinsco, or Challenger should also be replaced immediately due to documented safety and fire hazards.
Why is my homeowner’s insurance requiring me to replace my electrical panel?
Many insurance carriers operating in Florida now refuse to issue or renew coverage on homes with obsolete panels—most notably Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and obsolete split-bus designs. Because these panels frequently fail to trip under overload conditions, insurers consider them unacceptable fire risks. Our state-certified team (License #EC13003980) replaces these panels to full Florida Building Code standards and provides the necessary completion paperwork for your insurance four-point inspection.
What is the difference between a panel upgrade and a heavy-up?
A standard panel upgrade replaces the enclosure, interior bus bars, and breakers with modern components while maintaining your current amperage capacity (e.g., swapping an old 150-amp box for a new 150-amp panel). A “heavy-up” increases the overall utility amperage entering your home—typically upgrading from 100 or 150 amps to 200 or 400 amps—which also requires upgrading the exterior meter can, weatherhead, and service entrance conductors.
Do you coordinate with the local utility company (FPL, LCEC) during a panel upgrade?
Yes. We pull the municipal electrical permit under Florida License #EC13003980, submit the service work order, and coordinate directly with Florida Power & Light (FPL) or Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) to schedule the temporary power disconnect, exterior meter release, and same-day reconnection once the city or county rough inspection passes.