// NYC · Master Licensed · All 5 Boroughs
Electrical Panel Upgrades in New York City
Master-licensed panel upgrades for NYC homes and businesses. We handle everything — permits, ConEd coordination, DOB inspection — so you don’t have to.
- 100A to 200A service upgrades
- Sub-panel additions
- Fuse box replacements
- ConEd meter coordination
- Full DOB permit & inspection
- All NYC boroughs
Why NYC panel upgrades are different from the national average
Most national guides put panel upgrades at $1,200–$2,500. In New York City, expect $1,800–$3,500 — and sometimes more. The gap isn’t padding. It’s real.
NYC DOB permit requirements add $300–$700 that most national estimates ignore entirely. Every panel upgrade must be filed with the Department of Buildings, inspected, and signed off before the job is closed. We handle all of this as standard — it’s not an add-on.
ConEd coordination is required for most service upgrades. When you go from 100A to 200A, ConEd must physically disconnect and reconnect at the meter. We schedule and coordinate this directly — but it adds 1–2 weeks to the timeline.
Building vintage is the other big variable. Pre-war buildings (pre-1940) often have original wiring, knob-and-tube adjacent conditions, or asbestos-wrapped service entrance cables that require special handling. Post-war buildings may have aluminum branch circuit wiring. We assess all of this during our free quote visit.
Red flags that mean you need a panel upgrade now: Breakers that trip repeatedly, a warm or humming panel, burning smell near the panel, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel (both have significant safety records), or an insurer flagging your system before coverage renewal.
What’s included in every MP Electric panel upgrade
Free in-person assessment
We visit your home, assess your current panel, amperage, building type, and load requirements. You get a written fixed-price quote before we schedule anything.
DOB permit filing
We file all permit applications with the NYC Department of Buildings. You don’t touch the paperwork. We track approval and notify you when we’re ready to schedule.
ConEd coordination
For service upgrades requiring a meter upgrade, we contact ConEd directly, schedule the disconnect/reconnect, and coordinate around their crew availability.
Panel installation
Installation takes 4–8 hours. Power is off for most of that window. We protect your space, work cleanly, and restore power the same day in all standard jobs.
DOB inspection & sign-off
After installation, we schedule the DOB inspection, meet the inspector on-site, and get the job signed off. You receive the Certificate of Electrical Inspection.
Final walkthrough
We walk you through the new panel, label every circuit, explain any follow-up recommendations, and leave you with all permit documentation.
When do you actually need a panel upgrade?
Not every electrical problem requires a panel upgrade. Here’s how to tell the difference:
- Frequent breaker trips on the same circuit usually mean an overloaded circuit — a new dedicated circuit may solve it without a full upgrade.
- Adding an EV charger or hot tub almost always requires additional panel capacity. We assess this during the quote.
- Still on 60A or 100A service in a home with central HVAC, dishwasher, and washer/dryer means you’re likely at or near capacity. An upgrade is worth doing proactively.
- Fuse box should be upgraded — not because fuses are dangerous per se, but because modern circuit breakers are easier to manage and required by most NYC insurers.
- Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Pushmatic panels have documented safety issues and most NYC insurers will not cover a home with these panels in service.
Not sure? Our inspection service ($250–$400) gives you a clear written assessment of your panel’s condition and whether an upgrade is needed — before you commit to anything.
Service areas — panel upgrades across NYC
MP Electric NYC performs panel upgrades throughout all five boroughs. We have specific experience with the building types and DOB district office requirements in each area:
- Brooklyn — brownstones, pre-war multi-family, new construction in Williamsburg, Park Slope, Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, DUMBO
- Queens — attached houses, co-ops, residential in Astoria, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Forest Hills, Jamaica, Long Island City
- Manhattan — co-ops, condos, townhouses, pre-war apartments across all neighborhoods
- Bronx — single-family, multi-family, residential and commercial throughout
- Staten Island — single-family residential, available on request
Frequently asked questions
A 200-amp panel upgrade in NYC typically costs $1,800–$3,500. The main variables are building type (pre-war brownstone vs newer construction), whether ConEd needs to upgrade your meter, permit costs, and existing wiring condition. We provide a written fixed-price quote after a free site visit — no surprises.
Yes. All panel upgrades require a NYC DOB electrical permit and a final inspection. Skipping the permit is illegal, voids your homeowner’s insurance, and becomes a problem when you sell. MP Electric NYC handles all permitting as standard — it’s included in every job.
Installation takes 4–8 hours. Your power will be off for most of that time. The full process — permit approval, installation, ConEd coordination if needed, and DOB inspection — typically takes 1–3 weeks from booking.
Not necessarily. Frequent trips on one circuit usually mean an overloaded circuit — often solvable with a new dedicated circuit rather than a full upgrade. Trips across multiple circuits, a panel that’s warm to the touch, or an overall capacity issue are stronger signals for an upgrade. We diagnose this as part of our free quote visit.
Yes, and we do it regularly. You’ll need board approval and an alteration agreement from your building. We’re familiar with the process, can provide all required documentation (insurance certificates, license copies, scope of work letters), and are experienced working within building rules around hours and access.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels and Zinsco panels have documented histories of breaker failures — breakers that don’t trip when they should, which can cause fires. Most NYC insurers now flag or refuse coverage for homes with these panels. If you have one, replacement is strongly recommended regardless of whether you need a capacity upgrade.
What our customers say
“MP Electric upgraded our panel in our 1920s brownstone in Park Slope. They handled the DOB permit, ConEd, everything. Job was done in one day and the inspector signed off without issues. Very professional.”
“I had three other electricians tell me I needed a $5,000 job. MP Electric came out, assessed the actual load, and did what was needed for $2,100 including permits. Honest and competent.”
“Our co-op board was difficult about the alteration agreement but MP Electric knew exactly what documentation to provide. Upgrade went smoothly. Would absolutely use them again.”
Get a free panel upgrade quote
We’ll assess your panel, building type, and load requirements in person — and give you a written fixed-price quote the same day. No obligation, no upselling.