Electrical Panel Upgrades in Houston, TX
Breakers that keep tripping. Lights that dim every time the A/C kicks on. An old panel that was never built for today's power use. We replace and upgrade panels across Houston, and we pull the city permit for you.
When does a Houston home need a panel upgrade?
Your electrical panel sends power from the meter to every circuit in your home. It needs an upgrade when it can no longer carry the load safely.
The common signs are breakers that trip often, lights that dim when the A/C starts, a warm panel, or a burning smell. An old Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania or Bryant panel is another. So is a plan to add an EV charger, a standby generator or a large appliance.
What we do on a panel job
Panel tune-up and repair
Not every panel needs replacing. We test breakers, scan the panel with a thermal camera and tighten connections, then tell you what the panel actually needs.
Panel replacement
A full swap-out of a worn, damaged or outdated panel, including Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania and Bryant units.
200 amp service upgrade
More capacity for homes that have outgrown their service, sized by a load calculation to what you run today and plan to add.
Breakers and sub-panels
Main breaker and branch breaker replacement, plus sub-panels for a garage, shop or addition.
Houston homes ask more of their panels than they used to
Many Houston homes were wired for a very different life. Fewer appliances, smaller A/C units, no car charging in the garage.
Today the same panel may feed a big central A/C, a pool pump and a home office. Some also feed an EV charger. Our summers keep the A/C running for months. When the panel is near its limit, you feel it first as dimming lights and nuisance trips.
Storm season adds another load. More Houston families now add a standby generator after a long outage. A generator needs a panel and a transfer switch that can take it. If that is your plan, read about our generator installation in Houston and our transfer switch installation work before you pick a panel size.
An old panel is a safety question, not just a capacity question
Electrical problems start a lot of house fires. The National Fire Protection Association estimates an average of 44,880 home fires a year involved an electrical failure or malfunction, from 2012 to 2016. Those fires caused an estimated 440 deaths a year.
Not every one of those starts at a panel. But the panel is where your home's protection lives. A breaker that does not trip when it should is a breaker that is not protecting you.
That is why we treat Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania and Bryant panels as panels to replace, not repair. All four are common in older Houston homes, all four are discontinued, and some carry known safety concerns. Parts are hard to find, and a patched panel is still an old panel.
Older GE and Square D panels are the other two we see constantly. Those are not bad panels. Whether one gets replaced comes down to its age and condition, and plenty of them just need a tune-up instead.
When we recommend going to 200 amp
The usual triggers are heavier loads. An EV charger is the most common one. A remodel is the other, because remodels add circuits the original service was never sized for.
The important part is not the number. It is the load calculation. Before we quote a service size we work out what the home actually draws and what you plan to add, so you end up with the power you need and the headroom to add more later.
Houston requires a permit and a master electrician for panel work
Panel replacement and service upgrades are permitted work in the City of Houston. The permit application must be signed by the licensed master electrician of record. The finished work is inspected by the city.
The utility is part of it too. CenterPoint's service standards say customers should notify CenterPoint before alterations that change its facilities. On a service upgrade we pull the city's temporary cut and reconnect (TCI) permit, which lets CenterPoint restore your power the same day the work is finished. The city inspection follows the next day.
We handle the permit, schedule the inspection and meet the inspector. RBG Services is a licensed electrical contractor, TECL #38858.
A new service must meet the 2026 electrical code
Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code on September 1, 2026, and it applies inside Houston city limits. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation published the adoption. Which edition governs your job depends on the date the permit is pulled.
Two parts of that code matter on a panel job. Both apply when the service equipment is replaced:
| Code section | What it requires on a home |
|---|---|
| NEC 230.67 | A Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective device on any service that supplies a home. |
| NEC 230.70(A)(1) and 230.70(B)(2) | A readily accessible outdoor service disconnect on or within sight of the home, marked EMERGENCY DISCONNECT in white letters on a red background. In the 2026 code these rules moved here from the old 230.85. |
That is why a proper quote includes more than the panel. Ask any contractor you talk to whether theirs does.
How a panel upgrade works with RBG
Look at the panel and the load
We check the panel, the breakers and your current and planned loads, so the size fits your home.
Permit and scheduling
We pull the city permit and set a date. On a service upgrade, we coordinate with CenterPoint.
Install, power back, inspect
We swap the panel and label every circuit. CenterPoint reconnects the same day, and the city inspector comes out the next day.
Recent panel work in Houston
Not sure it is the panel? Start with a diagnosis.
Sometimes a tripping breaker is one bad circuit, not a panel problem. We use circuit mapping and thermal imaging to find faults. If the fix is a single breaker, that is what we will tell you.
If it is urgent, such as a burning smell, a hot panel or sparking, call our emergency electrician in Houston line. You can also see our full list of residential electrical services. Planning an EV? Read about EV charger installation, since it often goes with a panel upgrade.
Panel upgrade questions from Houston homeowners
How do I know if my electrical panel needs an upgrade?
Watch for breakers that trip often and lights that dim when the A/C starts. A warm panel or a burning smell are warning signs too. Also plan an upgrade if you are adding an EV charger, a standby generator or a big appliance. A licensed electrician can run a load check and tell you for sure.
Which panel brands do you replace most in Houston?
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania and Bryant. All four are discontinued, some carry known safety concerns, and parts are hard to find, so we treat them as panels to replace rather than repair. We also see a lot of older GE and Square D panels. Those are not bad panels, and whether one is replaced depends on its age and condition.
Can a panel be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. We do a lot of panel tune-ups: testing breakers, scanning the panel with a thermal camera and tightening connections. If that is all your panel needs, that is what we will tell you.
When should I go to a 200 amp service?
Usually when you are adding heavier loads, such as an EV charger, or remodeling in a way that adds circuits. The right answer comes from a proper load calculation, so you have the available power for what you want to add.
Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Houston?
Yes. In Houston, the electrical permit must be signed by a licensed master electrician of record. The work is inspected by the city. RBG Services pulls the permit and meets the inspector.
Will my power be shut off during a panel upgrade?
Yes, usually for about four to six hours. We pull the city's temporary cut and reconnect (TCI) permit, which lets CenterPoint restore power the same day the work is finished rather than making you wait for the inspection. On close to every job, power is back on within about six hours of being disconnected. Part of that window is waiting on CenterPoint to arrive.
How long does the whole process take from quote to finished?
Once you approve the estimate we can pull the permit right away. The work is done and your power is back on the same day, and the city inspection happens the following day. Houston does not do same-day inspections.
Does a new panel need a surge protector?
Yes. Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code on September 1, 2026, and it requires a surge protective device on a home's service. That rule applies when the service equipment is replaced too. We include it in the plan.
Can you help me pay for a panel upgrade?
Yes. We offer financing options for larger projects. See our financing page, or ask about it when you call.
Larger project? See our financing options.
Get your panel checked by a licensed electrician
Tell us what your panel is doing. We will tell you if it needs a breaker, a panel or a full service upgrade.
(832) 291-4433Request a quote
