Most homes built before 1990 in Lexington have 100-amp service panels. When those homes were built, a 100-amp panel was more than adequate. Today, the average household runs a central air conditioner, an electric dryer, a dishwasher, multiple large-screen televisions, and in many cases an EV charger. A 100-amp panel was not designed for that load.
Your panel may need upgrading if you experience any of the following:
A panel upgrade replaces the main breaker box, the breakers themselves, and often the meter base and service entrance wires. In Lexington, this work requires a permit from Lexington-Fayette County. The licensed electrician files the permit, schedules the city inspection, and coordinates the temporary utility disconnect and reconnect. You should not have to deal with any of that directly.
A standard 200-amp residential upgrade in Lexington typically runs between $1,800 and $3,500 depending on the service entrance condition and whether the meter base needs to be replaced. The permit fee is usually included in that range. If you are getting multiple quotes, make sure each quote includes the permit, since some contractors quote it separately.
Most 200-amp upgrades take four to six hours from start to inspection. You will be without power during that window. The inspector typically comes within a day or two of the permit being filed, and the utility reconnects the same day the inspection passes.
If you are experiencing any of the warning signs above, call us at 859-555-0140 and we will schedule a free estimate at your home.
