Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s wiring. Many homes in the Richmond and Tri-Cities area still run on 100-amp services, fuse boxes, or panels from brands that are no longer considered safe. As families add heat pumps, hot tubs, EV chargers and modern appliances, those older panels simply run out of room and can overheat.
Dibble Electrical replaces the panel, upgrades the meter base, grounding and bonding, and coordinates the disconnect and reconnect with your utility and the local inspector so the job is done to the current National Electrical Code. On a recent 400-amp service change, our team explained every code requirement up front, worked around older-home challenges, and even added a circuit for a future shed — the kind of detail we build into every quote.
We handle the permit and inspection so you don’t have to, and we walk you through the new panel’s safety features — including generator interlocks — before we leave.
What a panel upgrade includes
- Load calculation to size the service correctly (100A, 200A or 400A)
- New panel, breakers, meter base, grounding and bonding to current NEC
- Whole-home surge protection and AFCI/GFCI protection where required
- Permit, utility coordination and final inspection handled for you
- Labeling of every circuit and a walkthrough of your new panel
Signs it’s time to upgrade
- Breakers trip often, or you still rely on fuses
- You have a Federal Pacific, Zinsco or other recalled panel
- Flickering lights, warm cover, or a burning smell at the panel
- You’re adding an EV charger, generator, hot tub or home addition
- Not enough breaker spaces left for new circuits
Frequently asked questions
How much does a panel upgrade cost in the Richmond area?
Every home is different, so we give a free on-site estimate. Price depends on the amperage, whether the meter base and service entrance need replacing, and any code items the inspector requires. We quote the full scope up front — no surprises.
Do you handle the permit and inspection?
Yes. We pull the electrical permit, coordinate the disconnect/reconnect with your utility, and schedule the county inspection as part of the job.
How long will my power be off?
A standard panel swap is usually completed in a day, with power off for a portion of that time. Larger 400-amp service changes can take two days; we plan the outage with you in advance.