Does every 30-year-old panel need replacing?
No. Condition, capacity and your planned loads matter more than age. We assess and explain your options.
All Services
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Panel Upgrades & Changeovers
Wired Wise Electrical Contracting performs 100A, 200A and 400A electrical panel upgrades and changeovers for homes and businesses in St. Albert and Edmonton, Alberta. John, our Master Electrician, sizes the upgrade from a load calculation, handles the permit and coordinates the utility disconnect and reconnect.
We are experienced in electrical panel upgrades and can troubleshoot a variety of residential electrical issues. If your panel is outdated or overloaded, we replace old or unsafe equipment with modern systems sized for today's needs—whether you're adding a hot tub or EV charger, or want a safer, more reliable system. We explain the work and pricing before getting started, and complete upgrades to code.
- Done to code by a Master Electrician
- Honest quotes, no upselling
- Licensed, insured, WCB covered, ECAA member
Signs it may be time to look at your panel
Age alone does not mean a panel must be replaced. An older panel in good condition with enough capacity may be fine; we assess it and tell you honestly.
- Breakers that trip regularly under normal use
- Plans to add an EV charger, hot tub, A/C, suite or major addition
- Equipment that is damaged, overheating, corroded or no longer serviceable
- Not enough breaker spaces for the circuits you need
100A, 200A or 400A: how sizing is decided
Sizing comes from a load calculation of your existing and planned loads, plus what the utility can supply to your property. Many homes adding an EV charger or a suite move from 100A to 200A. 400A service is typically for large homes or properties with heavy loads such as multiple EV chargers, electric heat or shop equipment.
Sometimes an energy management system can avoid a service upgrade entirely. We will tell you if that is the better option.
How permits and inspections work in St. Albert
Where a permit applies, the City of St. Albert's certified Safety Codes Officers are the authority having jurisdiction and do the local inspections. The usual sequence is:
- Permit obtained before work starts. In Alberta, Master Electricians are the contractors who pull electrical permits; homeowner permits exist only in limited cases. Under the City's brochure, a homeowner permit is limited to their own occupied single-family home and does not cover panel changes, hot tubs, service work or rental occupancies.
- Rough-in or installation inspection before wiring is concealed, when applicable.
- Any corrections completed, then the final inspection and documentation.
What it typically costs
Panel upgrades in the St. Albert area commonly budget around $2,500–$5,500+. 200A upgrades are often around $2,500–$4,500, and 400A upgrades around $4,000–$6,500+. These are general regional estimates, not fixed prices: service entrance work, panel location, utility requirements, materials, permits and GST change the total. You get a written, job-specific quote first.
Panel Upgrades questions
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade in St. Albert?
Yes. The City's electrical permit brochure lists electrical service upgrades and panel changes as work requiring a contractor's permit. Wired Wise Electrical Contracting obtains the permit before work and coordinates the required City inspections and completion documentation.