What to know before you upgrade
- Look at the main breaker at the top of your panel. The number on it is your service size.
- 100 amps can work for a smaller home with gas heat, a gas range and a gas dryer.
- An EV charger, hot tub, electric range or new AC often pushes a home toward 200 amps.
- A licensed electrician should run a load calculation before you upgrade or add big loads.
What service size means for your home
Think of amps like the width of a water pipe. A bigger pipe lets more flow through at once. A 200 amp service can supply about twice the power of a 100 amp service at the same moment.
To find your size, open the panel door and look for the largest breaker, usually at the top. It will be marked 100, 125, 150 or 200. If there's no main breaker, or you see fuses, call us before you add anything.
When 100 amps is still enough
- The home is on the smaller side.
- Your furnace, water heater, range and dryer use natural gas.
- You have no plans for an EV charger or hot tub.
- Breakers rarely trip and lights don't dim when the AC starts.
If that sounds like your home, adding one new circuit may be all you need. A Subpanel Installation can also add space for circuits without changing your service.
Signs your home needs 200 amps
Here are the most common reasons Utah Valley homeowners move up to 200 amps:
- You're adding a Level 2 EV charger. See Level 1 vs Level 2 EV Charging.
- You want Hot Tub and Spa Wiring for a new spa.
- You're finishing a basement with a bedroom, bath and kitchenette.
- You're switching from gas to an electric range, dryer or heat pump.
- Your panel is full, with tandem breakers squeezed in.
- Lights dim when the AC or a big appliance turns on.
The big loads that add up fast
Large 240V appliances each need their own breaker. A few of them together can max out a 100 amp service.
A breaker size is not the same as constant use. That is why electricians use a load calculation instead of just adding up breakers.
How electricians decide: the load calculation
A load calculation follows the National Electrical Code, which Utah adopted in its 2023 edition. It looks at your home's square footage, your large appliances, heating and cooling, and what you plan to add.
The result tells us one of three things:
- Your current service can handle the new load.
- A smart load manager or a subpanel can make it work.
- A service upgrade is the safe choice.
We walk you through the numbers so you can see why, not just what.
What a 200 amp upgrade involves in Utah Valley
- Permit: we pull the permit with your city.
- Utility coordination: we schedule the disconnect with Rocky Mountain Power, or your city utility in places like Provo or Lehi.
- New equipment: a new panel, and often a new meter base and mast. In Rocky Mountain Power areas, the homeowner owns the mast and meter base, so Service Mast and Meter Base Repair is often part of the job.
- Inspection: the city inspects, and the utility restores power.
Many upgrades take about a day of work plus the inspection. Learn more about our Panel Upgrade process.