100-amp service
Can handle a smaller, mostly-gas home with modest electrical demand. Many mid-century Bay-area homes were built on it. It gets tight fast once you add central electric HVAC, an EV charger, an electric range, or an addition.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Breaker Replacement in the Galveston Bay Area
Breaker tripping, panel feeling warm, no slots left for an EV charger, or an insurer flagging your old box? We're a licensed master electrician (TDLR EC #EECELE00037785, 27+ years) handling permitted 200-amp service upgrades and breaker replacement across the Galveston Bay / South Houston corridor. We pull the permit, coordinate with CenterPoint, install to NEC 2023, and get it inspected and passed — so it's done right the first time.
We're not always the cheapest quote you'll get — but we pull the permit, do it to code, and stand behind it with a workmanship warranty.
Placeholder — needs real data:
Hero before/after photo of a real TriCoast panel-upgrade job (old maxed/FPE panel → new 200-amp install, clean labeling). Do not use stock panel imagery dressed as ours.
TDLR EC #EECELE00037785
Licensed Master Electrician
27+ Years Experience
Permits & Inspection Handled
NEC 2023 Code-Compliant
Workmanship Warranty
Load calc first
Do you even need an upgrade? Let's check before we quote one.
Here's the thing most homeowners brace for: the electrician shows up and immediately recommends a big, expensive panel upgrade — whether you need it or not.
We do it the other way around. We verify whether you actually need a bigger panel before we ever quote one. That starts with a real load calculation — adding up what your home actually draws — not a glance and a guess.
Sometimes the answer is a 200-amp upgrade. But sometimes it's a single breaker, a new dedicated circuit, or simple load management that gets you the capacity you need for a lot less. We'll tell you straight either way.
Not sure if you even need an upgrade? Ask us for a load check — no obligation, no upsell.
Real triggers
When a panel actually needs replacing
You don't need us to invent a reason. If you're searching for this, you probably already have one. Here are the real triggers we see — and what we do about each:
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Your breaker keeps tripping, or the panel feels warm or "sizzling."
We diagnose the cause first. A recurring trip can mean an overloaded circuit, a failing breaker, or a panel that's maxed out. (More on tripping breakers below.)
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"My panel is full" — no slots left for an EV charger, an addition, or a new appliance.
We confirm whether a sub-panel, slimline breakers, or a service upgrade is the right fix.
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Your 100-amp service is maxed out by modern demand (HVAC, EV, electric range, addition).
We run the load calc and right-size the service — usually 200-amp for a modern home (more below).
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Your insurer flagged your panel — Federal Pacific (FPE), Zinsco, or Stab-Lok.
We replace it to code and document it so your coverage holds. (See the next section.)
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You're buying or selling and the inspection called it out.
We bring it up to NEC 2023, permitted and inspected, so the deal doesn't stall.
No manufactured fear here — if your panel is fine, we'll say so.
Known safety problem
Dangerous panels: FPE, Zinsco & Stab-Lok
If your home was built or rewired roughly between the 1950s and the early 1990s, it may have a panel from a brand with a documented safety problem:
- Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) "Stab-Lok" panels have a well-documented history of breakers that fail to trip on an overload or short — the exact thing a breaker exists to do. A breaker that doesn't trip can let a circuit overheat.
- Zinsco (and the related "Sylvania-Zinsco") panels have a similar documented history of breakers that can fail to trip and bus bars that can be damaged by heat.
This isn't doom-mongering — it's why insurers increasingly flag or refuse to cover homes with these panels, and may require replacement as a condition of your policy.
"insurance called out that we have a Zinsco breaker box and need to replace." — one homeowner, plainly
That's a real, common consequence — and the honest reason to act isn't fear, it's that the panel may no longer protect your home the way a modern one does.
If you've got one of these, we replace it with a properly rated, code-correct panel — permitted and inspected — and document the work for your insurer and your home's resale file.
Read the full guide: Dangerous electrical panels — FPE, Zinsco & Stab-Lok →
Right-sizing
100 vs. 200 amp service (and when 400)
A fair question with an honest answer — bigger isn't automatically better; it's load-driven.
200-amp service
Where most modern homes land — enough headroom for HVAC, an EV charger, an electric range, a hot tub, and a future addition without running out of slots. If you're upgrading at all, this is usually the right target.
400-amp service
For large homes or properties with unusually heavy combined load (a big home plus a shop, multiple EVs, a pool, etc.). It's the exception, not the default.
We don't sell you the biggest number — we run the load calculation and recommend the service that actually fits your home today and leaves sensible headroom for tomorrow.
The full job
What a panel upgrade with TriCoast includes
Most of what makes a service upgrade intimidating is the part you don't see — the permit, the utility coordination, the inspection. We handle all of it. Here's the full job:
On-site assessment + load calculation
We look at the actual panel and service, and calculate your real demand — not a guess.
Written, photo-backed quote
Clear scope, clear number. No surprise line items, no trip-fee games.
We pull the permit
In Houston, electrical permits are issued only to a registered master electrician — you legally can't pull it yourself. We're that master electrician, and a permitted job protects your insurance and resale.
CenterPoint coordination
A service upgrade means coordinating the utility-side disconnect and reconnect so the work is done safely and your service is restored on schedule.
Placeholder — needs real data:
Confirm the exact CenterPoint service-upgrade sequence used on real TriCoast jobs (disconnect / meter-pull / reconnect order, and who schedules what) and replace this line with the real step-by-step. Present as competence — do not invent the procedure.
Install to NEC 2023
New panel, properly rated, with grounding and bonding brought up to current code.
City inspection scheduled and passed
We book it and see it through.
Workmanship warranty
We stand behind the work.
See our residential electrical services → · Planning an EV charger? See EV charger installation →. Adding backup power? See whole-home generator installation →.
Smaller fix
Breaker replacement (sometimes that's the whole job)
Not every fix is a new panel. Sometimes the answer is a single breaker — and we'll tell you when that's all you need.
We replace failed, mismatched, or recalled breakers with the correct rated, compatible breaker for your panel. (Compatibility and availability matter — some older or off-brand panels limit which breakers can safely be installed, which is occasionally itself a reason to plan a panel replacement.)
One honest caveat: if a breaker keeps tripping after replacement, that's usually a symptom, not the disease — an overloaded circuit or a panel near its limit.
Straight talk on price
What a panel upgrade actually costs
Straight talk, because "surprise after surprise" is the thing homeowners hate most.
Typical panel upgrade — Houston / Bay area
$1,183–$1,972
Written, photo-backed quote up front. No decoy "original price," no good/better/best pressure menu.
What moves the number
- Amperage (a 200-amp service vs. a like-for-like swap).
- Mast or meter relocation, if the existing setup has to move.
- CenterPoint coordination for the service disconnect/reconnect.
- Code-mandated grounding and bonding brought up to NEC 2023.
- Permit fees.
The downside worth anchoring on
Unpermitted or box-store work can cost more to fix later — and an uninspected, unpermitted panel can stall a home sale or give an insurer a reason to deny a claim. A permitted, inspected job is usually the cheaper path once you count the do-overs.
Estimate your panel-upgrade cost → · Read the panel-upgrade cost guide → · Financing options →
Proof
What our customers say
Excellent communication in setting up the appointment! Donald is awesome. He explained the work, started immediately and ensured that the work was done correctly. The job site was spotless after the work was completed, and I was impressed that he has a checklist that will ensure a thorough job from start to finish. Outstanding company. Highly recommend.
Paul Belobrajdic
Verified Housecall Pro review · January 2026
I had a generator inlet and sub panel installed by Jason at TriCoast. The work was great, cleaned up their mess and tested everything before they left. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a professional electrical project. Pricing was extremely fair for the work that was done. Give them a call, you will not regret it.
Keith Kelley
Verified Housecall Pro review · August 2025
Took the time to explain the scope of work and assisted with city permitting. Quality work done promptly and professionally.
Paul Silvernail
Verified Housecall Pro review · October 2025
Placeholder — needs real data:
Real before/after job photos of a TriCoast panel replacement (old maxed/FPE/Zinsco panel → new 200-amp install). Do not fabricate review counts, a star rating, or a panel-specific review.
Service area
Areas we serve
We handle 200-amp panel replacement for homeowners in League City, Friendswood, Pearland, Webster/Clear Lake, Texas City, La Marque, and Dickinson, on Galveston Island, and across the wider Galveston Bay corridor — including Santa Fe, Hitchcock, Kemah, Seabrook, Nassau Bay, Bacliff, San Leon, Alvin, and Manvel. Don't see your town? We likely cover it.
See all service areas → · In Pearland? See our Pearland panel upgrade page → · Back to residential services →
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I know I actually need a 200-amp panel and not just a breaker?
We run a load calculation first — adding up what your home actually draws — before we recommend anything. Sometimes the fix is a single breaker or a dedicated circuit, not a whole-panel upgrade. If you've gotten conflicting advice from other electricians, that load calc is how we tell you straight, with the math to back it.
My insurer flagged my panel (FPE / Zinsco / Stab-Lok) — do I have to replace it?
Often, yes. Federal Pacific (FPE/Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels have a documented history of breakers that can fail to trip, and insurers increasingly require their replacement as a condition of coverage. We replace the panel to NEC 2023, permitted and inspected, and document the work so your coverage holds and your resale file is clean.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in the Houston / Bay area?
Typically $1,183–$1,972. The number moves with amperage, any mast/meter relocation, CenterPoint coordination, code-mandated grounding and bonding, and permit fees. We give you a written, photo-backed quote up front — and unpermitted "bargain" work often costs more once you count the do-overs and the resale/insurance risk. See our cost guide and financing options.
Do you pull the permit, or do I?
We do. In Houston, electrical permits are issued only to a registered master electrician — as a homeowner you legally can't pull it yourself. We're that master electrician (TDLR EC #EECELE00037785). A permitted job is also what protects your insurance and stays with the house at resale.
Will you handle the CenterPoint coordination and the inspection?
Yes — both. We coordinate the utility-side service disconnect and reconnect with CenterPoint, and we schedule and see the city inspection through to a pass.
My breaker keeps tripping — is that a panel problem?
Sometimes it's just a worn breaker; sometimes it's a sign of an overloaded circuit or a panel that's maxed out. We diagnose the cause before recommending a fix — a recurring trip is usually a symptom of something larger. See our guide on why breakers keep tripping.
Placeholder — needs real data:
FAQ "Will you handle the CenterPoint coordination and the inspection?" — confirm the exact CenterPoint coordination steps used on real jobs and reflect them in this answer.
Ready when you are
One clear next step: request a no-obligation quote, or call/text us. Permits and inspection are included, and the work is backed by our workmanship warranty — so there's no "what if I pick wrong" risk hanging over the decision.
No obligation, no pressure
Permits & inspection handled
Workmanship warranty