Upgrading Your Electrical Service

Upgrading Your Electrical Service: The Perfect Pairing with a New Solar System

In an era where sustainability and energy efficiency are at the forefront of technological advancements, many homeowners are turning to solar energy to power their lives. It’s crucial to ensure that your home’s electrical service is up to the task. Here’s why combing these two upgrades is a smart move and how to navigate the process.

Why Upgrade Your Electrical Service?

  1. Increased Power Demand: Solar systems, especially those designed to power an entire home, require a significant amount of electrical capacity. If your current electrical service isn’t up to par, you might face limitations on how much solar power you can effectively use.
  2. Safety and Compliance: Older electrical panels and wiring might not meet today’s safety standards. Upgrading your electrical service ensures compliance with modern codes and regulations.
  3. Enhanced Efficiency: Modern electrical panels are designed to handle higher loads more efficiently. An upgrade can reduce energy losses and improve the overall performance of your solar system.
  4. Future-Proofing: With energy consumption patterns evolving and more high-demand appliances becoming common, upgrading your electrical service ensures that your home can accommodate future energy needs without requiring additional upgrades down the line.

The Upgrade Process

  1. Assess Your Current Electrical Service: Before installing solar panels, our electrician can evaluate your current electrical service. They’ll check your panel’s capacity, the condition of your wiring, and whether your system can handle the additional load from solar panels.
  2. Determine the Right Upgrade: Based on the assessment, our electrician can talk through options. This typically involves increasing the amperage of your service panel (e.g., from 100 amps to 200 amps) and potentially replacing outdated wiring and breakers.
  3. Plan and Permits: We work with the towns to plan the upgrade and secure the necessary permits. This process involves coordinating with local building departments and ensuring that all work is compliant with local codes.
  4. Installation: The upgrade itself usually involves replacing your old panel with a new one, upgrading wiring, and ensuring that all connections are safe and up to code. This work can often be done in a day, but it depends on the complexity of your system. Our electricians will handle the full installation from start to finish.
  5. Integrate with Solar Installation: Once your electrical service is upgraded by our electrician, your solar system can be installed and integrated.
  6. Inspection and Approval: After installation, both the electrical upgrade and the solar system will need to be inspected and approved by local authorities. This step is crucial to ensure everything is functioning safely and efficiently. Our operations team will handle the scheduling with our crew to make sure all inspections happen efficiently.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Electrical Service Alongside Solar Installation

  1. Seamless Integration: By upgrading your electrical service and installing solar panels simultaneously, you avoid potential issues that might arise from having to retrofit your system later. It ensures that your solar setup operates optimally from the start.
  2. Cost Efficiency: Combining these projects can be more cost-effective than handling them separately. It reduces the need for multiple service calls and minimizes disruption to your home. Our sales experts will work with you on quoting out the project.
  3. Enhanced Performance: A modern electrical service enhances the performance of your solar system by providing stable and reliable power distribution, which can lead to better energy savings and efficiency.
  4. Long-Term Investment: Upgrading your electrical service is a long-term investment in your home’s infrastructure. It ensures that your home is prepared for future energy needs and continues to meet safety standards.

Call or email us today to get a free quote!