Portland panel & service upgrades
Panel replacements and service upgrades for Portland homes and businesses, sized from a load calculation rather than a guess, with the permit, the utility, and the inspection handled by us.
What's included in a Portland panel upgrade
A panel upgrade is rarely the whole project. It is usually what makes room for an EV charger, a heat pump, a generator, or an addition, so we size the new service for that work as well as for what the building draws today.
Panel replacements
A new load center in place of a panel that is full, failing, or on an insurer's list, including Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels. Circuits are reconnected, labeled, and brought up to current code where the work requires it.
Service upgrades
100-amp to 200-amp services, and 400-amp and larger services for big houses, shops, and commercial buildings, including the meter base, the mast or underground feed, and the grounding.
Subpanels & feeders
A subpanel and feeder for an ADU, a detached garage, a shop, or an addition, checked against the main service first so the new panel does not overload the old one.
Load calculations & service design
We run the load calculation in-house and, for larger services, prepare the one-line diagram and the documentation the utility and the plan reviewer ask for.
Load management
When the calculation comes up just short, an energy management device can let a new EV charger or heat pump share the existing service instead of replacing it. We price both options so you can compare.
SPAN smart panels
As a Certified SPAN Smart Panel Installer we can fit a panel that meters and controls every circuit, an option worth weighing when solar, a battery, or an EV charger is part of the plan.
The full scope we take on in Portland:
- Electrical Panel Upgrades
- SPAN Smart Panel Installation
- Electrical Service Upgrades
- Electrical Load Calculations
- Electrical Service Design
- Utility Coordination
- Capacity Evaluations
- Code Compliance Improvements
- Residential Service Upgrades
- Commercial Service Upgrades
- 400A+ Service Engineering
- One-Line Diagram Preparation
Why choose Multiphase Electric
- Sized for what's next. We measure what the building actually draws before sizing anything, so the new service carries the charger, generator, or addition that comes after this one.
- We make the calls. PGE, Pacific Power, and the plan reviewer all get what they need from us. You are not the one chasing a utility contact or answering a correction notice.
- Power you can see. As a Certified SPAN installer we can hand you circuit-level usage and control from your phone, so the service you paid for is something you can see.
Licenses and certifications
- SPAN — Smart panel installer
- Oregon CCB — Electrical contractor
How a project runs
Every Portland panel upgrade follows the same steps. The day without power is the shortest part of it; most of the calendar is the permit and the utility.
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Assessment and load calculation
We look at the panel, the service, and the meter, and calculate what the building draws now and what it will draw after the planned work.
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Fixed written quote
You get a fixed price, the scope, and an expected timeline, including how long the power will be off on the day.
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Permit and utility request
We pull the electrical permit and, when the service is changing, open the request with PGE or Pacific Power, whichever serves the address, and schedule around their window.
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Install day
A panel replacement usually takes 8 to 10 hours with the power off. We tell you the window ahead of time so you can plan around it.
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Inspection and closeout
We schedule the inspection, meet the inspector, and leave you with a labeled panel schedule and the permit paperwork for your records and your insurer.
What a panel upgrade costs in Portland
Every panel upgrade is quoted at a fixed price after an assessment, so these are typical ranges for the Portland metro, not a quote. What moves the number most is whether the service itself is changing, the condition of the meter base and the grounding, and how far the panel is from the meter.
| Scope | Typical range | Timeline | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel replacement, same service size | $2,000 – $4,500 | 1 day on site | New load center, breakers, reconnection and labeling of existing circuits, permit, and inspection. |
| 100A to 200A service upgrade | $3,000 – $8,000 | 1 day on site, plus utility scheduling | Load calculation, new 200-amp panel and meter base, grounding, utility coordination, permit, and inspection. |
| Subpanel for an ADU, garage, or shop | $1,500 – $4,000 | 1 day on site | Load check on the main service, subpanel, feeder from the main panel, permit, and inspection. |
| 400A or larger service | $10,000 – $25,000 | 1–3 days on site, plus plan review and utility scheduling | Load calculation, one-line diagram, plan-review documentation, service equipment, utility coordination, permit, and inspection. |
| SPAN smart panel | $6,000 – $12,000 | 1 day on site | SPAN panel in place of the existing one, app setup, circuit naming, permit, and inspection. |
What our clients say
“I was referred to Multiphase Electric. We now use them from small changes, to our biggest projects. Clear communication, punctual, and guaranteed results. Highly recommend.”
“Really happy with these guys. We did a complete rewiring of the whole house and New panel. Leti is awesome running the office. Very responsive. Vitaliy, John and all the other Electricians were fantastic. They are pros! Highly recommend this company.”
“I have been a customer of Multiphase since 2007, I wouldn't think to go anywhere else they go above and beyond and nothing but Quality work, you definitely can go to bed knowing you were in safe hands, Dave and the whole team has been better than Good to me”
Portland and Multnomah County
We upgrade panels and services across Portland and Multnomah County and the rest of the Portland metro, from Hillsboro and Beaverton to Gresham and Oregon City, for houses and commercial buildings alike.
Nearby in Multnomah County: Gresham, Corbett, Fairview and Troutdale.
Portland panel & service upgrades FAQs
Do you do panel upgrades in Portland?
Yes. We replace panels and upgrade services for homes and businesses across Portland and the rest of the metro, from the load calculation through the final inspection.
Which utility do you coordinate with in Portland?
Whichever one serves the address — PGE or Pacific Power. We open the service request, schedule the disconnect and reconnect, and keep you posted, so you are not the one calling the utility.
How long does a panel upgrade take from first call to finished?
The work on site is usually one day. The calendar around it depends on the permit and, when the service is changing, on the utility's schedule. We give you a timeline with the quote.
Will I be without power during the upgrade?
Yes, for most of the install day — usually 8 to 10 hours for a panel replacement. We tell you the window in advance.
Do I need a 200-amp service?
It depends on what the building draws and what you plan to add. An EV charger, a heat pump, or an ADU often pushes a 100-amp service past its limit. The load calculation answers it, and it is part of the estimate.
What is the difference between a panel replacement and a service upgrade?
A panel replacement swaps the breaker panel and keeps the same amperage, usually because the old one is full, worn, or a problem brand. A service upgrade raises the amperage, which means a new meter base, new service conductors, and the utility's involvement.
Should I replace a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?
Yes, regardless of capacity. Both have a documented history of breakers that do not trip when they should, and many insurers ask for them to be replaced. We quote the replacement after a look at the panel and the service.
Can I add an EV charger or heat pump without upgrading the service?
Sometimes. A smaller charger, load management, or a SPAN panel can keep a new load within the existing service. The load calculation shows which options work for your house before you commit to either.
Do you upgrade services for commercial buildings in Portland?
Yes. We handle commercial service upgrades, including 400-amp and larger services, the one-line diagram, and the documentation plan review needs.
Who pulls the permit for a panel upgrade in Portland?
We do, and we schedule the inspection. A panel replacement or service change in Oregon is permitted work, and you get the paperwork when it is done.
About Multiphase Electric
Multiphase Electric LLC is a licensed and insured electrical contractor based in Oregon City, serving residential and commercial clients across the Portland metro since 2005. Reach us at (503) 908-1593, see our panel & service upgrades page, or see every city we serve.
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