Panel upgrades
in San Jose.

Residential 200A and 400A mains. Commercial 600A, 800A, 1,200A, and 1,600A three-phase service entrance. Permit handling, PG&E coordination, and code-clean installs from a licensed C-10 contractor.

  • 1 day200A main install
  • 2-5 daysCommercial 400-1,600A
  • Net 30/60Commercial terms

What we do

From a 100A subpanel to a 1,600A three-phase main.

Panel upgrades are Monte Power & Electric's most-requested service. We handle the full scope, from the on-site walk and load calculation through PG&E coordination, permit pull, install, and final inspection. The same crew that wires the panel handles the paperwork.

Residential mains, multi-unit residential, ADU subpanels, commercial service entrance, and three-phase manufacturing power. Whether the issue is breakers tripping every week, an EV charger that needs more headroom, or a 1,600-amp commercial main going in for a tenant improvement, the install is the same standard of work.

  • 9 Panel sizes installed, residential and commercial.
  • 4-6 hr Typical residential power-down window during cutover.
  • $2M General liability coverage on every job.

By panel type

Sized for the
load on the property.

Every property is different. The right panel depends on the loads you're running today, what you're planning to add, and the service entrance your utility can deliver. Walk us through the project and we'll spec the right size.

01

200A residential main

Most-common upgrade

The standard residential upgrade. Replaces a 100A or 125A main on homes built before the 2000s. Adds headroom for an EV charger, induction range, heat pump, or backup battery.

  • Breaker positions: 30-40 typical
  • Permit and PG&E coordination included
  • 4-6 hour power-down window
  • One-day install
02

400A residential main

High-load homes

For larger homes, accessory dwellings on the same meter, multiple EV chargers, or significant electrification (heat pump plus battery plus EV plus induction). Often paired with a subpanel on the detached structure.

  • Breaker positions: 40-60 typical
  • Often paired with subpanel
  • 1-2 day install
  • PG&E meter upsize required
03

Commercial 600A to 1,600A

Three-phase

Service-entrance scope for commercial buildings, machine shops, multi-tenant properties, and manufacturing facilities. Three-phase mains with appropriate transformer coordination and PG&E primary work.

  • 600A, 800A, 1,200A, 1,600A
  • Three-phase 208V or 480V
  • Transformer coordination
  • 2-5 day install with PG&E
04

Subpanels

ADUs & tenant spaces

For ADUs, detached garages, tenant improvement spaces, and dedicated equipment runs. Sized to the load served, fed from the main panel with appropriate breaker and conductor sizing.

  • 60A, 100A, 125A, 200A subpanels
  • ADU and detached structure feeds
  • Dedicated equipment circuits
  • Half-day to one-day install

Signs you need an upgrade

If any of these sound familiar, the panel is the bottleneck.

Most San Jose homes built before 2000 have 100A or 125A panels. Modern loads (EV chargers, induction ranges, heat pumps, batteries) push past what the original main can handle. The signs are usually the same.

  • Breakers trip when the dryer, AC, and oven run together
  • Lights flicker when a major appliance starts
  • Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Pushmatic, or Sylvania panel installed
  • Aluminum branch wiring from the 1970s
  • No AFCI / GFCI on bedroom or bath circuits
  • EV charger blocked during permit because of panel headroom
  • Insurance non-renewal citing the panel age or brand
  • Subpanel additions double-tapped on the main

How a panel upgrade goes

Five steps from
scope to sign-off.

Same process for a 200A residential main and a 1,600-amp commercial three-phase. The crew that runs the install runs the paperwork.

  1. 01

    Scope

    On-site walk or video call. Load calculation, code review, AHJ check, photos taken. No charge.

  2. 02

    Quote

    Itemized quote within one business day. Permit, materials, labor, and PG&E coordination broken out line by line.

  3. 03

    Permit

    We pull the permit, schedule the AHJ, and coordinate with PG&E for service-entrance work. You don't fill out a form.

  4. 04

    Install

    Install on the agreed date. Cutover with controlled power-down window. Site cleaned at end of day.

  5. 05

    Inspect

    Final inspection with the AHJ. Sign-off, photos, warranty paperwork delivered.

Quick answers

Panel upgrade
questions.

Six of the most-asked. More on the dedicated contact page or by phone.

  • Do I need a permit?
    Yes. Monte Power & Electric handles the permit application, AHJ scheduling, and final inspection. You don't fill out a form.
  • How long does it take?
    One day for a residential 200A main. Commercial 400A to 1,600A runs two to five days with PG&E coordination.
  • What sizes do you install?
    Residential 100A, 125A, 200A, 225A. Commercial 400A, 800A, 1,200A, 1,600A three-phase.
  • Do you handle PG&E coordination?
    Yes. Disconnect, meter swap, and reconnect are scheduled with PG&E directly.
  • What does it cost in San Jose?
    Residential 200A panel upgrades are quoted after a 10-minute call or site walk. Commercial is quote-based and depends on amperage, conduit run, and PG&E coordination.
  • Will I lose power during the upgrade?
    Yes, briefly. Most residential cutovers run four to six hours of downtime. We schedule this around your day.

Related work

Ready when you are

Get a quote on the panel
in one business day.

Walk us through the property and the loads you're running. We'll come back with an itemized quote and a date.

Get an estimate Call 408-630-0548