200A & 400A
main panel upgrades.

Monte Power & Electric replaces aging residential mains across San Jose and the South Bay. Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and Pushmatic swaps to modern 200A or 400A service. EV charger and battery headroom included, PG&E coordination handled, permit pulled and inspection scheduled by a licensed C-10 contractor.

  • 1-2 daysTypical install window
  • 4-6 hrPower-down cutover
  • 30-60 pos.Breaker positions standard

What we do

From a 100A Federal Pacific to a 200A code-clean main.

Most San Jose homes built before 2000 still run a 100A or 125A main. Many of them carry Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco, or Pushmatic gear that insurance carriers no longer write coverage on. Monte Power & Electric handles the full upgrade scope: load calculation, PG&E coordination, permit, install, and final inspection.

Sized to where the home is going, not just where it is today. Adding an EV charger? A heat pump? A battery? Planning an ADU? The breaker positions and the load calc both need headroom. We spec the panel so the next three projects don't trigger a second upgrade.

  • 200A Most-common residential main upgrade size.
  • 1 day Typical install for a standard 200A residential main.
  • $2M General liability coverage on every job.

By configuration

Sized to the property,
not the brochure.

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

01

200A standard residential

Most-common

The default residential upgrade. Replaces a 100A or 125A main, clears headroom for EV charging, induction, heat pump, or battery, and keeps the existing service entrance where it makes sense.

  • 30-40 breaker positions
  • One-day install window
  • Existing entrance reused where possible
  • EV and battery ready
02

200A with full re-entry

Aging service entrance

For homes where the meter, mast, and service drop need rebuilding alongside the panel. Common on pre-1970s properties where the original entrance is at end of life.

  • New meter base and mast
  • Service drop coordination
  • 1-2 day install window
  • PG&E coordination included
03

400A residential

High-electrification homes

For larger homes, multi-AC properties, dual EV chargers, ADUs on the same meter, or significant electrification (heat pump plus battery plus EV plus induction). Often paired with a subpanel on a detached structure.

  • 40-60 breaker positions
  • Often paired with subpanel
  • 1-2 day install window
  • PG&E meter upsize required
04

Federal Pacific / Zinsco swap

Insurance-driven

Standalone replacement of an unsafe Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco, or Pushmatic panel without changing service amperage. Insurance closeout documentation included. Often a same-amperage 100A or 125A swap to clear the carrier flag.

  • Direct same-amperage replacement
  • Insurance carrier documentation
  • Half-day to full-day install
  • Path-to-200A noted for next phase

Signs the main needs upgrading

If any of these are familiar, the main is the bottleneck.

Most older San Jose homes have one or more of these patterns. They're the warnings that show up most often during the on-site walk.

  • Breakers trip when the dryer, AC, and oven run together
  • Lights flicker when a major appliance starts
  • Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Pushmatic panel installed
  • EV charger blocked at permit because of panel headroom
  • No AFCI / GFCI on bedroom or bath circuits
  • Insurance non-renewal citing the panel age or brand
  • Subpanel additions double-tapped on the main
  • Heat pump or battery blocked by load calculation

How a main upgrade goes

Five steps from
scope to sign-off.

Same disciplined sequence whether the project is a 200A swap or a 400A with full service-entrance rebuild. 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 inspection, 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, and warranty paperwork delivered.

Quick answers

Main panel
questions.

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

  • Do I need to upgrade from a 100A or 125A panel?
    If you're adding an EV charger, induction range, heat pump, or battery backup, the answer is usually yes. Older 100A and 125A panels run out of headroom on the load calculation before the breaker positions fill up.
  • What's the difference between 200A and 400A?
    200A handles the typical fully-electrified single-family home. 400A is for larger homes, multi-AC properties, dual EV chargers, ADUs on the same meter, or any home running heat pump plus battery plus EV plus induction.
  • How long does a residential main upgrade take?
    A 200A main runs one day. A 400A main with subpanel and longer feeder runs one to two days. The cutover power-down window is typically four to six hours.
  • Does Federal Pacific really need to be replaced?
    Yes. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers have documented failure-to-trip behavior under fault conditions. Insurance carriers are dropping homes that still have them. Same goes for Zinsco and Pushmatic.
  • Do you handle PG&E coordination?
    Yes. The PG&E disconnect, meter swap, and reconnect are all scheduled with PG&E directly. Customers don't fill out a form.
  • What does a 200A panel upgrade cost?
    Residential 200A panel upgrades are quoted after a 10-minute call or site walk. Final price depends on conduit run, meter location, panel-to-meter distance, and whether the existing service entrance can stay or needs to be rebuilt.

Related panel work

Ready when you are

Get a quote on the
main panel upgrade.

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