Electrical · 6 min read
Does Your Oklahoma City Home Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade?
Published August 19, 2026 by 405 Pros · Mustang, OK
Plenty of houses across the OKC metro are still running 100-amp service that was sized for a 1970s house with one window unit and no EV in the driveway. Here is how to tell whether your panel is genuinely a problem or just old.
Signs your panel is undersized or failing
- Breakers trip when the AC and the microwave run together.
- Lights dim noticeably when a large appliance kicks on.
- The panel is warm to the touch, buzzes, or smells hot. Stop and call someone today.
- You still have a fuse box, or a 60- to 100-amp main in a house with central air.
- There is no room left for a new breaker and the panel is full of tandem breakers.
- You are adding an EV charger, a shop, a hot tub, or a home addition.
Panel brands that get flagged
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have a documented history of breakers failing to trip under load. They show up in older metro homes regularly and buyers' inspectors flag them almost every time. If you are planning to sell, replacing one preemptively removes a negotiating lever from the buyer.
What it costs in the OKC metro
- New dedicated circuit: $450 – $900.
- Panel replacement, same amperage: $1,600 – $2,800.
- Full 200-amp service upgrade with new meter base: $2,500 – $3,500+.
- EV charger circuit and install: $700 – $2,200 depending on distance from the panel.
What a proper upgrade includes
- A load calculation before anything is ordered — not a guess.
- Permit and city inspection.
- Coordination with the utility for the service disconnect and reconnect.
- Correct grounding and bonding, which is the most commonly botched part.
- A labeled panel directory so the next person knows what feeds what.
- Drywall and paint repair where anything was opened up.
Common questions
- How long does a panel upgrade take?
- Most are a single day, with power off for four to eight hours. The permit and utility coordination happens before that day.
- Do I need a permit for electrical work in Oklahoma City?
- Panel replacements, service upgrades and new circuits generally require a permit and inspection. Swapping a light fixture or outlet does not.
- Can I add an EV charger to my existing panel?
- Sometimes. It depends on your service size and existing load. A load calculation answers it in about fifteen minutes, and we do that before quoting.
Want this handled by someone who's done it a thousand times?
405 Pros is insured, based in Mustang, and serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding metro. Estimates are free.