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An empty white residential breaker panel box with its cover off, showing the metal bars where breakers snap in.

Photo: Kevin Kiefuik, “Schneider Electric 1-Phase 100-Amp Residential Breaker Panel”, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted to WebP; shown cropped.

Full guideCan be urgent

Electrical

Panels, outlets, lighting, EV chargers, generators, wiring.

On this page12 sections: urgent, quote, red flags, permits…

Is it urgent?

Smoke, flames or a burning smell? Get everyone out and call 911.

Emergency: call now

  • Burning smell or sparks
  • Hot, buzzing or wet panel
  • A shock from an outlet
  • Downed or arcing line
  • Lights flicker all over

Within a day or two

  • Panel dead, no smoke
  • Breaker keeps tripping
  • Dead circuit that matters
  • Known-hazard panel brand

Can wait: schedule it

  • Panel upgrade
  • EV charger or generator
  • New circuits or outlets
  • Lighting and fans
  • Code fixes before a sale
Rule of thumb: When in doubt about smell, smoke, sparks, heat or shock, treat it as an emergency.
The full list, in the guide's words

Safety first: If you see smoke or flames, or smell burning plastic, get everyone out and call 911. If someone has been shocked, call 911. For a downed or arcing power line, stay far back and call 911 and your utility. Do not touch a hot or buzzing panel.

Emergency: call now

  • A burning, fishy or plastic smell, smoke, sparks, or scorch or melt marks
  • A hot or buzzing panel, a shock from an outlet or appliance, or water in the panel
  • A downed or arcing service line
  • Flickering or partial power loss across the whole home

Within a day or two

  • A totally dead panel with no smell or smoke (check first that it is not a utility outage)
  • A single breaker that trips again and again
  • A dead circuit that matters: refrigerator, sump pump, medical equipment or well pump
  • A panel with a known-hazard brand (Federal Pacific, Zinsco) that you just learned about

Can wait: schedule it

  • Panel upgrades, EV charger and generator installs
  • Adding circuits or outlets, lighting and fan work
  • Code corrections before a sale, and inspections

This is general guidance, not a diagnosis. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.

What's on a electrical quote

  • LaborAsk: flat price or hourly?

    The electrician's time. Ask whether the price is flat or hourly.

  • MaterialsAsk: is the panel itself included?

    Breakers, wire, boxes, conduit and devices, plus the panel itself if one is being replaced.

  • Panel or serviceAsk: brand, amps, breaker spaces

    The panel's brand, amp rating and number of breaker spaces. The amp rating decides how much your home can run at once.

  • Permit & inspectionAsk: who schedules the inspection?

    Most work beyond a simple swap is inspected. Ask who schedules the inspection.

  • Utility coordinationAsk: how does it affect the schedule?

    Service upgrades usually need the utility to disconnect and reconnect power, which can affect the schedule.

  • PatchingAsk: patching and paint included?

    Cutting into walls or ceilings to run wire. Ask whether patching and painting are included.

  • What a good estimate spells out9 things to look for
    • The contractor's legal name, license number if one applies, and contact details, plus your name and address.
    • What work is included, and what is not.
    • The brand, model and size of major equipment and materials, not just standard or builder grade.
    • Who pulls the permit and who pays for it and for inspections.
    • Cleanup, and what happens to the old materials.
    • A start date and a realistic finish date, and what happens if the schedule slips.
    • Warranty terms: what is covered, for how long and who honors it.
    • When and how you pay, tied to finished stages of work rather than just dates.
    • How changes are handled: a written price for any change before the work happens.
Check my quote against this

Know what you're looking at

Red flags

4 of 11

  • No permit for panel or circuit work

    Unpermitted work can cause insurance trouble.

  • Fear used to push a big job

    Ask for the specific findings in writing.

  • No amp rating on the quote

    Ask the size of the panel or service.

  • Pressure to sign today

    A fair quote is still fair tomorrow.

7 more red flags

  • Handyman-level pricing for work that your state requires a licensed electrician to do.

  • No written quote, or a quote that is a single total with no detail about what is included.

  • A large payment up front, or a request for cash only.

    Some states limit how much a contractor can ask for before work starts.

  • A license number that does not check out.

    Where your state licenses this trade, look the number up yourself on the state licensing board's site.

  • No proof of insurance.

    Ask for a certificate sent to you directly by the insurer or the agent.

  • A price far below every other quote, followed by extras once the work has started.

  • Someone who knocks on your door uninvited, or who will not give recent local references.

Where homeowners say it goes wrong

  • They're scared it's a fire or shock hazard and don't know if it's urgent — they want reassurance and a fast answer
  • Older home with an outdated or unsafe panel (Federal Pacific, fuses, 100-amp) and they're worried it's uninsurable or won't pass a sale
  • Breakers keep tripping and they can't figure out why — it disrupts daily life
  • They got wildly different quotes and don't know who to trust or what's fair
  • They need the work done fast to close a home sale, pass inspection, or get an EV charger before the car arrives

Ask every electrician

  1. Is this work permitted and inspected, and who arranges the inspection?

  2. What amp rating will the panel or service be, and does the quote include the utility's disconnect and reconnect?

  3. Did you do a load calculation to be sure my home can handle the new load (EV charger, heat pump, generator)?

2 more questions

  1. Are you licensed where this work requires it, and insured? Can I see the license number and a certificate of insurance sent to me by your insurer?

  2. What exactly does the warranty cover, for how long, and who honors it (you, the manufacturer, or both)? Will you put it in writing?

Permit or not?

Commonly permitted

  • Panel or service upgrade
  • New circuits
  • EV chargers
  • Generators
  • Whole-home rewiring

Often not

  • Light fixture, same spot
  • Outlet, same spot

Your building department decides. If a contractor asks you to pull the permit in your own name, ask why.

More on permitsWho pulls it, and what to check first

Work like this usually needs a permit.

Panel and service upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, generators and whole-home rewiring are commonly permitted and inspected. Replacing a light fixture or an outlet in the same spot often is not, but rules vary.

  • Your building department decides what applies at your address. Rules differ by city and county, and HOA, condo or historic-district rules can add more.
  • Ask who pulls the permit. Normally the licensed contractor does and the price includes it. If a contractor asks you to pull it in your own name, ask why: it can shift responsibility for the work to you.
  • If you are unsure, call your local building department before you sign. Unpermitted work can cause problems with insurance and when you sell.

Words you'll see

GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter)

An outlet or breaker that cuts power fast if electricity leaks to ground, for example through water. Typically required in kitchens, baths, garages and outdoors.

What this trade covers

14 kinds of jobsAs the trade lists them
  • Electrical panel (service) upgrades: replacing 100-amp panels with 200-amp service
  • Panel/breaker replacement: swapping out unsafe Federal Pacific 'Stab-Lok', Zinsco, or Challenger panels
  • Whole-home rewiring: replacing aluminum branch wiring or knob-and-tube
  • EV charger installation: Level 2 (240V) charger and dedicated circuit
  • Standby/portable generator installation with automatic transfer switch
  • Troubleshooting tripping breakers, dead outlets, and flickering lights
  • Outlet, switch, and dimmer installation/replacement (including GFCI and AFCI devices)
  • Adding dedicated circuits for ranges, dryers, hot tubs, A/C, or shop tools
  • Ceiling fan, recessed lighting, and fixture installation
  • Whole-home surge protection (SPD) installation
  • Code-correction work for real estate sales, inspections, or insurance
  • Smart home wiring: thermostats, smart panels, switches, and home automation
  • Electrical safety inspections and home buyer inspections
  • Outdoor, landscape, and pool/hot tub bonding and lighting
How people describe itUrgent calls and planned ones

When it can't wait

  • “I smell something burning near the breaker box”
  • “There's a burning plastic or fishy smell coming from an outlet”
  • “Sparks are shooting out of my outlet when I plug something in”
  • “My breaker panel is hot to the touch and buzzing”
  • “There's smoke coming from a light switch / wall”
  • “Half my house just lost power and the rest is flickering”
  • “An outlet melted / there are scorch marks around it”
  • “I touched an appliance and got a shock”
  • “A power line came down on my house / yard after the storm”
  • “Water is dripping into my electrical panel / breaker box”
  • “My breaker won't reset and now I keep tripping it”
  • “The lights are flickering and dimming all over the house at once”

When it can be planned

  • “I want a quote to upgrade my panel to 200 amps”
  • “I'm buying an EV and need a Level 2 charger installed”
  • “I'd like to add some recessed lighting / a ceiling fan”
  • “My inspection report says I need GFCI outlets in the bathroom”
  • “I want a whole-home surge protector installed”
  • “Can someone install a generator transfer switch?”
  • “I need a few new outlets added in the garage for tools”
  • “I want an electrical safety inspection before I sell the house”
  • “My dimmer switch stopped working, can you replace it?”

Rebates and credits

Look up rebates for your ZIP

Rebates and credits change often and differ by state, utility and sometimes county.

  • Start with your state energy office and the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.ENERGY STAR rebate finder (opens in a new tab)
  • The federal 25C and 25D credits ended for property placed in service after 2025-12-31 (IRS: 25C, 25D). Do not count on them for new work, and ask a tax professional about your situation.25C (opens in a new tab)25D (opens in a new tab)
  • Panel upgrades and EV chargers sometimes have utility or state rebates, often tied to heat pump or electrification programs. Programs change and differ by utility, so check first.
  • Programs often have conditions: a specific equipment rating, an approved installer, or approval before you buy. Confirm the rules before you sign, not after.

Paying for it

Before you finance anything6 basics, then the financing guide

Most home projects can be paid in cash or financed. A few basics before you sign anything:

  • Ask for the cash price and the financed price in writing, for the same scope of work. They can differ, because a financing fee (sometimes called a dealer fee) may be built into the financed price.
  • Compare the total you will pay over the whole loan, not just the monthly payment.
  • Read the fine print on same-as-cash and zero-interest offers, especially what happens if the balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period.
  • PACE financing is repaid through your property tax bill and can place a lien on your home. Read the terms closely, and consider asking your mortgage servicer how it is treated, before you agree.
  • Utility and state programs sometimes offer low-rate loans for efficiency work. Check yours before accepting the contractor's offer.
  • Take loan paperwork home and read it. A sign-it-today loan is a reason to slow down.

There is more in the financing guide.financing guide

We are not a lender and do not arrange loans. Financing information here is general education; lenders decide terms.

What an expert knows

Short notes from public sources such as federal agencies, safety groups and trade associations. Each note links to the page it came from, and every page was opened and read on 2026-10-03. This is a starting point, not a complete list of every rule or program, and it is general information, not legal, tax, engineering or insurance advice. Rules and prices vary by place, so confirm what applies at your address.

Types, pros, cons and lifespan6 notes, each with its source
Sizing and choosing4 notes, each with its source
Maintenance by season5 notes, each with its source
Code and permit basics4 notes, each with its source
What moves the price5 notes, each with its source
Common scams4 notes, each with its source
Ask for this in writing4 notes, each with its source
Repair or replace3 notes, each with its source
Questions to ask an expert5 notes, each with its source

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General information, not legal, tax, engineering or insurance advice. Photos credited with their licenses; drawings made for this site. Guide updated October 3, 2026.

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