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200 Amp Service Upgrade · Pennsylvania
A 200 amp service upgrade increases the electricity your home can draw from the utility, replacing the panel and usually the meter base and service entrance cable. It is the common fix when a 60 or 100 amp home adds an EV charger, heat pump or electric range.
Philadelphia rowhouses were built for a few lights, and many still have 60 or 100 amp services. Owners adding central air, a heat pump, an electric range or an EV charger often need 200 amps.
Rowhome panels are often in the basement near the front wall, and service upgrades need coordination with PECO. Adding central air, a kitchen remodel or a basement finish usually triggers a service upgrade.
Owners renovating Allentown rowhouses often add central air, a heat pump, a modern kitchen and in-unit laundry, and the original 60 or 100 amp service rarely covers it. A 200 amp upgrade usually includes a new meter base and service entrance, and in rowhouses PPL has rules about where a new meter can go on the front or rear wall.
Rowhouses often have knob-and-tube or cloth wiring, 60 amp services and few outlets, and many have been divided into apartments. Narrow lots and shared walls limit routes for new wiring and outdoor equipment.
Most new single-family homes are built with 200 amp service, while many older homes have 60, 100 or 150 amps. Electrification projects add large loads: a Level 2 EV charger can draw 40 amps or more on its own, and heat pumps and induction ranges add more.
The upgrade involves the utility as well as the electrician, because the meter and service drop must be disconnected and reconnected. A load calculation first confirms whether 200 amps is the right size, or whether load management could avoid the upgrade.
Our local notes cover Philadelphia, Allentown. Philadelphia rowhouses were built for a few lights, and many still have 60 or 100 amp services.
The city or county building department where the home is. Philadelphia: Electrical permits in Philadelphia are issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to licensed electrical contractors. Allentown: Electrical permits inside the city come from the City of Allentown's building standards and safety office; surrounding townships issue their own.
Not always. A load calculation may show that a 100 or 150 amp service can support a charger, especially with a lower charging setting or a load-management device.
The installation is often one day, but utility scheduling and permits can add days or weeks.
Some utilities charge fees or require their own work on the service drop. Policies vary, so ask your utility.
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