Electrical Panel Replacement & Service Upgrades in Hickory, NC

Your electrical panel feeds every circuit in your home. When it's worn out, overloaded or one of the brands known to fail, it's a safety problem, not just an inconvenience. Stickler's Electrical Service holds an unlimited electrical license, and I've been in the trade 27 years. I'll tell you straight whether your panel needs replacing, and if it doesn't, you'll hear that too.

Most panel jobs I do fall into one of two kinds: replacing a panel that's failing or unsafe, or a service upgrade from 100 to 200 amps for homes that need more power. I install Square D panels, and every price includes the permit.

Signs Your Panel Needs Replacing

  • Burn marks, melting or a burning smell at the panel or a breaker. Call right away.
  • A breaker that's hot to the touch or won't stay reset.
  • Breakers that trip often with no clear cause.
  • Rust or water damage inside the panel.
  • A Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel. I don't service these; I replace them on sight.
  • An old fuse box, or a panel more than 20 to 25 years old.
  • Flickering or dimming lights when big appliances kick on.

If you're seeing any of these, don't wait. A failing breaker can damage the panel around it, and that's exactly how my most recent panel replacement started.

How I Handle a Panel Replacement, Start to Finish

  1. You call, we come look. My team inspects the panel in person. No quotes over the phone for work like this.
  2. I show you what I find. If there's wear, burn marks or a brand that has to go, I point it out so you can see it for yourself.
  3. I talk through your options. Replace the panel as is, or upgrade the service if you're planning bigger loads. You get a clear price before anything starts.
  4. I pull the permit. Permitting is part of every job, and its cost is already in the price.
  5. Install day. Plan on your power being off for about 4 to 6 hours. I install a new Square D panel and new breakers, and label every circuit.
  6. Inspection. The county inspection usually happens the same day; sometimes it's a couple of days later.

When You Need a Service Upgrade Instead

If your home has 100-amp service and you're adding a new HVAC system, a hot tub, an EV charger or an addition, a new panel alone may not be enough. A service upgrade to 200 amps replaces the panel and the service equipment that feeds it, so your home can handle what you're adding now and what comes later. On service upgrades I coordinate with Duke Energy for the disconnect and reconnect.

Not sure which you need? That's what the inspection visit is for.

Emergency Panel Replacements

Some panels can't wait, like a breaker that's burning up. In an emergency, I give you the price, do the work, and handle the permit and inspection afterward. Emergency jobs can take longer, especially at night or on weekends when I have to get a supply house to open up for parts. I'll keep you posted the whole way.

What Panel Replacement Costs in Hickory

  • Panel replacement: starting at $1,800, permit included
  • 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade: starting at $3,200, permit included

What moves the price: the panel size, how many breakers your home needs (GFCI and AFCI breakers cost more), and how far apart your meter and panel are. Permit costs vary by county, and they're already built into the quote. See the full panel cost breakdown for the details. Financing is available.

A Recent Job: A Panel Fire in Denver, NC

My most recent panel replacement, in Denver, NC, started with one bad breaker. It had been failing long enough to overheat and burn the panel around it. It got bad enough that the panel actually started to catch fire, and the homeowners had to call the fire department. Once that happens, the panel can't be safely repaired; replacing a single breaker won't fix a damaged bus. I replaced the panel and every breaker with new Square D equipment.

Old electrical panel with scorched, heat-damaged breaker and tangled wiring before replacement

Before: the Denver, NC panel, damaged by a failing breaker.

New electrical panel installed with labeled circuit directory by Stickler's Electrical

After: a new Square D panel and breakers, every circuit labeled, permitted and inspected.

A breaker that runs hot, trips for no reason or smells like it's burning is telling you something. If you notice any of those, call before it gets this far.

What Customers Say

"They replaced our panel box and all the breakers. They were very efficient and made sure the breakers were marked correctly. The workers are also very pleasant and polite." — Annette B., Morganton, NC · Panel replacement ★★★★★

Read more on my Reviews & Testimonials page.

Financing Available

Prefer to pay over time? Financing is available through Synchrony, subject to credit approval. See if you prequalify or learn more on my financing page. Financing is provided by Synchrony Bank, not by Stickler's Electrical Service.

Panel Replacement Questions

How long will my power be off?

For a planned panel replacement, plan on about 4 to 6 hours. You'll get a time window before work starts.

Do you work on Zinsco or Federal Pacific panels?

No. Those brands have a long record of breakers that may not trip when they should, so I don't repair them. If I find one, I'll recommend replacing it.

Do I need a permit to replace my panel in North Carolina?

Yes. I pull the permit and schedule the county inspection, and the permit cost is already in your price. In Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties, the inspection usually happens the same day, sometimes a couple of days later.

Do I need a new panel or a full service upgrade?

If you have 100-amp service and you're adding HVAC, a hot tub, an EV charger or an addition, you'll likely need a 200-amp service upgrade. If your service is already big enough and the panel is just worn out, a replacement is enough. You'll know which after it's looked at.

Can you replace just the bad breaker?

Sometimes. If a breaker failed but the panel itself is in good shape, replacing the breaker may be all you need. If the breaker has burned or damaged the panel, the panel has to be replaced.

What panel brand do you install?

I prefer Square D panels.

What if it's an emergency?

Call (828) 610-1894 any time. I'll price the job, make it safe and do the work, then handle the permit and inspection afterward.

Get an Honest Look at Your Panel

Call (828) 610-1894 or send me a message. My team will come out, show you what we find, and give you a straight answer. Serving Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir, Granite Falls, Conover, Newton and the rest of the Catawba Valley.

Related: circuit breaker repair · surge protection · EV charger installation · Home Protection Plan