Electrical panel and service upgrades in Massachusetts
Going electric with a heat pump, an EV charger or an induction range? How to tell if the panel and service can carry it, who has to do what, and in what order.
- Checked: November 2026
- Code: 2026 NEC, MA amendments
The short version. A heat pump, a charger or a new range adds electrical load. Your electrician adds it up from the nameplates and compares it with your service. If it fits with room to spare, you may only need new circuits. If not, the fix is a bigger service, or smaller and smarter loads. Either way a licensed electrician pulls the permit, the town inspector signs off, and the utility reconnects.
Panel, service, or just a circuit?
People say "panel upgrade" for three different jobs. They differ in who you have to call.
| Job | What changes | Utility request? |
|---|---|---|
| New circuit | A breaker and wire for one new load, in a panel that has room and capacity. | No. Permit and inspection still apply. |
| Panel swap | A new breaker box on the same service size. National Grid says replacing only the panel or wiring does not increase your capacity. National Grid | Not an upgrade on the utility's side. Ask the utility if the meter or disconnect will be touched. |
| Service upgrade | More amps delivered: for example 100 A to 200 A. New service entrance cable, meter socket and main. Eversource: "changed or upgraded service is when service is increased." Eversource | Yes. Eversource, National Grid and light plants each have their own form. How each one works. |
Meter to panel: the parts, and who owns them
The service is a chain. The utility's wires reach the house, a meter measures them, a main disconnect shuts everything off, and the panel splits the power into circuits. The service size, in amps, is set by the weakest link in that chain.
Do you need one?
You find out by adding up the loads, not by guessing from the age of the house. The DOE's worksheet starts with floor area, small-appliance circuits and the nameplate of everything fastened in place, then adds the larger of heating or cooling. Electricians use the nameplate, which is the maximum an appliance can draw, so the answer errs on the safe side. U.S. Department of Energy
Two different limits can force an upgrade. The panel can run out of physical space for breakers, or out of electrical capacity. Adding up breaker ratings does not tell you which, because breakers usually add up to more than the panel rating and not everything runs at once. U.S. Department of Energy
Our 100A vs 200A guide explains the arithmetic step by step and has an estimator you can fill in with your own nameplates.
The steps, in order
- 1Week 0Look and sizeElectrician checks the panel and meter, adds up the loads, and settles the scope.Electrician
- 2Before workPermitThe electrician files the wiring permit with the town inspector.Town
- 3Before workUtility requestFor more amps, a request goes to the utility. Apply early.Utility
- 4Work dayDisconnect and swapUtility disconnects by appointment. Electrician replaces the equipment.Electrician and utility
- 5After workInspectionInspector approves or lists what to fix. The utility waits for this.Town
- 6LastReconnect and meterUtility makes the final connection and sets or checks the meter.Utility
Sources for each step: the permit and inspection rules are in permits and inspections, the utility side is in the utility guide. The two rules that set the order: the inspector has five days to approve or disapprove after the completion notice Mass. General Laws, and the utility will not connect until it has the approval National Grid Eversource.
What each electrification project asks of the panel
| Project | What the electrician needs | Where to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump | The outdoor unit's and air handler's electrical rating, any backup electric heat, and space in the panel for a new breaker and a wire path to it. | The nameplate on the units, or the installer's data sheet. |
| EV charger | The charger's rated amps at 240 volts, a circuit, and permit. Eversource's rebate covers chargers of 80 amps or less. Eversource | The charger's label or manual. |
| Induction range | The range's nameplate rating, a 240 volt circuit, and the existing cable's capacity. | The label inside the oven frame or the spec sheet. |
| Heat pump water heater, dryer | Each adds a nameplate load to the estimate. The DOE lists dryers and water heaters among the common triggers. U.S. Department of Energy | Appliance label. |
Do not size the circuit from this table. The nameplate and the electrician's calculation decide.
Old panels and old wiring
If you have a fuse box, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, or knob and tube wiring, other issues come first: insurance, a sale, and whether insulation can go in. We keep those on their own pages so the facts stay in one place.
- Fuse boxes, old panels and home insurance
- Knob and tube wiring
- Mass Save and old wiring
- Panel upgrades for a heat pump or EV, with Boston permit data
Who does the work
Massachusetts says only a master or journeyman electrician licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians can legally be hired to do electrical work at your home. Mass.gov You can verify a licence by calling the Board at (617) 701-8786. Mass.gov The state also tells homeowners to ask to see the permit. Mass.gov
Aurion takes the project from the photos to the finished service. Licensed work is done by licensed Massachusetts technicians, and the permit is in the licensed electrician's name.
What it costs
Aurion prices a panel or service job after seeing photos of the panel and meter, so there is no price on this page. The one published number we use is from Boston's permit records: from 2025-11-01 to 2026-11-02, at least 1,068 Boston one-to-four-family electrical permits were for a service or panel change, and the median value applicants declared on them was $7,500. That is what applicants wrote on the permit form, not a quote or a price list. Analyze Boston See the Boston permit data.
Money that can offset the cost is in the rebates guide.
Common questions
Do I need a new electrical panel for a heat pump in Massachusetts?
Not always. It depends on the service you have now, the space in the panel, and what else the house runs. An electrician has to run a load estimate with the heat pump's nameplate. Homes with 60 or 100 amp service or a fuse box are the ones that most often need work. The DOE factsheet says electricians recommend the load never exceeds 80 percent of the service capacity.
What is the difference between a panel upgrade and a service upgrade?
A panel swap replaces the breaker box. A service upgrade raises the amps the utility delivers: new service entrance cable, meter socket and main, plus a request to Eversource, National Grid or your light plant. National Grid says replacing only the electrical panel or wiring does not increase your home's power capacity and is not an electric upgrade on its side.
Who pulls the permit for a panel upgrade?
The licensed electrician who does the work. Under 527 CMR 12.00 the electrical permit is issued to the person, firm or corporation named on the application, and that party must give the completion notice. Boston says homeowners must hire a licensed contractor to apply for the permit and do the work.
Which electrical code applies in Massachusetts right now?
The 2026 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) with Massachusetts amendments, effective April 24, 2026. 527 CMR 12.00 says it applies to installations for which a permit was granted after that date, so the date on your permit decides which edition your job follows.
How long does a service upgrade take?
There is no single number. National Grid lists a simple residential connection at 2 to 6 weeks of its own time, not counting the electrician's work, paperwork and the town inspection. Eversource commits to install service within 5 business days after the wiring inspector's final approval, provided all requirements are met. Apply early; Eversource says to apply as far in advance as possible.
Will my power be off during the upgrade?
For a service upgrade, yes, for the time the utility has you disconnected. The utility disconnects before the work and reconnects after the town inspector approves. National Grid says the electrician schedules the disconnect and reconnect and that there might be a temporary loss of power while the electrician does the upgrade. Ask your electrician for the window in writing.
Does Mass Save pay for a panel upgrade?
For households that qualify for the income-based turnkey offer, Mass Save says up to 100% of a panel upgrade needed for new equipment may be covered, after cost-effectiveness screening. Mass Save also lists 0% financing on approved electrical panel upgrades. Standard per-ton heat pump rebates do not list a panel. See the rebates guide.
Can I avoid a panel upgrade?
Sometimes. Options include power-efficient equipment, circuit-sharing devices, smart panels and load management. Reading Municipal Light Department pays up to $1,200 toward qualifying load management devices. Whether one is accepted on your job is up to your electrician and your inspector. See the alternatives guide.
What if my house has a fuse box, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, or knob and tube wiring?
Those are their own topics, because they touch insurance, home sales and what the wiring will carry. Aurion has separate pages for fuse boxes and insurance and for knob and tube wiring. Start there, then come back to the service size question.
How do I check that an electrician is licensed?
Massachusetts says only a master or journeyman electrician licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians can legally be hired to do electrical work at your home. Call the Board at (617) 701-8786 to verify the licence, or search the state's licensee portal. Ask to see the permit.
Heat pump coming and the panel is old?
Send a photo of the panel with the door open. We look at it and get back to you.
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