Price a 2026 full residential electrical service entrance upgrade — panel, SEU/SE cable, weatherhead, mast, meter base, grounding electrode, permit, and POCO coordination — by amperage, service type, and ZIP. Then line up 3 licensed-electrician quotes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q
How much does a full electrical service upgrade cost in 2026?
Most US residential service entrance upgrades run $1,500-$8,000 installed in 2026. The most common scope — a 100A to 200A overhead swap that keeps the existing meter location — lands $1,500-$4,000. Adding a new service mast plus a new meter base pushes the same upgrade to $3,000-$6,500. A 200A to 400A full service entrance rebuild for EV-plus-heat-pump-plus-solar homes runs $6,000-$11,500. Converting overhead to underground service is the biggest swing line item at $6,000-$15,000 for a typical 100-foot run.
100A to 200A overhead, keep meter spot: $1,500-$4,000
100A to 200A with new mast and meter base: $3,000-$6,500
200A to 400A full service rebuild: $6,000-$11,500
Overhead to underground conversion: $6,000-$15,000
Service relocation to a new wall: $4,000-$9,000
Scope
Materials
Labor + Permit
Typical Total
100A to 200A overhead, keep meter location
$700-$1,500
$1,000-$2,000
$1,500-$4,000
100A to 200A with new mast + meter base
$1,500-$3,200
$1,500-$2,800
$3,000-$6,500
200A to 400A overhead, full rebuild
$3,500-$6,500
$2,500-$4,500
$6,000-$11,500
Overhead to underground (100 ft)
$2,500-$5,500
$3,500-$8,500
$6,000-$15,000
Service relocation to a new wall
$1,800-$4,000
$2,200-$4,500
$4,000-$9,000
Q
What is the difference between a service upgrade and a panel-only swap?
A panel-only swap replaces just the breaker box and runs $1,300-$3,000 in 2026. A full service upgrade replaces the entire service entrance — SEU/SE cable, weatherhead, mast, meter base, grounding electrode system, plus the panel — and adds POCO disconnect/reconnect coordination, so it lands $1,500-$8,000+. If your existing mast or meter base is corroded, undersized, or violates current NEC 230.24 clearance code, a panel-only swap is not legal — the AHJ will require the full service entrance be brought to code at the same time.
Panel-only: breaker box swap, $1,300-$3,000
Service upgrade: SEU + mast + meter base + panel + grounding
Service upgrade adds POCO coordination + permit
AHJ may force full service work if mast/meter is non-code
Pre-1970 homes almost always need full service upgrade
Q
How much does it cost to replace just the mast, meter base, or weatherhead?
Replacement cost in 2026: electrical mast or meter riser $500-$1,700 including labor; meter box (meter base) $500-$2,100 depending on amperage and code; weatherhead $200-$600 (the weatherhead part alone is $10-$100 but installation needs a licensed electrician and POCO disconnect). Service-entrance (SEU/SE) cable runs $500-$4,500 depending on length and accessibility. Grounding electrode system (ground rods, water-bond, GEC sized to NEC 250) adds $150-$500. Most homeowners replacing one component end up doing all three at once because the labor and POCO coordination overlap.
Mast / riser replacement: $500-$1,700
Meter base / meter box: $500-$2,100
Weatherhead: $200-$600 installed
SEU/SE cable: $500-$4,500 by length
Grounding electrode system: $150-$500
Q
Is overhead-to-underground service conversion worth it?
Underground service costs 60-100%+ more than overhead, so a $1,500-$4,000 overhead swap becomes a $6,000-$15,000 project once you add trenching, conduit, and utility connection fees. The math favors conversion when you live in a high-storm or wildfire region where overhead drops fail every few years, when you are remodeling and trenching is already open for water or gas, or when local ordinance requires undergrounding for new connections. Skip the conversion if your overhead drop is intact and you are not remodeling the exterior.
Underground costs 60-100%+ more than overhead
Trenching: $4-$12 per linear foot
Conduit + wiring: $3.50-$9 per linear foot
Utility connection fee: $500-$3,000
Worth it for storm-prone or wildfire regions
Q
Why does the utility (POCO) need to be involved and how long does it take?
Only the power company (POCO) is legally allowed to pull the meter, disconnect the service drop, and reconnect after inspection — your electrician cannot cut the seal. Lead time runs 1-3 weeks for the POCO appointment in most US markets. Permit issuance adds 1-5 business days at the AHJ. Power-off window on the day of work is typically 4-8 hours for a 200A swap and 8-24 hours for a 400A or full service rebuild. Schedule the work in spring or fall to avoid losing HVAC during peak summer or winter.
Permit issuance: 1-5 business days
POCO disconnect appointment: 1-3 weeks lead
Power-off window: 4-8 hr (200A) / 8-24 hr (400A)
POCO disconnect/reconnect usually included
Schedule in spring/fall to avoid HVAC loss
Q
How do I avoid overpaying a service-upgrade contractor?
Get 3 written itemized bids from licensed and bonded electricians. Each bid should separately list: panel + breakers, service-entrance cable, weatherhead, mast, meter base, grounding electrode, permit, and POCO coordination. Reject any bid that bundles the entire service entrance into one line item — that is how surprise change orders show up mid-job. Avoid bids 20%+ below the pack: that usually means a bargain panel brand (Federal Pacific or Zinsco-equivalent recalled gear), an aluminum SEU where copper is required by code, or a skipped permit.
1100A to 200A overhead swap, keep meter location, Midwest suburb
Inputs
Target200A
Service typeOverhead, existing mast
MeterKeep location
RegionMidwest
Result
Typical installed quote$2,200 – $3,400
200A panel + breakers~$500
SEU/SE cable + grounding~$350
Labor (8-10 hr)~$1,200
Permit + POCO coordination~$300
2100A to 200A overhead with new mast + meter base, Northeast
Inputs
Target200A
Service typeOverhead, new mast
MeterKeep location, new base
RegionNortheast
Result
Typical installed quote$4,200 – $5,800
200A panel + breakers~$600
New mast + weatherhead~$1,100
Meter base (200A)~$900
Labor (12-16 hr, NE premium)~$2,000
Permit + POCO~$450
3Overhead to underground 100 ft conversion + 200A upgrade, South
Inputs
Target200A
Service typeOverhead to underground
Run length100 ft
RegionSouth
Result
Typical installed quote$8,500 – $13,500
200A panel + meter base~$1,400
Trenching 100 ft + conduit~$1,200
Underground SE cable~$700
Labor (2 days, 2-electrician crew)~$3,200
POCO connection fee + permit~$1,800
Formulas Used
Service entrance upgrade total cost breakdown
Quote = Panel + SEU Cable + Weatherhead + Mast + Meter Base + Grounding + Labor + Permit + POCO
Typical full service entrance quote = panel and main breaker ($300-$1,500 by amperage) + service-entrance (SEU/SE) cable ($500-$4,500 by length and copper vs aluminum) + weatherhead ($200-$600 installed) + mast or riser ($500-$1,700 installed) + meter base ($500-$2,100 by amperage and code) + grounding electrode system with ground rods, water bond, and properly sized GEC ($150-$500) + licensed electrician labor (8-20 hours at $75-$150/hr) + permit and inspection ($100-$400) + POCO disconnect/reconnect coordination (typically bundled in labor). Underground conversions add $4-$12 per linear foot for trenching plus a $500-$3,000 utility connection fee.
Electrical Service Upgrade Cost in 2026: SEU, Mast, Meter Base, and POCO
1
Electrical Service Upgrade Cost in 2026: The Short Answer
A full residential electrical service entrance upgrade — panel plus SEU/SE cable, weatherhead, mast, meter base, grounding electrode, permit, and utility (POCO) disconnect/reconnect — runs $1,500-$8,000 installed for the majority of 2026 jobs in the US. The single most common scope, a 100A to 200A overhead swap that keeps the existing meter location, lands $1,500-$4,000. Adding a new service mast and meter base bumps the same upgrade to $3,000-$6,500. A 200A to 400A full service entrance rebuild for homes stacking EV charging, whole-house heat pumps, and solar interconnection runs $6,000-$11,500.
Two add-on scopes drive the biggest swings outside that base range. Overhead-to-underground conversion — trenching the service drop from the utility pole to a new underground meter — lands $6,000-$15,000 for a typical 100-foot run because trenching alone is $4-$12 per linear foot and the utility connection fee is $500-$3,000. Service relocation to a different exterior wall (common during siding remodels or when the current meter is in a code-violating spot) runs $4,000-$9,000 because new SEU cable, a new meter base, patching of the old meter location, and POCO re-routing are all on the bid.
This guide breaks down every line item a contractor will quote and where the price actually moves: target amperage, service type (overhead vs underground), meter location, mast and meter base condition, SEU cable length, grounding electrode work, permit, and POCO scheduling. For the panel-only scope (no SEU or mast work), see the electrical panel upgrade cost calculator. For the two most common companion projects, the EV charger install cost calculator and solar panel install cost calculator cover the upgrades you usually bundle with a service entrance overhaul.
Residential electrical service entrance upgrade cost by scope, 2026. Source: Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor.
Scope
Materials
Labor + Permit
Typical Total
100A to 200A overhead, keep meter location
$700-$1,500
$1,000-$2,000
$1,500-$4,000
100A to 200A with new mast + meter base
$1,500-$3,200
$1,500-$2,800
$3,000-$6,500
200A to 400A overhead, full rebuild
$3,500-$6,500
$2,500-$4,500
$6,000-$11,500
Overhead to underground (100 ft)
$2,500-$5,500
$3,500-$8,500
$6,000-$15,000
Service relocation to a new wall
$1,800-$4,000
$2,200-$4,500
$4,000-$9,000
A standard 100A to 200A overhead service swap that keeps the existing meter location is the most common 2026 scope at $1,500-$4,000 installed. Adding a new mast plus meter base, or converting overhead to underground, are the two add-ons that move the bid the most.
2
Service Upgrade vs Panel Upgrade: What is Actually Different
A panel-only swap replaces just the breaker box and runs $1,300-$3,000 in 2026 for a like-for-like 200A change. A full service upgrade replaces the entire service entrance — SEU/SE cable, weatherhead, mast, meter base, grounding electrode system, plus the panel — and adds POCO disconnect/reconnect coordination. That is why the same nominal 100A-to-200A change can land anywhere from $1,500 to $6,500 depending on whether the mast and meter base are reused or replaced. The price difference is not contractor markup — it is genuinely two-to-three times more material and labor.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) decides which scope is required. If the existing service mast and meter base meet current NEC 230 code (correct height, intact bracing, proper meter socket rating, no corrosion, weatherhead not cracked), the panel-only swap is legal. If any service-entrance component is undersized for the new amperage, corroded, or violates current clearance code, the AHJ will refuse to issue the panel permit unless the full service entrance is brought to code at the same time. Pre-1970 homes almost always trigger the full service upgrade because original SEU cable and meter bases rarely meet the current 200A spec.
Knowing which scope you actually need before requesting bids saves a round of contractor visits. If your panel is younger than 1990 and you can see the meter base / mast from outside without rust, dents, or undersized rating, ask for a panel-only quote first. If the home is pre-1970, the meter base shows visible corrosion, or the mast was installed at a non-code height, ask for a full service upgrade quote and itemized component pricing. The home renovation estimator covers how service entrance work sequences inside a broader remodel timeline — do panel and service work first, before drywall and finishes, so any rework does not destroy new finish materials.
Scope comparison: panel-only swap vs full service entrance upgrade.
Component
Panel-Only Swap
Full Service Upgrade
Breaker box (panel)
yes
yes
Main breaker
yes
yes
Service-entrance (SEU) cable
no
yes
Weatherhead
no
yes
Mast / service riser
no
yes
Meter base / meter socket
no
yes
Grounding electrode rebuild
sometimes
yes
POCO disconnect/reconnect
sometimes
yes
Panel-only swap: breaker box only, $1,300-$3,000
Service upgrade: SEU + weatherhead + mast + meter base + panel + grounding
Service upgrade adds 1-3 weeks for POCO scheduling
AHJ may force full service work if any component fails code
Pre-1970 homes nearly always need the full service upgrade
Panel younger than 1990 + clean meter/mast: panel-only often legal
3
NEC 230.24 Mast Height and Service Drop Clearances
NEC 230.24 sets the minimum clearances for the service drop conductors that run from the utility pole to your weatherhead. The point of attachment must be at least 10 feet above finished grade. Service-drop conductors must clear the roof by at least 8 feet, with that clearance maintained 3 feet in all directions from the roof edge. These two numbers are the single most common reason a panel-only quote turns into a full service upgrade quote: if the mast was installed at non-code height, raising it requires replacing the entire mast assembly plus weatherhead, and the meter base usually has to come off too.
Two common exceptions reduce the cost of code compliance. Where the roof slope is 4 inches in 12 inches or steeper, the roof clearance drops to 3 feet — most pitched residential roofs qualify. For service masts that pass through-the-roof, 120/240V conductors can drop to 18 inches over the overhang portion, provided no more than 6 feet of conductor crosses the overhang and the mast sits within 4 feet of the roof edge measured horizontally. Pulling these exceptions onto your mast install can save $300-$800 of bracing or relocation work.
Mast structural strength is the other 230.24 trap. The mast must withstand the mechanical strain from the service drop pulling on it — wind load, ice load, conductor weight — either through the mast wall thickness alone or with guy wires and bracing. Skinny 2-inch EMT conduit used as a mast in older installs will not pass current code; 2-inch rigid galvanized steel (RMC) is the minimum most AHJs accept for unguy'd masts on residential service. Replacing an undersized mast with code-compliant RMC plus required bracing typically adds $400-$1,000 to the bid that a homeowner who has not read 230.24 will not see coming.
Non-code mast height is the most common reason a $2,000 panel-only job balloons into a $5,000 service upgrade. Always have the electrician verify NEC 230.24 clearances before you compare bids — mast replacement plus bracing adds $400-$1,000 to the line item.
Point of attachment: 10 ft minimum above finished grade
Roof clearance: 8 ft minimum, maintained 3 ft from roof edge
Steep roof (4:12 or steeper): 3 ft clearance allowed
Through-the-roof mast: 18 in over overhang, max 6 ft conductor
Mast must withstand service-drop mechanical load
2-inch RMC typical minimum for unguy'd residential masts
4
Overhead vs Underground Service Drop: Cost and Trade-offs
Underground service costs 60-100%+ more than overhead, and the math is straightforward: trenching alone runs $4-$12 per linear foot, conduit and underground wiring add $3.50-$9 per linear foot, and most utilities charge a $500-$3,000 connection fee on top. A typical 100-foot run from the property line to a new underground meter base lands $6,000-$15,000 all-in, vs $1,500-$4,000 for the same amperage upgrade left overhead. The trade-off is resilience: underground service drops survive storms, ice, falling trees, and wildfires that knock out overhead drops every few years.
Three scenarios make conversion worth the premium. First, high-storm or wildfire regions where overhead drops fail every 3-5 years — the avoided outage and emergency-reconnect costs ($300-$800 per emergency POCO call) compound. Second, exterior remodels where trenching is already open for water, gas, or sewer — the marginal cost of laying conduit in an already-open trench is $1.50-$3 per foot vs $9-$20 for a fresh trench. Third, local ordinances increasingly require undergrounding for new service connections in subdivisions or historic districts — in those cases the conversion is mandatory regardless of cost.
Skip the conversion when your overhead drop is intact, you are not remodeling the exterior, and you live outside high-risk weather corridors. The math rarely works on a healthy 200A overhead service that just needs panel and meter base modernization. If you are converting and the new run goes under a driveway, plan for a $400-$1,200 sleeve-and-bore line item rather than open-cut trenching, since saw-cutting and patching concrete usually costs more than the conduit work itself.
Overhead vs underground residential service drop cost and resilience comparison, 2026.
Item
Overhead
Underground
Service drop install
included by POCO
homeowner-paid trenching
Trenching
n/a
$4-$12/linear ft
Conduit + wire
n/a
$3.50-$9/linear ft
Utility connection fee
typically free
$500-$3,000
Storm / tree resilience
fails every 3-5 yr in storms
isolated from weather
Total premium vs overhead
baseline
+60% to +100%+
5
Cost Breakdown by Component (Mast, Meter, SEU, Grounding, Labor)
A clean 100A-to-200A overhead service upgrade with new mast and meter base decomposes into roughly six buckets: panel and breakers (18% of total), mast plus weatherhead (12%), meter base (14%), SEU/SE cable plus grounding (12%), licensed electrician labor (34%), and permit plus POCO coordination (10%). On a $4,500 mid-range job that is roughly $810 in panel and breakers, $540 in mast and weatherhead, $630 in meter base, $540 in SEU and grounding, $1,530 in labor, and $450 in permit and POCO. The labor bucket grows fastest as scope expands, since the 200A-to-400A or underground-conversion jobs run 2-3 days vs one day for a standard 200A swap.
The donut chart below visualizes the typical mid-scope split. When you receive three quotes for the same scope, recast each into these six buckets — outliers become obvious immediately. A bid where the labor line looks materially below 30% is usually under-quoting the actual hours (which leads to mid-job change orders). A bid where the panel or meter base line sits above 25% means a premium brand or higher amperage tier than spec'd. A bid that omits permit and POCO entirely means the contractor expects you to pull the permit yourself — walk away from that bid.
Component pricing is sticky against amperage — a 200A panel costs $450-$700, a 400A panel $1,200-$1,500. Meter bases follow the same curve: 200A meter sockets are $500-$1,200; 400A meter sockets $900-$2,100 because the larger lugs and weatherproof enclosure are more expensive. Service-entrance cable scales with copper-vs-aluminum and length: 200A copper SEU runs $6-$20 per foot, aluminum half that, with most residential runs in the 10-50 foot range. Grounding electrode system rarely exceeds $500 unless the home requires water-bond rerouting or driven ground rods through hard rock.
SEU/SE cable: $6-$20/ft copper, half that for aluminum
Grounding electrode system: $150-$500
Labor: $75-$150/hr, 8-20 hours typical
Permit + POCO: $100-$400 + 1-3 week scheduling lead
6
Permits, POCO Coordination, and How to Avoid Overpaying
Every full service entrance upgrade requires an electrical permit and an inspection before the POCO will reconnect the meter. Permit issuance runs 1-5 business days at most US AHJs and costs $100-$400 depending on jurisdiction and amperage. POCO disconnect/reconnect appointments are the bigger schedule constraint at 1-3 weeks lead in most metros, longer during peak storm-restoration seasons. Power-off window on the work day is typically 4-8 hours for a 200A swap and 8-24 hours for a 400A or underground conversion — schedule for spring or fall when losing HVAC for half a day is tolerable.
The single most common overpayment trap is bid bundling. Reject any bid that lumps the entire service entrance into one line item like "200A service upgrade $5,500" — you cannot tell whether the bid includes a new mast, a new meter base, or both, and surprise change orders mid-job are guaranteed. Insist on six separate line items: panel, mast plus weatherhead, meter base, SEU plus grounding, labor with hours estimate, and permit plus POCO coordination. Three itemized bids let you compare apples-to-apples and spot which contractor is materially under-quoting hours or substituting a bargain panel brand.
Verify three things before signing: (1) active electrician license at the state licensing board (not just a business license); (2) general liability and workers' comp insurance, both verified via Certificate of Insurance sent by the carrier directly, not a PDF from the contractor; (3) the contractor pulls the permit in their name, not the homeowner's. Item 3 is the most common fraud pattern — "you pull the permit to save $200" — because it shifts liability from the contractor to you and usually means the contractor is operating outside their licensed jurisdiction. For deposit norms, 20-30% upfront on jobs under $5,000 and 10-20% on jobs over $5,000 is reasonable; any request for 50%+ upfront is the disappear-with-deposit pattern.
Itemized bids are the single best protection on a service upgrade. Six line items — panel, mast, meter base, SEU, labor, permit/POCO — expose lowball bids and prevent surprise change orders. The cheapest bid is rarely the best on service entrance work.
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.
