Many Austin homes need a panel upgrade before a Level 2 charger can be safely installed. We handle the full electrical upgrade and EV charger installation in one coordinated project.
Get a Free Assessment Call (737)-306-2411Austin has a lot of housing stock built in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s — homes that were wired with a 100-amp service panel at a time when the biggest electrical load in the house was a central air conditioning unit. Fast forward to today, and those same homes are running a large HVAC system, an induction range, a heat pump water heater, and now an EV in the garage. A 100-amp panel simply doesn't have the capacity to safely support a Level 2 EV charger on top of existing loads.
AustinEV Pros handles electrical panel upgrades as part of our EV charging installation services. We're not just EV charger installers — our licensed electricians can assess your full electrical load, upgrade your service to 200 amps (or 400 amps for larger homes), and install your EV charger as part of a single coordinated project. One contractor, one permit, one inspection, one invoice.
Your home may need an electrical panel upgrade before EV charger installation if any of the following apply:
🔌 Not sure if your panel is ready? Our free site assessment answers that question definitively. We check your current panel rating, calculate your existing electrical loads, and give you a clear recommendation on the spot — no obligation, no pressure.
A 200-amp service upgrade typically involves replacing the existing meter base and main panel, upgrading the service entrance conductors from the utility weatherhead to the panel, and installing a new 200-amp breaker panel with plenty of room for your EV charger circuit and any future loads. Austin Energy coordinates the meter pull and reconnect, and a City of Austin inspection is required before the service is re-energized.
The entire process usually takes 6–8 hours. Your power will be off during the upgrade, but we coordinate with Austin Energy to minimize downtime and schedule work so you're not without power overnight. Most of our panel upgrade + EV charger installations are completed in a single day.
If your home has a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panel or a Zinsco panel, we strongly recommend replacing it regardless of whether you're adding an EV charger. Both panel types have well-documented failure rates — breakers that fail to trip during overloads, creating a significant fire risk. Homeowner insurance companies increasingly refuse to cover or renew policies on homes with these panels. Replacing them as part of your EV charger project is the most cost-effective time to address this safety issue.
When you combine a panel upgrade with a Level 2 EV charger installation, we reduce the combined project cost versus booking each service separately. The panel upgrade requires us to be at your home for a full day anyway — adding the EV charger circuit while we're already on-site saves significant labor time, and those savings get passed directly to you.
💰 Federal Tax Credit: The federal 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit covers up to 30% of EV charger installation costs including associated electrical work — up to $1,000 for residential installations. Panel upgrade costs that are directly necessary for EV charger installation may qualify. We provide documentation to support your tax filing.
A 200-amp panel upgrade in Austin typically runs between $1,800 and $3,500 depending on the complexity of your existing service, the location of your panel, and whether the service entrance needs to be relocated. When bundled with an EV charger installation, the combined project usually falls between $2,400 and $4,500. We provide detailed written quotes with no surprises — what we quote is what you pay.
Panel upgrades require both an electrical permit from the City of Austin and coordination with Austin Energy for the meter pull and reconnection. AustinEV Pros handles all of this as part of the project — you don't need to contact the utility or the city separately at any point. We file the permit, schedule the utility coordination, arrange the city inspection, and make sure everything is signed off before we leave.
We perform panel upgrades and EV charger installations throughout the Austin metro including South Austin, North Austin, East Austin, West Lake Hills, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Kyle, Buda, and all of Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties.
Panel upgrade and EV charger installation handled by the same licensed team — cleaner, faster, and more cost-effective than hiring separately.
We combine the panel upgrade and EV charger into a single permit application — saving you time, money, and the hassle of coordinating multiple inspections.
We size your new panel for today's EV charger and tomorrow's loads — solar inverters, heat pumps, second EV — so you never outgrow your electrical service again.
Combining your panel upgrade and EV charger installation in one project saves significant labor cost compared to booking them separately at different times.
We handle the meter pull request, utility scheduling, and reconnection coordination with Austin Energy — you don't make a single call to the utility.
We flag dangerous panels like Federal Pacific and Zinsco and explain your options clearly. Every upgrade we complete meets current NEC and City of Austin code.
Most panel upgrade + EV charger projects in the Austin metro are scheduled within 5 business days of quote acceptance.
"Our house only had a 100A panel so they upgraded the whole thing and ran conduit to the garage for the charger. Clean install. Great communication throughout. Would 100% recommend."
— Jennifer R., Cedar Park"They found out we had an old Federal Pacific panel during the assessment and explained why it needed to go. Replaced it the same day as the EV charger install. Efficient and professional."
— Tom B., South Austin"Got a quote from another electrician for the panel upgrade alone that was more than AustinEV Pros charged for the panel upgrade AND the charger combined. Great value and great work."
— Rachel M., PflugervilleThe most reliable way is a free site assessment from AustinEV Pros. In general, if your main breaker is rated at 100 amps or less, or if your panel is full with no available slots, you'll likely need an upgrade before adding a Level 2 EV charger. We'll tell you exactly what you need during the assessment.
Your power will be off for most of the upgrade process — typically 4–6 hours of the total project day. We schedule Austin Energy's meter pull for early morning so the outage starts and ends as early as possible. We'll give you a specific timeline when we schedule your project.
Yes — for larger homes with high electrical loads or homeowners planning significant future additions (multiple EVs, large solar systems, whole-home generators), a 400-amp service upgrade may make sense. We'll discuss whether 200 or 400 amps is right for your situation during the site assessment.
Yes — Austin Energy must pull and reconnect your meter as part of any panel upgrade. AustinEV Pros coordinates directly with Austin Energy on your behalf. You don't need to contact them at any point during the project.
Electrical panel upgrades that are directly necessary to support EV charger installation may qualify as part of the federal 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. We provide documentation to support your tax filing and recommend consulting your tax advisor for specific guidance.
A properly installed 200-amp panel should last 30–40 years or more. We install panels from trusted manufacturers including Eaton, Square D, and Siemens — brands with proven track records and readily available replacement parts.
Book a free electrical assessment. We'll tell you exactly what you need — and what it will cost — before any work begins.
Schedule Free Assessment Call (737)-306-2411