Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service Changes in Rohnert Park, CA
A written scope and a real price before we start — because a panel upgrade shouldn't come with surprises.
Honest, Written Pricing — a real, itemized number explained face-to-face after a free site visit, never a vague figure guessed over the phone.
Hours Without Power, Not Days — we manage the PG&E disconnect and reconnect ourselves, start to finish, so your outage is measured in hours.
One Licensed Contractor, Start to Finish — CSLB #1156335, permit pulled and inspected on every job — verifiable anytime at cslb.ca.gov.
★★★★★
5.0 · 27 Google reviews
20+ years
in the trade
CSLB #1156335
licensed · bonded · insured
Sonoma County
owned & operated
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
Why Rohnert Park Chooses Bright Right
- Based right here on Holly Ave — no trip charge for driving up from the city.
- Family-owned, not a franchise or an out-of-state call center — you talk to the people who actually do the work.
- Every permitted job gets pulled, inspected, and signed off — no shortcuts, no favors called in.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
What Is an Electrical Panel Upgrade?
An electrical panel upgrade is the replacement of a home or business's main electrical panel — the metal box where power from the utility company enters the building and is distributed out to every circuit — with a new panel that has greater capacity, modern safety protection, or both. In Rohnert Park, that most often means retiring a 100-amp (or smaller) main service, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel, or a Zinsco panel, and replacing it with a properly sized 200-amp (or larger) service that can safely run an EV charger, a heat pump, an induction range, a hot tub, or a home office full of equipment — the loads a 1960s-to-1980s panel was never built to handle.
This service applies equally to homeowners with an aging main panel and to businesses and property managers handling a tenant improvement, a service upgrade for new equipment, or a multi-unit building bringing its electrical up to current code.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
Our Panel Upgrade Process
01
Free On-Site Assessment
We come look at your existing panel, current loads, and what you're planning to add — there's no charge to find out what you actually need.
02
Load Calculation & Written Scope
Before any work begins, you get a real, itemized number in writing — never a phone-only guess.
03
Permit Filing
We pull the required permit from your city or county building department so the job is documented, legal, and inspectable.
04
Installation Day
Most residential swaps are completed in one to two days on site, with power off for roughly four to eight hours during the actual switchover.
05
PG&E Coordination
We handle the utility disconnect and reconnect directly, so you're never the one on hold with PG&E.
06
Final Inspection & Sign-Off
We meet the inspector so the permit closes out clean, with no follow-up required from you.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
How Much Does an Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in Rohnert Park?
Most residential electrical panel upgrades across Sonoma County run
More involved work — a full service relocation, a meter move, or a jump to 400-amp service — usually runs $4,000 to $8,000, and a stand-alone sub-panel for an ADU, garage, or workshop typically falls between $500 and $2,000. Expect permit and inspection fees of roughly $100 to $500 on top of the installation cost.
The real driver of where a project lands in that range is the existing service size, where the meter sits, and how much PG&E coordination the job requires — which is exactly why every quote here is written and itemized, given after a real site visit, never guessed over the phone.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
Panel Upgrade vs. Whole-House Rewire — Which Do You Actually Need?
| Panel Upgrade | Whole-House Rewire | |
|---|---|---|
| What it fixes | Capacity — how much power the home can safely draw and distribute | Condition — the safety and integrity of the wiring itself, behind the walls |
| Typical trigger | Old or undersized panel; Federal Pacific/Zinsco brand; adding a major appliance | Deteriorated insulation, ungrounded outlets, aluminum branch wiring, knob-and-tube |
| Typical scope | One to two days, panel only | Multiple days to weeks; opens walls and ceilings |
| Do you need both? | Only if an inspection turns up unsafe wiring during the panel work | In most cases, existing wiring stays exactly where it is |
In most cases, a panel can be upgraded without rewiring the entire house — the two jobs solve different problems, and a straight answer about which one (or whether both are needed) comes free with the site visit, not as an upsell.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
What's Included in Our Panel Upgrade & Service Change Work
100-Amp to 200-Amp Service Upgrades
The most common job performed for Rohnert Park homes — replacing an undersized main service with modern 200-amp capacity, sized to actual household or business loads rather than a one-size-fits-all number.
Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panel Replacement
If a home has a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel, replacement isn't optional — both brands have a documented history of breakers that fail to trip during a fault, and many insurers won't renew a policy until the panel is replaced.
Sub-Panel Installation (ADU, Garage & Workshop)
Not every job needs a full panel swap — if the main panel is sound but out of breaker space for a new ADU, garage, or workshop, a properly sized sub-panel is often the faster, less expensive fix.
Service Entrance & Meter Relocation
When the meter or service entrance itself needs to move — common in older homes and historic-district commercial buildings — the relocation is coordinated with PG&E and the permitting office as one clean process, not three.
400-Amp & Large-Service Upgrades
For estate properties, multi-building sites, or homes stacking EV charging, a pool, and a hot tub on one meter, we evaluate whether 400-amp service is genuinely warranted or whether smart load management keeps the home within 200-amp capacity.
Panel Upgrades for EV Chargers, Solar & Battery, and High-Draw Appliances
A Level 2 EV charger, a solar-plus-battery system, or a new hot tub or induction range can all demand more than an older panel can safely deliver — the load calculation happens before the equipment is purchased, not after.
Permit Filing & PG&E Coordination
Every panel upgrade in Rohnert Park and Sonoma County requires a building permit and final inspection — the entire process, including the PG&E disconnect and reconnect, is handled start to finish.
Commercial & Tenant-Improvement Panel Work
For offices, retail, and restaurants, service upgrades, subpanels, and dedicated equipment circuits are scheduled around the business's operating hours, not ours.
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
Why Rohnert Park Homeowners Choose Bright Right
Honest Pricing, In Writing
A defined scope and a real number before work starts, in plain language, with no padded line items discovered later.
Truly Local, Minutes Away
Based at 1150 Holly Ave, with no trip charge for driving up from the city.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
CSLB #1156335, verifiable directly with the Contractors State License Board; every permitted job gets pulled and inspected.
One Contractor for the Whole System
panel, EV charger, generator, solar, and battery all under one license, so there's no finger-pointing between trades.
08 ─────── Reviews
What Rohnert Park Customers Are Saying
"This is the most professional company I have ever worked with. I am a difficult person and hard to please (I have really high standards (as a retired science teacher) and I am skeptical of workmen and I'm a perfectionist!). Bright Right is currently working on the 3rd job I have hired them for – everything has gone smoothly, no stress at all!!! They are so friendly and so courteous. Rick and Dustin are an effective team with their two unique personalities – both very upbeat, serious, and kind. They explain everything in detail and answer all my questions (I am hyper-concerned about my property), and they are basically experienced, conscientious electricians you can trust."
— Nora Parker · Google Review
"I recently hired Dustin for some electrical work at my home, and I couldn't be happier with the results. He installed a high-quality bathroom fan, finished installing several outlets around the house, and completed a new electrical panel installation. From start to finish, Dustin was professional, knowledgeable, and clearly takes pride in doing the job right. The new panel installation was the bigger job, and Dustin handled it with real expertise. Everything was organized, labeled, and done to a very high standard, which gave me a lot of confidence in the safety and quality of the work."
— Google Review
"Bright Right did the electrical for our kitchen remodel and we couldn't be happier, we have since then added an EV with them and they were as good as the first time. Highly recommend!"
— Joey Evans · Google Review
"Shout out to Dustin Fildes, the electrician they sent to do the work at my house. You can tell he takes pride in his work. He's a very professional and very friendly. Individual would absolutely recommend Bright Right Electric and specifically Dustin to all my family and friends. Thank you Bright Right"
— Robert Horner, Google Review
Google Business Profile
5.0
Across 27 Google reviews
Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
Serving Rohnert Park and the Greater North Bay
Bright Right Electric is based in Rohnert Park and covers all of Sonoma County from a single local shop. Close to home, the company works throughout Rohnert Park — the lettered sections, the University District around Sonoma State University and the Green Music Center, and the businesses along the Commerce Boulevard and Redwood Drive corridors — then out to neighboring Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma, and Cloverdale. Coverage extends into Marin County (San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Anselmo, Fairfax, and Tiburon) and Napa County. If a town isn't on this list, a quick call settles it — the goal is a straight yes or no in thirty seconds, not more searching.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 200-amp panel upgrade cost?
Most residential panel upgrades in Sonoma County run $2,500 to $6,500, with a standard 100-amp to 200-amp service change landing in the middle of that range.
How do I know if I need a panel upgrade?
Frequent breaker trips, a panel that's warm to the touch, a fuse box instead of breakers, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco brand panel, or a panel over 25 years old are the standard warning signs.
Will my insurance drop me for having a Federal Pacific panel?
It's a real risk, not just scare talk — many insurers will not write a new policy, or will require replacement to renew an existing one, on a home with a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Typically one to two days for the physical swap, with power off for roughly four to eight hours during the switchover when the contractor manages PG&E coordination directly.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade?
Yes — a panel upgrade or service change requires a permit and a final inspection in Rohnert Park and throughout Sonoma County. This is handled start to finish, so nothing is left for the homeowner to chase.
Panel upgrade vs. whole-house rewire — which do I need?
A panel upgrade addresses power capacity; a whole-house rewire addresses the condition and safety of the wiring itself. Most homes need only one or the other, not both.
Can I add a sub-panel instead of replacing my whole panel?
Yes, when the main panel is sound but out of breaker space — sub-panels are a common, less expensive fix for ADUs, garages, and workshops.
Do I need a panel upgrade before installing solar or a battery?
Homes with a 200-amp panel in good condition can usually add solar without an upgrade; 100-amp or nearly-full panels often need one first.
Do I need a bigger panel for an EV charger?
Often yes — a Level 2 EV charger alone can draw 40 to 50 amps, which requires meaningful available panel capacity that many older panels don't have to spare.
What's the difference between a 100-amp and 200-amp panel?
A 200-amp panel roughly doubles the home's available electrical capacity compared with 100-amp service, opening room for EV charging, solar and battery, and modern appliance loads.
Get in touch
Get a Free, Written Quote From a Licensed Rohnert Park Electrician
Whether it's a panel that's finally ready to retire, a Federal Pacific box an insurer flagged, or a new EV charger and hot tub that need more capacity than the current service can give — Bright Right Electric gives a real, written number before any work begins.
Phone
(707) 791-5552
(tap to call)
Address
1150 Holly Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Hours
7am - 5pm & 24 hour emergency services available.
15 ─────── Full service detail
Electrical Panel Upgrades in Rohnert Park
Replacing an undersized or obsolete panel is the most common job we perform in Rohnert Park, and it's the one that unlocks everything else. If your home still runs original 100-amp service, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, or a Zinsco panel, you're working with equipment engineered for a much smaller electrical load — and, in the case of those two brands, with a documented history of breakers that fail to trip. Upgrading to 200-amp service makes EV charging, battery backup, heat pumps, and modern appliance loads possible without constantly tripping breakers. We size the new service to what your household actually needs, pull the permit, coordinate the PG&E disconnect and reconnect, and meet the inspector for final sign-off.
EV Charger Installation in Sonoma County
Bright Right installs Level 2 home charging sized to your vehicle and, just as importantly, to your panel's actual available capacity. We run the dedicated 240-volt circuit, mount and commission the charger, and handle the permit — installing Tesla Wall Connectors, universal J1772 and NACS units, and hardwired or plug-in setups across Rohnert Park, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. The detail most homeowners don't hear until it's too late is that many Sonoma County panels can't support a Level 2 charger without a service upgrade first, so we run a load calculation before you buy equipment, not after. We can also pre-wire a second circuit if a second EV is anywhere in your future.
Standby Generators & Backup Power
Public safety power shutoffs are a fact of life in Sonoma County, and so are winter storms that take lines down in the hills. We install whole-house standby generators with automatic transfer switches that pick up the house within seconds of an outage, wire inlets and manual transfer switches for portable generators, and add whole-house surge protection so your equipment isn't damaged when the utility comes back online. We'll also tell you honestly which tier makes sense — not every home in Cotati or Penngrove needs a whole-house unit when a critical-loads panel that keeps the refrigerator, well pump, internet, and a few circuits alive costs a fraction as much.
Solar & Battery Systems
We handle new photovoltaic installation, battery storage, system additions, and remove-and-replace work when a roof needs attention or a system has failed — plus service on existing arrays that aren't producing what they should. If you inherited a solar system with the house and nobody can tell you how it's wired or whether it's still under warranty, we can assess it and give you a clear picture. Battery storage in particular has changed the math for Sonoma County homeowners: between shifting utility rate structures under NEM 3.0 and the frequency of outages, a battery paired with existing solar is often a better investment than adding more panels.
Interior & Exterior Lighting
Recessed and can lighting, full LED retrofits, under-cabinet lighting, dimmer and smart-switch installation, fixture and chandelier hanging, landscape lighting, and security and motion-sensor lighting for homes across Rohnert Park and the University District. On the commercial side we handle lighting retrofits for offices, retail spaces, and warehouses along the Commerce Boulevard corridor, including the fixture and control changes that come with California Title 24 compliance. Lighting is one of the few electrical upgrades where the difference is immediately visible, and it's frequently the cheapest way to make a dated room feel finished.
Electrical Troubleshooting & Repair
Breakers that trip for no obvious reason, circuits that go dead, lights that flicker when the dryer starts, outlets that no longer hold a plug, GFCIs that won't reset, a faint burning smell you can't locate. These are the calls where experience shows. We trace a fault to its real source instead of swapping parts and billing for guesses, which is why our repairs hold and why we get called in behind other contractors who couldn't find the problem. In older Sonoma County homes the cause is often a failing backstab connection, a corroded neutral, a rodent-damaged run in a crawlspace, or a decades-old junction box buried behind drywall.
Custom Homes & New Construction
Full electrical for ground-up residential builds, major remodels, and additions throughout Sonoma, Marin, and Napa County — load calculations and plan review, service and meter setup, rough-in, trim, and final inspection. We work with general contractors, designers, and owner-builders, and we're comfortable on high-end custom projects near Sonoma State University where the lighting design, low-voltage layout, and smart controls all have to be coordinated before a single wire goes in. Getting the details right at rough-in is what keeps a home safe and functional for the next forty years — and it's far cheaper than fixing it after the drywall is up.
Commercial Electrical & Tenant Improvement
Service upgrades, panel and subpanel work, dedicated circuits for equipment, lighting retrofits, EV charging for employee and customer parking, and full tenant-improvement electrical for offices, retail, restaurants, and light industrial space along Redwood Drive and beyond. We understand a commercial job runs on someone else's schedule, so we work around business hours when the scope requires it. From a single dedicated circuit to a complete build-out, you get one licensed contractor coordinating permits, PG&E, and inspection — with clear pricing and a clean, code-compliant result.