Electrical Panel Upgrades in Portland, Maine

Service Area: Within 30 miles of Westbrook (Portland, Scarborough, and beyond)

It’s 6:47 on a Tuesday evening.

You’re cooking dinner. The kids are doing homework. Your partner just started the laundry. The AC kicks on.

Click. Everything goes dark.

You sigh, grab your phone flashlight, and shuffle down to the basement. Again. Third time this week. You flip the breaker back on, climb the stairs, and hope it holds this time.

Sound familiar? Your electrical panel is trying to tell you something. And it’s worth listening.

Signs Your Panel Needs Attention

Your panel is the heart of your home. But if your home was built in 1985 (or earlier), that heart was designed for a life with one TV and a toaster, not today's life of EVs, heat pumps, and smart devices.

It's like asking a garden hose to fill a swimming pool. If you try to force it, something’s going to give.

If you see these signs, call us for a safety inspection:

  • Breakers trip repeatedly, especially when you run multiple appliances at once.

  • Lights flicker or dim: You start the microwave or the AC kicks on, and the lights dim briefly.

  • Warmth or noise: If you hear buzzing/crackling, or if the panel feels warm, this is an immediate safety hazard. Call us now.

  • Rust or corrosion: Visible signs of wear mean water or age are compromising your safety.

  • You still have a fuse box: Fuse boxes typically provide only 60 amps (modern homes need 200), and insurance companies often penalize them.

  • You are planning a big project: adding a hot tub, EV charger, heat pump, or finishing a basement.

Panel Repair vs. Upgrade vs. Replacement

You don’t always need the biggest, most expensive option. We will inspect your system and explain your options in plain English—no electrician-speak.

1. Panel Repair

A repair can make sense when the panel is generally in good shape, but one part is failing, like a breaker that won’t reset or a connection that needs tightening. If the foundation is safe, we fix it and leave.

2. Panel Replacement

If your panel is old enough to rent a car (25+ years), or is an outdated fuse box, we often recommend a full replacement. This retires the old box and replaces it with modern safety breakers and surge protection.

3. Panel Upgrade (100 Amps to 200 Amps)

This is the most common service we provide. Think of amperage as your home's "capacity". A 200-amp service gives you breathing room for modern life, including:

  • EV Chargers (Level 2)

  • Heat pumps and air conditioning

  • Induction cooktops and electric ranges

  • Hot tubs and home gyms

How It Works: The Miracle Process

We’ve done this thousands of times. Here is exactly what you can expect.

  1. We Come Look (No Charge): We stop by, look at your panel, and talk through what's been going on. No pressure. Just information.

  2. We Give You a Real Price: A written quote. The number we quote is the number you pay. Period.

  3. We Handle the Boring Stuff: Permits, inspections, and coordinating with CMP? We do all of that for you.

  4. We Do the Work: Most upgrades take just one day. Your power will be off for 4–6 hours, and by dinnertime, you're back to normal.

  5. Our 100% Happy Guarantee: We keep our word, or it’s free. That’s not marketing fluff; it’s our promise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a panel upgrade cost? Straight answer: Most 200-amp upgrades in the Portland area run between $2,500 and $5,500, depending on your specific situation. We will give you an exact price after we see your home, not a range.

Will a 200-amp panel handle an EV charger? Almost always, yes. A 200-amp panel has plenty of capacity for a Level 2 charger plus everything else in your home.

Do I need a permit? Yes. And we handle all of that for you.

What if I just want it checked? That's fine! If everything is safe, we'll tell you it's safe. There is no charge for the visit, and there is no pressure to buy.

Ready to Stop Worrying?

When electrical panels are working, you don't think about them. When they aren't, you can't think about anything else.

Let's quiet that little voice in the back of your head that wonders if your wiring is okay.

Miracle Electric: The Always Smiling Home Electricians