Amperage service refers to how much electrical current your utility connection and main panel can handle at once. Older homes often have 100-amp service, which was adequate when homes ran on gas appliances and had few high-draw devices. A 200-amp service panel handles twice the load, giving you headroom for an EV charger, electric range, heat pump, and other modern equipment running simultaneously.
The upgrade involves replacing your main breaker panel and, sometimes, the meter base and utility service entrance. It’s permitted work in every NC jurisdiction, which means an inspection is required before the panel is energized. Duke Energy also has to update their equipment at your meter, so the installer coordinates with them to schedule a brief power outage on the day of the install. Most upgrades take a full day.
When you’re getting quotes
If you have 100-amp service and want to add an EV charger, solar, or a heat pump, ask the electrician to run a load calculation before quoting. Some 100-amp panels have enough available capacity, especially if you’ve already replaced gas appliances with electric. Others are already near the limit. A load calculation tells you whether you need the full upgrade or whether a different approach, such as a load management device, could work instead.
Common questions
- Do I need 200-amp service to add an EV charger in North Carolina?
- Not automatically, but it helps. If you already have 200-amp service with open breaker slots, you likely don't need an upgrade — a load calculation will confirm. If you have 100-amp service, it depends on how loaded your panel already is. Homes in older Raleigh and Charlotte neighborhoods built before the 1980s are more likely to have 100-amp service and may need an upgrade when adding modern high-draw equipment.
- How much does a 200-amp service upgrade cost in Raleigh or Charlotte?
- Expect $1,500–$3,500 for a standard 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade in the Raleigh and Charlotte areas. The range reflects variables like whether your meter base needs replacing, the condition of the service entrance wiring, and whether Duke Energy requires any work on their side. Some municipalities add permit fees on top. Get at least two quotes and ask each contractor to itemize what's included.
- How long does a 200-amp service upgrade take in NC?
- The electrical work itself takes one full day. The surrounding process — pulling a permit, scheduling the inspection, and coordinating with Duke Energy to disconnect and reconnect service at the meter — typically adds one to two weeks total. Duke Energy requires their own inspection before reconnection, which is scheduled after the city or county inspector signs off.