An undersized or recalled panel limits everything you want to add — EV chargers, new HVAC, a hot tub. Upgrade to a safe, modern 200-amp panel with a licensed local electrician.
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's power — and in thousands of Chico-area homes it's either undersized, worn out, or a known fire hazard. If your home was built before the 1990s and still has its original panel, it was designed for a fraction of today's loads: no EV chargers, no home offices, no 4-ton heat pumps fighting August humidity.
Two panel brands deserve special attention: Federal Pacific Electric (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco both installed widely in California homes from the 1950s through the 1980s. Independent testing showed FPE breakers can fail to trip during an overload — the panel keeps feeding a fault that should have been cut off. If you have either brand, replacement isn't an upsell; it's the single most important electrical safety upgrade you can make.
Every job is quoted in writing before work begins — these ranges reflect typical Chico-area pricing.
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Panel diagnostic & inspection | $99 – $150 |
| Breaker replacement (per breaker) | $150 – $300 |
| 100A panel replacement | $1,500 – $2,400 |
| 200A panel upgrade | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| Meter base / service mast | $800 – $1,800 |
| Subpanel installation | $900 – $1,800 |
| Whole-home surge protector | $350 – $650 installed |
Final pricing depends on your home's specifics. Your quote is always firm before work starts.
Licensed, insured electricians serving Chico and the North Valley — upfront pricing, same-week appointments.
Most 200-amp panel upgrades in the Chico area run $1,800–$3,500, depending on whether the meter base, service entrance cable or mast also needs replacement. Homes adding solar or EV circuits sometimes need subpanels. You'll get a firm written quote after an on-site assessment.
Yes. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers have a documented failure-to-trip problem — in overload and short-circuit tests, a significant percentage never cut power. Many insurance companies now refuse to write or renew policies on homes with FPE panels. If yours is original to a 1960s–80s Chico home, replacement is strongly recommended.
A straightforward panel swap typically takes 4–8 hours with power off to the home. Service upgrades involving the meter base or mast may take a full day and require coordination with California Power for the disconnect and reconnect.
Often both. Insurers increasingly surcharge or decline homes with FPE/Zinsco panels or fuse boxes, and home inspectors flag them in nearly every Chico resale. A new 200-amp panel removes that objection and documents capacity for future buyers.
Dead outlets, tripping breakers, flickering lights, mystery power losses — diagnosed fast and fixed to code by licensed Chico electricians.
Learn More →Recessed lighting, under-cabinet LEDs, pendants, chandeliers, landscape and security lighting — designed and installed cleanly, dimmers included.
Learn More →Fan-rated boxes, proper bracing, balanced mounting and wall controls — installed right so they run silent on high, all Chico summer long.
Learn More →Level 2 home charging installed to code — dedicated 240V circuit, load calculation, permits handled, most installs done in half a day.
Learn More →Automatic standby power sized for your home — installed before fire season, not after the outage. Transfer switches, permits and startup included.
Learn More →From summer PSPS shutoffs to wildfire-season outages, Chico homes need an electrician who picks up the phone. Call now — a local pro is ready to help.
