Short answer
An electrical panel upgrade for solar in Washington, DC usually means replacing a full or undersized main panel, often 100 amps, so the solar breaker fits within the panel's busbar rating. A 100 to 200 amp upgrade generally runs $1,000 to $5,000, and smaller fixes such as a supply-side connection or a smaller main breaker sometimes avoid it.
What the job is
Why solar so often starts at the panel
Electrical code limits how much solar can feed back through a panel's busbar, based on the bus rating and the main breaker size. An older 100 amp panel with a 100 amp main leaves little room for a solar breaker, and a panel with every slot taken leaves none at all.
There are several ways to make room, and an upgrade is only one of them. We look at the panel's rating, its condition, the service entrance and the house's actual loads, then recommend the least disruptive option that meets code and leaves space for what you plan next, such as a battery or an EV charger.
What moves the price
What moves the price of a panel upgrade
- ScopeA breaker change costs far less than a new panel, meter base and service cable.
- Panel locationCramped basements and relocations add labor.
- Circuit cleanupOld wiring, double-tapped breakers and missing grounds get fixed while the panel is open.
- Smart panel choiceSmart panels cost more than standard ones.
2026 planning ranges
- 100 to 200 amp service upgrade$1,000 to $5,000Source: jouleio.com
Published market ranges, not our quote. Your price depends on the roof, the equipment and the permit path.
Inside this job
100 to 200 amp service upgrades
A full service upgrade replaces the main panel and usually the meter base and service entrance cable, and it needs Pepco to disconnect and reconnect the service. The house is without power for part of the day. In return you get a panel with room for solar, a battery and future loads, and the chance to replace a panel model with a poor safety record or rusted components while the power is off anyway.
Busbar and breaker sizing for solar
Sometimes the panel is sound but just over the line for the solar breaker. Options include connecting the solar on the supply side of the main breaker, installing a slightly smaller main breaker after a load calculation shows the house can live with it, or moving the solar breaker to the opposite end of the bus where code allows. Each has rules, and we show you the calculation that supports the choice.
Smart panels
A smart panel replaces the main panel with one whose circuits can be monitored and switched from an app. With a battery, it can shed non-essential loads during an outage automatically, which stretches backup without a separate critical loads panel. It costs more than a standard panel, so it makes the most sense when you are upgrading anyway and adding a battery at the same time.
Choosing between options
Upgrade, or a smaller fix?
| Full service upgrade | Supply-side connection | Smaller main breaker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room for future loads | Most | Some | Least |
| Pepco involvement | Disconnect and reconnect | Often needed | Usually not |
| Disruption | Power off part of a day | Short outage | Short outage |
| When it fits | Full, old or unsafe panel | Sound panel, tight busbar | Low house loads |
Washington conditions
Old panels in old DC houses
About 35 percent of DC homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and their electrical service has usually been updated piecemeal. In those houses we often find 100 amp services, panels whose every slot is filled, and subpanels added for kitchens or basement apartments. That is why our first solar visit in Washington includes the main panel, not just the roof: the answer to whether solar fits sometimes sits in the basement.
Step by step
How a panel upgrade for solar runs
Photo and call
A picture of the panel and label, plus what you plan to add.
Load calculation
We measure the house's loads and check the busbar math.
Option and price
Upgrade or smaller fix, with the reasons and a written price.
Permit and Pepco
Electrical permit filed and the utility disconnect scheduled.
Work day
Panel or connection installed and circuits moved over.
Inspection and restore
Inspection passed and power restored.
Before you book
Send a photo of your panel first
A clear photo of the main panel with the door open, and its label, tells us most of what we need before the visit.
Call (202) 978-0232
Time on site
How long the power is off
A panel swap with a Pepco disconnect usually leaves the house without power for several hours on the day of the work. We schedule with Pepco ahead of time and tell you the window so you can plan around refrigerators, medical devices and work-from-home days.
Smaller fixes, such as a supply-side connection or a breaker change, need a much shorter shutdown and can often be done on the same day as the solar install.
Straight answers
Electrical Panel Upgrade for Solar questions we hear in DC
Not always. Many systems connect without an upgrade through a supply-side connection or a smaller main breaker. We run the numbers before recommending a new panel.
For a full upgrade with a Pepco disconnect, usually several hours on the day of the work. Smaller fixes need a much shorter shutdown.
Yes, and it usually should. One permit visit and one shutdown keep cost and disruption down.
If we find a panel known for failing breakers, we will tell you, and replacing it before adding solar is the sensible move.
Often the same upgrade covers all three. We plan for what you intend to add over the next few years.
It is useful with a battery, because it can shed loads automatically in an outage. Without a battery, a standard panel is usually enough.
Related work
Jobs that often come up alongside this one
Solar Battery Installation
Backup power for outages, sized to the circuits you need.
See this job about Solar Battery InstallationBattery Retrofit for Existing Solar
Adding a battery to a system that is already producing.
See this job about Battery Retrofit for Existing SolarSolar Battery Repair
Batteries that stopped charging or did not switch over.
See this job about Solar Battery RepairEV Charger Installation
Level 2 charging at home, set up to use your solar.
See this job about EV Charger Installation