Residential Electrical Panel Upgrades in Denver & Parker, CO

Many homes built between 1950 and 1980 were designed for 60 amp or re EV chargers, home offices, and modern HVAC were common. Your home may need an electrical panel upgrade if you notice:

• Frequently tripping breakers when using standard appliances

• Flickering or dimming lights when the AC or furnace blower starts

• Buzzing or crackling sounds coming from the breaker box

• Warm, hot, or discolored panel covers

• A fuse box or very old breakers instead of a modern panel

• Heavy use of power strips and extension cords because you do not have enough dedicated circuits

If you are unsure, scheduling an electrical safety inspection in Denver is a good first step. A licensed electrician can inspect the panel, document your loads, and advise whether a panel update or full electrical panel replacement is recommended.

In many Denver homes, a Level 2 EV charger does require a 200 amp electrical panel upgrade, but it ultimately depends on your home’s existing electrical load and service size. A Level 2 EV charger is treated as a continuous load, so the dedicated circuit must be sized at 125 percent of the charger’s rated current under NEC guidelines. On an older 60 amp or 100 amp panel that already feeds central AC, an electric range, or an electric dryer, there is often not enough remaining capacity to safely add EV charging without overloading the system.

Cu Solutions performs a full electrical load calculation using NEC Article 220 to determine the exact EV charger panel requirements for your home. Based on those results, we may recommend:

• A new dedicated EV circuit on your existing panel if there is enough capacity

• A small subpanel to create circuit space while staying within your current service size

• A 200 amp panel upgrade in Colorado, or in some cases a 400 amp service, when your existing panel cannot safely support a Level 2 EV charger plus your other major appliances

By right-sizing your panel and circuits before the charger is installed, we help protect your EV equipment, prevent nuisance breaker trips, and keep your home compliant with current electrical codes.

Possibly. Modern cold climate heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are efficient, but they still add a significant dedicated electrical load to your home. When you plan to install new high efficiency HVAC equipment, it is important to make sure your electrical panel can safely support it along with your existing appliances.

During a residential electrical panel upgrade, Cu Solutions evaluates:

• The electrical load of your new heat pump or heat pump water heater

• How that load interacts with existing major appliances such as ranges, dryers, and EV chargers

• Whether your current panel size provides enough capacity for both present and future equipment

If the panel is undersized, we will recommend an appropriately sized panel replacement, often a 200 amp panel upgrade, so your heat pump, EV charger, and other systems can operate together without overloading circuits or causing repeated breaker trips.

You should call for emergency electrical service right away if you experience any of the following with your breaker box or electrical panel:

• A burning, melting, or “fishy” smell near your panel or outlets

• A breaker that will not reset and leaves large parts of the home without power

• Repeated tripping of the main breaker

• Smoke, arcing, or visible sparks at the breaker box

• Buzzing or crackling that gets worse over time

• A panel that feels hot to the touch

These issues can indicate overheating or failure inside the panel and can significantly increase fire risk. Do not remove the panel cover or attempt DIY repairs. Turn off affected circuits if it is safe to do so, then contact a licensed Denver electrician for immediate help.

Yes. In almost every Colorado jurisdiction, including Denver, Aurora, Parker, and surrounding cities, electrical panel upgrades and major electrical work require permits and inspections. Denver Community Planning and Development, along with other local building departments, requires permits for most construction, alteration, or repair work on private property, including electrical service changes.

Permits help ensure:

• Compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local amendments

• Proper installation by licensed electricians

• Documented work for insurance and real estate records

Cu Solutions handles the permitting and inspection process on your behalf, so you do not have to navigate the rules or paperwork yourself.

For larger electrical projects such as a full panel replacement, whole home rewiring, or solar ready service upgrades, it is reasonable to get two or three electrician quotes.

When comparing estimates for an electrical panel upgrade or electrical panel replacement in Denver, look at:

• Panel size and brand being proposed

• Whether a full electrical load calculation is included

• What is covered in the scope of work, such as wiring updates, grounding, surge protection, and AFCI or GFCI breakers

• Permit and inspection fees

• Warranties on parts and labor

• Proof that you are working with licensed electricians in Denver and Colorado

Be cautious of quotes that are significantly lower than others, especially if they downplay permits or cannot explain how they determined the correct panel size. A thorough, code compliant panel upgrade should always prioritize safety, proper materials, and long term reliability over the lowest possible price.