Electrical Panel Upgrade

Electrical Panel Upgrade in Fort Worth

Master Electrician-Led Panel Upgrades for Fort Worth Homes & Businesses

An electrical panel upgrade replaces or expands your main service panel to increase amperage capacity, add circuits, and bring your system up to current code. At Dodson Electric, every panel upgrade is guided by Chris Dodson, a US Army veteran and Master Electrician with 20 years of hands-on experience. Founded in 2015, we’re fully licensed, insured, and handle all required permits so your project meets Fort Worth building inspection requirements from start to finish.

We serve both residential and commercial clients across North Fort Worth and the surrounding area. Before we ever recommend a full upgrade, we investigate the actual source of the problem. If the issue turns out to be an appliance or a utility-side fault rather than your panel, we’ll tell you that and can save you the cost of unnecessary work.

Call us at (817) 409-8918 to schedule a free estimate for an electrical panel upgrade in Fort Worth. Same-day appointments are often available, and serious electrical concerns can be addressed within hours when circumstances allow.

Signs Your Fort Worth Home May Need a Panel Upgrade

Fort Worth’s long, hot summers push residential panels hard. When HVAC systems run nearly continuously for months, aging equipment wears faster than it would in a milder climate. These are the most common indicators that your panel deserves a closer look:

Frequent breaker trips even without heavy appliance use, pointing to an overloaded or failing panel
Flickering or dimming lights when the AC or another large appliance starts up, signaling the panel can’t handle simultaneous loads
Burning smell, scorch marks, or warmth on or near the panel, all of which are immediate safety concerns requiring professional evaluation
Panels more than 25 to 40 years old, fuse boxes still in service, or panels with known safety concerns such as Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco models, all of which carry documented safety risks
Planned additions to the home including an EV charger, a new HVAC system, or a home addition, any of which typically requires a panel assessment before work can begin

Why Fort Worth Homeowners Choose Dodson Electric

Our diagnostic approach sets the tone before any work is quoted. We thoroughly investigate the electrical issue first, including identifying when an appliance or city transformer is the true cause, so you don’t pay for a panel upgrade that wouldn’t have solved the problem. When a simpler fix achieves the same result, we’ll say so during the estimate.

Throughout the job, we communicate clearly at every stage so you always know what’s happening and why. Our technicians cover furniture before ceiling work, remove shoes without being asked, and handle full cleanup, including sweeping, vacuuming, and debris removal, before leaving. If other electrical tasks come up while we’re onsite, we can handle them in the same visit so you don’t have to schedule a second trip.

Dodson Electric has earned consistent five-star ratings across major review platforms. We also offer standing discounts for active-duty military, first responders, and senior citizens.

What to Expect During a Panel Upgrade

Knowing what happens at each stage helps you plan around the project. Here’s how a typical electrical panel upgrade in Fort Worth proceeds when you work with us.

Assessment & Planning

Before any work begins, we evaluate your existing panel’s capacity, visible wiring conditions, and your plans for the property. That assessment determines whether a panel replacement alone is appropriate or whether related updates are needed at the same time. We walk through layout options with you and confirm the details before installation starts, adjusting if your preferences change during the job.

Permit & Utility Coordination

Most substantial electrical panel work in Fort Worth requires permits issued through the city’s building inspection process. We handle the permit application and schedule the city inspection on your behalf. We also coordinate directly with the local utility company to minimize the time your power is off, which is typically several hours while the old panel is removed and the new one is connected and tested.

Installation & Final Walkthrough

Power is shut off, the old panel is removed, the new panel is mounted, and each circuit is reconnected and labeled. Once power is restored, we check major appliances, HVAC systems, and lighting circuits, then review every change with you before we leave. We follow up after completion to confirm the finished work meets your expectations.

Factors That Affect Panel Upgrade Cost

Panel upgrade quotes vary for legitimate reasons, and understanding those reasons helps you evaluate any estimate you receive.

Panel size and amperage are the primary cost drivers. Upgrading from 100 amps to 200 amps costs more than a like-for-like replacement, and 400-amp service for large commercial or high-demand properties costs more still.
Existing wiring condition matters. If the wiring behind the panel needs updating to safely support the new panel, that work becomes part of the project scope.
Permit and inspection fees set by the City of Fort Worth are part of any code-compliant upgrade and should appear in every honest estimate.
Panel location and utility entrance access affect labor time. A panel in a difficult location or one requiring service entrance modification takes longer to replace.
Adding circuits or surge protection at the same time as the upgrade is common. It adds to the total cost but is often more economical than scheduling separate visits.

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“Courteous technicians”
Quick service, good work, and knowledgeable, courteous technicians.

- Carl B.
“Great experience.”
The technicians are professional, polite, and personable.

- Michael R.
“Worked late in the cold rain to get my power back on.”
The crew responded on an emergency basis and worked late in the cold rain to get my power back on.

- Marty J.
“Very Professional”
- Kurt B.
“Thank you!”
“Larry and Nick were wonderful and very friendly.”

- Lauren S.
“Would gladly have them in my house for more work.”
“The workers (don’t recall their names) were efficient, communicative, and very friendly.”

- Charlie M.
“The price was great for the services performed”
“When the work was done, they observed something needed (a cover plate) and took care of it.”

- Lou T.
“Loved I could get an appointment quickly”
“So, once I returned the fan and replaced it, had Dodson come back out to install it, which they did in less than 45 minutes.”

- Thomas F.

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Creating Brighter Days for DFW

State of the Art Technology
Dodson Electric stays ahead with the latest innovations to deliver cutting-edge solutions.
Veteran Owned & Operated
Founded by veteran Chris Dodson, the company upholds integrity, discipline, and dedication.
Customer Centric Service
They prioritize customer comfort with personalized solutions and reliable service.

Panel Upgrades Built for Modern Electrical Demands

A panel upgrade isn’t just a repair. It’s a chance to set your home or business up for what comes next. The 200-amp panel is the current standard minimum for most modern homes, but properties running EV chargers, whole-home generators, or large HVAC systems may benefit from larger service. Upgrading to a modern panel also introduces arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) and ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker slots, which improve safety and bring your system closer to current National Electrical Code requirements.

EV charger installations require a dedicated 240-volt Level 2 circuit, which often means a panel assessment before installation can proceed. We handle both the panel work and the EV charger installation, so you’re not coordinating two separate contractors. Our team trains continuously on traditional systems and modern applications, including solar services, smart home automation, and energy-efficient lighting, so we can plan your upgrade to support both what you need today and what you’re likely to add later.

For commercial and industrial clients, we install dedicated circuits, standby generators, and smart monitoring systems alongside panel upgrades to help protect equipment and reduce downtime. When a sub-panel is the right solution for powering a detached garage, workshop, or addition, we’ll recommend that configuration instead of expanding the main panel unnecessarily.

Schedule Your Free Panel Upgrade Estimate

Dodson Electric serves North Fort Worth, Dallas, and surrounding communities including Haslet, Keller, Saginaw, and Roanoke. Free estimates are available by phone or through our online contact form, and we proactively offer earlier openings when they become available.

Call (817) 409-8918 to speak with our team and schedule your electrical panel upgrade in Fort Worth. We can assess your situation honestly and give you a clear picture of what your project actually needs.

100-Amp to 200-Amp Upgrades & Related Services

Many Fort Worth homes built before the 1990s were wired for 100-amp service. That was adequate when households ran a few appliances, but it’s no longer sufficient for homes simultaneously running multiple large appliances, home offices, and EV chargers. Upgrading to 200-amp service increases available circuits and addresses the capacity ceiling that causes chronic breaker trips in these older homes.

A panel upgrade is also a natural time to assess the broader condition of your electrical system. If existing wiring uses aluminum conductors or cloth-wrapped insulation common in pre-1970s construction, a panel upgrade visit is the right time to document those conditions and plan next steps. Adding surge protection or installing GFCI and AFCI protection in areas where it’s now code-required can often be folded into the same project.

Sub-panel installation is worth considering if you need power extended to a detached garage, workshop, or new addition. It’s often the more cost-effective solution compared to expanding the main panel’s circuit count, and we’ll recommend whichever configuration makes the most sense for your property and budget.

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