Fuse boxes, 100-amp panels & service upgrades
Electrical Panel Upgrade in Spokane, WA
A fuse box in the basement, a full panel with no room for new circuits, or plans for an EV charger or heat pump. Here’s when Spokane homes need a panel upgrade and how the work goes from permit to power-on.
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What a Panel Upgrade Involves
An electrical panel upgrade in Spokane, WA replaces an old fuse box or undersized breaker panel with a modern panel, often increasing the service from 60 or 100 amps to 200 amps. Depending on the house, the job can include a new meter base, service mast or underground conduit, new grounding and bonding, and moving circuits into the new panel, all under a permit, with Avista disconnecting and reconnecting power.
Many homes in Spokane’s older neighborhoods were built with 30- to 60-amp services and later bumped to 100 amps. That was fine for the appliances of the 1960s and 1970s. Today’s homes add electric heat pumps, induction ranges, hot tubs, second freezers, home offices and EV chargers. The panel is the heart of the system, so it’s often the first thing a licensed electrician in Spokane looks at when someone plans a remodel.
Signs You Need a Panel Upgrade
- You still have fuses instead of breakers.
- A 60- or 100-amp service and plans for big new loads.
- No empty spaces for new breakers, or lots of tandem breakers.
- Frequent trips and lights dimming when the furnace, dryer or AC starts.
- Rust, scorch marks or a warm panel cover.
- A panel brand with a known history of problems. Some older panels, such as certain Federal Pacific and Zinsco models, are widely flagged by electricians and home inspectors.
- An insurer or home inspector asked you to replace it.
Load Calculations: Do You Really Need 200 Amps?
A good electrician doesn’t guess. They do a load calculation based on the National Electrical Code: the size of the house, the heating and cooling equipment, the range, water heater and dryer, plus anything you plan to add. Sometimes the answer is a full 200-amp service. Sometimes a new panel on the existing 100-amp service is enough, or a load-management device lets you add an EV charger without upgrading.
| Situation | Often recommended |
|---|---|
| Fuse box, any service size | Replace with a breaker panel, often with a service upgrade |
| 100 amps, gas heat, no big additions | New panel may be enough |
| 100 amps, adding EV charger or heat pump | Load calculation; 200 amps or load management |
| Electric heat, hot tub, shop or ADU | 200 amps or more |
Planning an EV charger? Read our EV charger installation guide alongside this one.
How a Panel Upgrade Goes in Spokane
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Assessment | The electrician inspects the panel, service, grounding and mast, and does a load calculation. |
| 2. Quote and permit | You approve a written quote; the contractor pulls the permit from the City of Spokane or L&I. |
| 3. Avista coordination | The contractor schedules the disconnect and reconnect with Avista. |
| 4. Install day | Power is off for part of the day while the panel, meter base or mast is replaced. |
| 5. Inspection | An inspector checks the work, grounding and labeling. |
| 6. Reconnect | Avista restores power, and circuits are tested and labeled. |
Most panel swaps take most of a day. Plan for no power, and in winter, ask about timing so the house doesn’t get too cold.
What Often Gets Added
Opening the panel is a good time to fix related issues: adding AFCI and GFCI protection where required, upgrading grounding and bonding to current code, adding whole-home surge protection, installing a generator inlet and interlock or transfer switch, and leaving spare spaces for future circuits. In older homes, the electrician may find knob-and-tube or cloth wiring on some circuits; see our rewiring guide.
Service Masts, Meter Bases and Underground Services
Many Spokane homes get power overhead: Avista’s service drop connects to a weatherhead on top of a metal mast that runs down to the meter base. In older neighborhoods, masts may be undersized, rusted or too short for current clearance rules, and windstorms bend them. A service upgrade often replaces the mast and meter base along with the panel. Newer neighborhoods in Liberty Lake, Mead and south Spokane Valley usually have underground service, where the upgrade happens at the meter base and panel.
Either way, the meter base and mast belong to the homeowner, and Avista sets the requirements for how they connect. Your electrician coordinates the disconnect, the inspection and Avista’s reconnect. Snow load matters here too: masts must handle the weight of the service drop when it’s coated in ice.
Grounding and Bonding
Older homes often rely on a single connection to a metal water pipe for grounding, and many have plastic water lines now that break that path. A panel upgrade brings grounding up to current code, typically with ground rods or other electrodes, bonding of metal water and gas piping, and proper separation of neutrals and grounds in subpanels. Good grounding is what lets breakers trip quickly during a fault and protects your electronics.
| Item | Why it’s checked |
|---|---|
| Grounding electrodes | Provide a path to earth for faults and surges |
| Water and gas bonding | Keeps metal piping from becoming energized |
| Neutral/ground separation | Required in subpanels to prevent shock hazards |
| Panel labeling | Lets you and responders shut off the right circuit |
What Affects the Cost of a Panel Upgrade
Costs vary with the scope: a panel swap on an existing 200-amp service is very different from a full upgrade from 60 amps with a new mast, meter base and grounding. Other factors include moving the panel to a new location, adding AFCI and GFCI breakers required by code, fixing problems found in old circuits, permit fees, and whether interior or exterior walls must be opened. Ask for a written quote that lists each item, and make sure it includes the permit and inspection. If you’re planning an EV charger or generator, include them in the same plan.
Panel Brands and Breaker Compatibility
Breakers aren’t interchangeable between brands. Each panel is listed for specific breaker types, and using the wrong one can cause poor connections and overheating. In older panels, replacement breakers can be hard to find or expensive, which is one practical reason people upgrade. If your panel uses obsolete breakers, a new panel gives you access to modern AFCI, GFCI and dual-function breakers, plus room to grow. When you replace it, ask for a panel with plenty of spare spaces so future circuits for a heat pump, EV charger or ADU don’t require another upgrade.
After the Upgrade
After the upgrade, keep the permit and inspection record with your home papers. They help with insurance and resale.
FAQ
Panel Upgrade Questions
How long does a panel upgrade take?
The install is often done in a day, with power off for several hours. Permitting and scheduling the Avista disconnect can add days or weeks.
Do I need a permit to replace my panel in Spokane?
Yes. Panel and service replacements require a permit and inspection, issued by the City of Spokane inside city limits or by L&I elsewhere.
Is my fuse box dangerous?
Fuse boxes can work safely, but many are undersized, and over-fusing is common. Insurers often ask about them. Most electricians recommend replacing them.
Should I replace a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?
Many electricians and inspectors recommend it because of reported breaker problems. Have a licensed electrician inspect it and advise you.
Does Avista charge for a service upgrade?
Avista has its own requirements and possible fees for service changes. Your contractor coordinates with Avista and can tell you what applies.
Can I add an EV charger without upgrading my panel?
Sometimes. A load calculation may show room, or a load-management device can share capacity. An electrician can tell you after looking at your panel.
Can a panel be moved during an upgrade?
Often yes, if code clearances can be met in the new location. Moving it adds cost because circuits must be extended.
Will my insurance company care about my panel?
Some insurers ask about fuse boxes and certain older panel brands. An upgrade can resolve those questions.
What is a subpanel?
A smaller panel fed from the main panel, often used for a garage, shop, addition or ADU.
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