TL;DR: Need a panel upgrade in NWA? Franklin replaces tired 100A and 150A panels with modern 200A (or 400A) service, swaps unsafe Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels, and adds sub-panels for garages and additions. Most 200A panel upgrades in NWA run $4,000–$6,000 all-in — permit, breakers, and utility coordination included. Estimates are always free; we don’t charge a service-call fee for a panel-upgrade visit.
Signs you need a panel upgrade
Older NWA homes — especially anything built before 2000 — were typically wired with 100A or 150A service. That was plenty for a 1980s house. It’s not enough for a modern home running a heat pump, an electric range, an EV charger, and a hot tub on the same panel.
1. Lights flicker when big appliances kick on. A telltale sign the panel can’t keep up with current draw.
2. Breakers trip repeatedly. Especially the same breaker, or the main breaker. Either you’re overloaded or a breaker is failing.
3. The panel cover feels warm. Heat means resistance, and resistance means failing connections. Stop using high-draw circuits and call us.
4. You see scorch marks, rust, or melted insulation inside the panel. Don’t open it yourself if you’re not comfortable — we’ll evaluate it as part of the free estimate.
5. There’s no room for a new circuit. Every slot is full and you need to add a circuit for an EV charger, hot tub, or workshop.
6. You have a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel. Both have a documented history of breakers failing to trip during overcurrent events. If you have one of these, the upgrade is a safety issue, not just a capacity issue.
100A vs 200A vs 400A — what do you actually need?
100A service. Standard for older NWA homes under ~2,000 sq ft with gas heat, gas water heater, and a gas range. Adequate if you’re not adding EV charging, heat pumps, or major electric appliances.
200A service. The modern default. Handles a heat pump, electric range, electric water heater, dryer, EV charger, and a hot tub without breaking a sweat. Required by most NWA cities for new construction.
400A service. Larger homes (~4,500+ sq ft), homes with a detached shop, or homes running multiple EV chargers. Usually delivered as two 200A panels rather than a single 400A panel.
Sub-panels. When you add a detached garage, a finished basement, or a workshop, a sub-panel runs off your main service to keep that load organized and reduces the number of long home-runs back to the main panel.
What a panel upgrade actually involves
A typical 200A upgrade in NWA looks like this:
1. Permit pull. We pull the electrical permit with your city (Springdale, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, etc.).
2. Utility coordination. We schedule the disconnect/reconnect with SWEPCO or Carroll Electric depending on your service area.
3. Power off and panel swap. Power is off for typically 4–8 hours. We replace the panel, the meter base if needed, and re-land every circuit on a new breaker.
4. Service mast and ground. If the mast is undersized, we replace it. We also verify or upgrade the grounding electrode system to current code.
5. Inspection. The city inspector signs off, the utility reconnects, and we hand the house back over.
What a panel upgrade costs in NWA
Most 200A panel replacements in Northwest Arkansas run $4,000–$6,000 all-in. The estimate itself is always free — we come out, evaluate the panel, service entrance, mast, and grounding, and give you a flat-rate quote on the spot. The variables that move the price:
Service mast condition. If the mast above the meter is rotten or undersized, that’s an extra material and labor line.
Meter base relocation. Common when finishing a basement or remodeling an exterior wall.
Number of circuits. A panel with 20 circuits re-lands faster than one with 40.
Grounding upgrade. Older homes often need new ground rods and bonding to meet current code.
Panel brand and breaker count. Square D QO, Eaton CH, and Siemens are all reliable choices and price out similarly.
If you’ve got a quote from another shop that feels off, we offer a free second opinion.