Written by the Pelican Coast Electric team. Updated November 2026.
A 400 amp service upgrade costs $8,000 to $12,000 in national price guides, labor included. On large Orange County homes, an underground service, a relocated meter or SCE utility work pushes the price toward or above the top of the range. The job replaces your meter, service conductors and main panel, so the price runs well above a standard panel swap.
This guide covers 400 amp service on large homes. For a standard 100 to 200 amp job, read our panel upgrade cost guide for Orange County.
400 Amp Service Upgrade Cost at a Glance
$8,000 to $12,000
Published range for an upgrade to 400 amps, labor included (Fixr)
$1,800 to $4,500
Published range for an upgrade to 200 amps, for comparison (Fixr)
$2,500 to $6,500
Our range for a standard Orange County panel upgrade
Class 320 meter
Rated 320 amps continuous and 400 amps maximum, the usual base for home 400 amp service
How Much Does a 400 Amp Service Upgrade Cost in Orange County?
Two national guides publish 400 amp figures. Fixr prices an upgrade to 400 amps at $8,000 to $12,000, labor included. This Old House lists $2,000 to $4,000 for a 400 amp panel with installation. The lower number covers the panel alone. A full service upgrade adds the meter base, service conductors, grounding, permit and utility coordination.
| Service size | Typical home | Published cost |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200 amps | Most single-family homes | $1,800 to $4,500 |
| Up to 300 amps | Homes a little past 200 amps of load | $3,500 to $7,500 |
| Up to 400 amps | Large homes with heavy electric loads | $8,000 to $12,000 |
Source: Fixr panel upgrade cost guide, labor included. National figures. No guide publishes an Orange County 400 amp range.
Our own guide puts a standard Orange County panel upgrade at $2,500 to $6,500. A 400 amp job sits above both ranges because the scope grows: a larger meter, heavier conductors, a second panel or a 400 amp main, and SCE service planning. You get a written price after we see your meter, panel and service route.
What a 400 Amp Service Upgrade Includes
Most homes call this job 400 amp service, but the meter base is a Class 320 unit. The rating means 320 amps of continuous load and 400 amps maximum. A Class 320 meter-main usually feeds two 200 amp panels, one for each side of the house or one for the main house and one for a garage, ADU or pool equipment.
- New Class 320 meter base or meter-main combination
- Two 200 amp panels or one 400 amp panel with new breakers
- Larger service conductors, a new mast or new underground conduit
- New grounding and bonding to current California code
- City electrical permit, load calculation and final inspection
- SCE service planning, disconnect and reconnect
What Drives the Price on a Large Coastal Home
The equipment costs about the same from one home to the next. The site sets the final number. Five factors move a 400 amp quote the most.
Overhead or Underground Service
An overhead service needs a new mast and weatherhead sized for the larger conductors. An underground service needs conduit and conductors from the utility point to the new meter. Trenching through a driveway, pavers or a finished yard adds labor and restoration work.
Meter and Panel Location
A Class 320 meter-main and two panels take more wall space than a single 200 amp panel. If the current wall lacks room or clearance, the meter moves. Every foot of new feeder between the meter and the panels adds wire and labor.
SCE Service Planning
SCE takes online requests for residential panel upgrades of no more than 200 amps. A 400 amp job goes through SCE planning instead. SCE checks whether the existing service drop or lateral and the transformer support the new load. Utility work sets the schedule more than the install day does.
City Permit and Load Calculation
Every Orange County city requires an electrical permit and a final inspection for a service upgrade. Many California cities also ask for plans for services over 200 amps. Norco, also in SCE territory, requires a load calculation, a single-line diagram and a plot plan above 200 amps. We prepare the load calculation and pull the permit for your city.
What Your Home Runs
The load calculation decides the service size, not the square footage. Two EV chargers, heat pump HVAC zones, a pool, a spa, an induction range and a detached ADU each add load. If the numbers land near 200 amps, the next question is whether a smaller fix covers the gap.
When 200 Amps Still Covers a Large Home
A 400 amp upgrade fits homes whose load calculation runs past 200 amps. If yours shows room on the main service but no open breaker spaces, a sub panel costs less. Our guide on choosing a sub panel or a full panel upgrade walks through the difference. Load management on EV chargers also keeps two cars on a 200 amp service in some homes.
How a 400 Amp Service Upgrade Runs, Step by Step
- Site visit and load calculation. We check your meter, panels, service route and planned loads, then confirm whether 400 amps fits.
- Written price. You see equipment, trenching, restoration, permit and SCE coordination in one quote.
- Permit and plans. We file with your city, with the load calculation and any plans the city asks for.
- SCE planning. SCE reviews the request and schedules the disconnect and reconnect.
- Install day. Power stays off from the SCE disconnect until the new meter and panels pass and SCE reconnects.
- Final inspection. The city signs off and you keep the permit record for insurance and resale.
What to Ask Before You Sign a 400 Amp Quote
Two quotes for the same house differ when they cover different work. Ask each contractor these six questions.
- Does the price include trenching and restoration of hardscape or landscaping?
- Does the quote cover new conductors to the utility point, or the meter only?
- Who prepares the load calculation and any plans the city requires?
- Who coordinates the SCE disconnect and reconnect?
- Are permit and inspection fees in the total?
- Which breakers and panel brand does the quote use?
200 Amp vs 400 Amp Service Compared
| Item | 200 amp | 400 amp |
|---|---|---|
| Meter base | Class 200 | Class 320 |
| Panels | One 200 amp panel | Two 200 amp panels or one 400 amp panel |
| SCE request | Online for panels up to 200 amps | SCE service planning |
| Plans and load calculation | Not always required | Expect both |
| Published cost | $1,800 to $4,500 | $8,000 to $12,000 |
Published costs from Fixr, labor included.
Frequently Asked Questions About 400 Amp Service Upgrade Cost
How much does a 400 amp service upgrade cost in Orange County?
Fixr prices an upgrade to 400 amps at $8,000 to $12,000, labor included. No guide publishes an Orange County figure. Underground service, a relocated meter and SCE utility work push a coastal home toward or above the top of the range. We give you a written price after a site visit.
Is 400 amp service the same as a 320 amp meter?
Yes, in most homes. A Class 320 meter base carries 320 amps of continuous load and 400 amps maximum. Most residential 400 amp services use a Class 320 meter-main feeding two 200 amp panels.
Do I need a permit for a 400 amp service upgrade?
Yes. Your city requires an electrical permit and a final inspection, and SCE handles the disconnect and reconnect. Many cities also ask for a load calculation and plans for services over 200 amps. We pull the permit and meet the inspector.
Do I need 400 amps for two EV chargers?
Not always. A load calculation on your current service answers the question. Some homes fit two chargers on 200 amps with load management. Homes with a pool, a spa, heat pump HVAC and electric cooking often need more. See our EV charger installation page for charger options.
Will a 400 amp upgrade raise my electric bill?
No. Service size sets how much power your home draws at once. Your bill follows how much energy you use over the month, on your SCE rate plan.
How is this different from a standard panel upgrade?
A standard upgrade moves a home from 100 or 150 amps to 200 amps on one panel. Our panel upgrade cost guide covers the 200 amp job at $2,500 to $6,500 in Orange County. A 400 amp upgrade replaces the meter and service conductors and adds panel capacity for large loads.
Get a 400 Amp Service Upgrade Price for Your Home
Pelican Coast Electric upgrades residential service across Orange County under CSLB license #1133193. Send us your current meter size, panel location and the loads you plan to add. We run the load calculation, coordinate with SCE and give you a written price. Read more on our Electrical Panel Upgrades and Replacement page.