Written by the Pelican Coast Electric team. Updated November 2026.
Replacing a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel in Orange County costs $2,500 to $6,500 for most single-family homes with Pelican Coast Electric. That price covers the new panel and breakers, the city permit, the inspection and the utility coordination. A same-size swap in the same spot lands near the low end. A move from 100 to 200 amps with new SCE service work lands near the top.
This guide breaks down our price, the things that move it, the permit process, and why Orange County homeowners replace these panels instead of repairing them. Not sure which brand you have? Start with our guide on how to identify your electrical panel brand.
How Much Does Zinsco Panel Replacement Cost in Orange County?
Our price to replace a Zinsco panel runs $2,500 to $6,500. Federal Pacific, Challenger and Pushmatic replacements fall in the same range, because the work is the same. The old panel comes out, a new panel goes in, and every circuit moves to a new breaker.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Same-amp panel swap in the same spot | Near $2,500 |
| Panel swap plus a new meter socket or service entrance cable | Middle of the range |
| 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade with SCE coordination | Near $6,500 |
| Service above 200 amps (320 or 400 amps) | Above this range |
Your exact price comes in writing after a free on-site evaluation. We check the amperage, the meter, the wall and the wiring before we quote. Homes moving past 200 amps need a new meter, heavier conductors and SCE planning, which our 400 amp service upgrade cost guide covers. For a modern panel that needs more capacity, see how much a panel upgrade costs in Orange County.
Zinsco vs Federal Pacific Panel Replacement Cost
The brand on the label does not change our price. Condition does. Here is what we usually find behind each cover.
Zinsco and Sylvania-Zinsco Panels
Zinsco built panels in Los Angeles, so they cluster in Southern California homes from the 1950s through the 1970s. GTE-Sylvania bought the company in 1973 and kept the same breaker design under the Sylvania name. Zinsco breakers clip onto aluminum bus bars. During replacement we often find heat marks or pitting where the breakers meet the bus. No new factory Zinsco breakers are made, so we replace the whole panel instead of single breakers.
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Panels
Federal Pacific Electric sold Stab-Lok panels nationwide from the 1950s into the 1980s. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission opened an investigation into Stab-Lok breakers in 1980 and closed it in 1983 without a determination, citing the cost of finishing the study. In 2002 a New Jersey Superior Court ruled that Federal Pacific violated the state Consumer Fraud Act by selling Stab-Lok breakers labeled as meeting UL standards they had not met. Neither Zinsco nor Federal Pacific panels were ever recalled.
Both brands get the same treatment from us: a full replacement with a modern panel. Our Zinsco and Federal Pacific panel replacement page walks through the full process.
What Moves the Price of a Zinsco or Federal Pacific Replacement
Amperage
Many Orange County homes built before 1980 still run on 60-amp or 100-amp service. Keeping the same amperage keeps the price near the low end. Moving to 200 amps for an EV charger, heat pump, induction range or spa means a larger panel, heavier service conductors and often a new meter. That pushes the price toward the top.
SCE Service and Meter
Many older Zinsco and Federal Pacific panels share one housing with the meter. Replacing that combination unit means SCE disconnects the power and, on some jobs, reviews or reconnects the service. Our office files the SCE request and books the dates, so you do not call the utility yourself. SCE also runs a program that covers utility-side costs for some homes moving from under 100 amps to no more than 200 amps for electrification projects. We check eligibility during the estimate.
Panel Location and Wall Repair
A panel set into stucco or a finished wall needs a clean cutout and patch. Moving the panel for a remodel, an addition or code clearance adds labor and wire. Most replacements stay in the same spot.
Wiring Behind the Panel
Opening an old panel shows what decades of changes left behind. Double-tapped breakers, missing grounding, undersized feeders and cloth-insulated wire all add work. We list anything like this in the written estimate before work starts, not after.
Permit and Inspection Fees
Each Orange County city sets its own permit fee for a panel replacement. The fee goes into your quote, and we pull the permit under our license.
Permits and Inspections for Panel Replacement in Orange County
A panel replacement needs an electrical permit in every Orange County city, from Huntington Beach and Irvine to Mission Viejo and San Clemente. The city inspector checks the new panel, grounding, bonding and breaker labels before the job closes. Here is how we handle it:
- We pull the permit with your city building department.
- We coordinate the SCE disconnect and reconnect.
- We schedule the final inspection and meet the inspector.
- You get the signed-off permit and a paid invoice for your records.
Keep that paperwork. Insurance carriers and buyers’ inspectors ask for the permit and final inspection as proof the old panel is gone.
Why Orange County Homeowners Replace These Panels
A 40-year-old panel from a current brand is often fine. A Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel of the same age raises three practical problems.
- Parts. Neither brand has new factory breakers. Repairs depend on used or third-party parts.
- Insurance. Many carriers ask about the panel brand at renewal. Some decline coverage or require a replacement before they write a policy.
- Home sales. Buyers’ inspectors flag both brands by name. That note lands in the report and often in the negotiation.
Orange County has a lot of these homes. U.S. Census Bureau figures show 651,037 of the county’s 1,146,169 housing units were built before 1980, when both brands were common. Older parts of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Anaheim and the Balboa Peninsula sit in that window.
What Our Price Includes
- A free on-site evaluation and a written estimate before work starts
- New panel, main breaker and circuit breakers
- City permit and final inspection
- SCE coordination for the disconnect and reconnect
- A labeled directory for every circuit
- A lifetime warranty on labor
If your panel is a modern brand and the real issue is capacity, the job is an electrical panel upgrade instead.
Zinsco and Federal Pacific Panel Replacement FAQs
How much does it cost to replace a Zinsco panel in Orange County?
With Pelican Coast Electric, Zinsco panel replacement costs $2,500 to $6,500 for most single-family homes in Orange County. A same-size swap in the same spot lands near the low end. A 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade with SCE work lands near the top.
Does Federal Pacific panel replacement cost more than Zinsco?
No. We price both the same. The price depends on amperage, meter and service work, panel location, the wiring behind the panel and permit fees, not the brand on the label.
Does homeowners insurance pay to replace a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?
Most policies treat an old panel as maintenance, not a covered loss, so the homeowner usually pays. Ask your carrier before work starts. Keep the permit, final inspection and paid invoice, since carriers ask for them as proof of replacement.
Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Orange County?
Yes. Every Orange County city requires an electrical permit and a final inspection for a panel replacement. We pull the permit, coordinate SCE and schedule the inspection.
How long does a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel replacement take?
Most same-location replacements take one working day on site, with the power off for most of that day. Service upgrades that need SCE work take longer to schedule.
Were Zinsco or Federal Pacific panels recalled?
No. Neither brand was recalled. The CPSC investigated Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers from 1980 to 1983 and closed the case without a determination. Parts, insurance and home inspections drive most replacements, not a recall.
Get a Price for Your Zinsco or Federal Pacific Panel
Pelican Coast Electric replaces Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Challenger and Pushmatic panels across Orange County. Call or request an estimate and we will set up a free on-site evaluation. Same-day assessments are available when the schedule allows, and we answer the phone 24/7. Learn more on our Zinsco and Federal Pacific panel replacement page.
5.0-star Google rating. Lifetime warranty on labor. CA License #1133193 (C-10).