Electrical Service Upgrades in Southern NH & Northern MA
Your electrical service is everything that brings power from the utility line into your home: the overhead service drop or underground lateral, the weatherhead, the meter base, and the service entrance conductors that feed your panel. When that equipment is undersized, aging, or flagged by the utility, a new breaker box alone will not fix it. The service itself needs upgrading.
Moore Electric is a family-owned electrical contractor based in Plaistow, NH, serving southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Owner Brenden Moore is a Master Electrician licensed in NH, MA and ME with more than 25 years in the trade. The company upgrades 60-amp and 100-amp homes to 200-amp service, replaces weatherheads and meter bases, converts overhead service to underground, and manages the permit, the utility disconnect and reconnect, and the inspection. Related work includes electrical panel upgrades, standby generator installation and EV charger installation.
Not sure what you need? We look at your service entrance, meter base, and panel in one visit, then tell you which job your home actually needs. No pressure, no upselling.
What's the Difference Between a Service Upgrade and a Panel Upgrade?
They are two different jobs, even though homeowners often use the terms interchangeably. A service upgrade is everything outside the house that delivers power, and a panel upgrade is the breaker box inside that distributes it.
Electrical Service Upgrade
- Overhead service drop or underground service lateral
- Weatherhead and service entrance conductors
- Meter base and the connection to the utility
- Raises total capacity, commonly 100-amp to 200-amp
- Requires a utility disconnect and reconnect
Electrical Panel Upgrade
- Replaces the breaker box (load center) inside the home
- Distributes power to your home's circuits
- Fixes failed, recalled, or overloaded panels
- Adds breaker space for new circuits
- Covered in detail on our electrical panel upgrades page
Many homes built before the 1990s need both. A jump from 100-amp to 200-amp service often pairs a new electrical panel with a full service entrance upgrade. Moore Electric works out which you actually need (one, the other, or both) during a single visit, so you are not paying for work that doesn't move the needle.
Is 100-Amp or 200-Amp Service Right for Your NH Home?
Most older homes across southern NH and northern MA were wired for a fraction of the load a family runs today. Here is how the common service sizes stack up.
Common in pre-1980 homes
- What it comfortably powers
- Lights, standard outlets, one AC unit, and gas heat. Adding a Level 2 EV charger or a heat pump usually means a service upgrade or a load management device, and a load calculation tells you which.
- Best fit for
- Small older homes and condos that have not added big electrical loads. Usually the first candidate for an upgrade.
A middle step, less common now
- What it comfortably powers
- Central AC plus an electric range and dryer, with a little headroom left over.
- Best fit for
- Mid-size homes that stop short of EV charging, a heat pump, or a workshop.
Today's standard in NH and MA
- What it comfortably powers
- The modern load most families add: HVAC, an electric range, a heat pump, a Level 2 EV charger, and a finished basement.
- Best fit for
- The current standard for most NH and MA homes. This is the upgrade we install most often.
The only way to size your service for certain is an on-site load calculation, and we do that free before quoting a number. Homes with original wiring often need rewiring alongside the service upgrade, and we will tell you straight if that applies to yours.
Do You Always Need a 200-Amp Service Upgrade?
No. Most homes adding an EV charger, a heat pump or an addition do end up at 200 amps, and the load calculation is what confirms it. We run that calculation the way the National Electrical Code lays it out in Article 220: count what the house already draws, add what you plan to install, and compare the total with what the service is rated to carry.
Sometimes the numbers point to a smaller job. A home with a sound 100-amp service and a full or failing breaker box may only need a panel replacement. For an EV charger, an energy management device that pauses charging while the dryer, range or heat pump is running can keep some homes within their existing rating. Whether that works for your house comes out of the same calculation.
If the calculation shows your current service can carry the new equipment, we will tell you that and quote the smaller job.
What Does a 200-Amp Electrical Service Upgrade Include?
The jump from 100-amp to 200-amp service is the most requested service upgrade Moore Electric performs in Plaistow, NH and surrounding communities. It gives your home the capacity to run an EV charger, heat pump, addition, or a standby generator without tripping breakers or overloading the service.
New Meter Base
New meter base and service entrance conductors sized for 200-amp capacity.
Utility Coordination
We schedule the disconnect and reconnect with your utility and confirm the meter base meets its requirements first.
Permits & Inspection
We file the permit and schedule the inspection, so there is nothing for you to manage.
Weatherhead or Lateral
Weatherhead replacement for overhead service, or underground lateral if converting.
Panel Tie-In
New service connected to your existing or upgraded electrical panel.
Code-Compliant Work
Every installation meets current NEC and state code requirements.
What Does a 200-Amp Service Upgrade Cost?
The cost of a service upgrade depends on factors a panel swap doesn't have: overhead vs. underground service, the length of the service run, whether the meter base and weatherhead need replacing, permit fees in your town, and utility-specific requirements. Moore Electric serves homeowners across southern NH and northern MA, and pricing varies by scope.
Typical starting points for related work are listed in our electrical service cost guide. For an accurate number on your service entrance, we come out for a free on-site estimate and put the full scope and price in a written quote. No pressure, no obligation.
To quote it accurately, three details help: the amp rating printed on your main breaker, the equipment you plan to add, and photos of your meter and panel if you have them. Include them with your estimate request.
Do I Need a Permit for an Electrical Service Upgrade in NH?
Yes. A service upgrade needs an electrical permit from your town or city, on both sides of the state line, and the new service is inspected before the utility reconnects it. Each town runs its own process. In Kingston, permits come through the Selectmen's office and the electrical inspector works by appointment. In Haverhill, the electrician has to be on site for the inspection.
Moore Electric pulls the permit, schedules the inspection and meets the inspector. You never need to set foot in a town office or call the utility yourself.
Payment Options
Can You Finance a Service Upgrade?
Yes, for qualifying customers. A service upgrade is one of the larger electrical projects a home will ever need, and it often pairs with a panel replacement in the same visit, so financing lets permitting and utility coordination start on your timeline.
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Get your written quote
We walk the job, then put the full scope and the price in writing.
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We send you the application
It arrives by email or text. Apply whenever you have a few minutes free.
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Get approved, then get scheduled
Once you are approved, your project goes on the calendar.
Financing Available
Ask about payment options during your free estimate. The project is scheduled once your financing is approved.
Ask About FinancingFinancing available for qualifying customers. See how financing works.
What Is an Underground Electrical Service Change?
An underground service change moves your home's utility connection from an overhead service drop to a buried underground lateral. Instead of wires running from the pole to a weatherhead on your roofline, the service conductors run through conduit underground from the utility connection point into your meter base. It is a common project for homeowners in Plaistow, NH and southern New Hampshire who want better storm resilience and a cleaner exterior without overhead wires.
The work involves trenching a path to code-required depth, installing conduit with the proper sweeps into the meter base, pulling new service conductors, and often relocating or replacing the meter. Before any digging, Moore Electric files a Dig Safe (811) request so existing underground utilities are located and marked, then handles backfill and surface restoration once the new lateral passes inspection.
Underground service changes require close coordination with your local utility for disconnect, reconnection, and final approval. Moore Electric manages that entire relationship on your behalf, from the initial application through final re-energizing.
When Do You Need an Underground Service Change?
- Your overhead service drop is damaged, aging, or has been flagged by the utility
- The utility company requires relocation during a renovation or property change
- You want better storm resilience and a cleaner aesthetic without overhead wires
- New construction with underground service planned from the start
- Adding a detached garage or outbuilding that needs its own service run
Underground vs. Overhead Electrical Service: Which Is Better?
Choosing between underground and overhead service depends on your property, budget, and priorities. Here's how they compare.
Overhead-to-Underground Electrical Conversion
Converting from overhead to underground service is a multi-step project that Moore Electric manages end to end for homeowners across Plaistow, NH and the surrounding area. You don't coordinate with the utility, the town, or a separate excavation crew. We handle the full scope from planning through final inspection and re-energizing.
What Is a Weatherhead and When Does It Need Replacement?
The weatherhead is the curved fitting at the top of your service entrance where the utility's overhead drop connects to your home. Its job is to keep water from running down the conductors into the meter and panel. When you upgrade or convert service, the weatherhead is typically replaced. Signs yours needs attention: visible rust, a cracked or pulled-away mast, frayed conductors at the connection, or a code violation flagged during inspection or a meter change.
When Does the Meter Base Need Replacement?
The meter base is the enclosure that holds your electric meter and ties the utility's service to your panel. Utility companies often require a new meter base as part of a service upgrade or conversion, especially when the old one is rated below 200 amps, shows heat damage or corrosion, or no longer meets current specs. Moore Electric confirms the new base meets the utility's requirements before the disconnect is scheduled. In Unitil territory, which includes Plaistow, the meter socket location also needs the utility's approval before installation begins.
Who Handles Each Step of a Service Upgrade?
Moore Electric handles the permit, the electrical work and the inspection, and your utility handles the disconnect and the reconnect. Your part is keeping the meter and panel accessible and planning for the power to be off for the work day in most cases.
Load Calculation & Written Quote
We size the service on site and put the scope and price in writing.
Permit & Utility Paperwork
We pull the electrical permit with your town or city and confirm the meter base and its location with your utility, which is Unitil in Plaistow and National Grid in Haverhill.
Disconnect & Installation
The utility cuts power at the scheduled time. We remove the old weatherhead and service entrance, set the new meter base, pull new conductors, and tie the service into your panel. For underground runs, the trench and conduit go in after the Dig Safe locate.
Inspection
The local electrical inspector checks the new service, and we meet the inspector at your home.
Reconnect
Once the work passes, the utility reconnects and sets the meter, and your new service goes live.
Why Choose Moore Electric for an Electrical Service Upgrade?
A service upgrade is different from most electrical work. It touches the town building department, the electric utility, and in many cases an excavation. Pick the wrong contractor and you become the project manager. Here is what makes Moore Electric the right call for the utility side of the job.
One Point of Contact, Start to Finish
We file the permit, schedule the utility disconnect and reconnect, coordinate any trenching and the Dig Safe locate, and meet the inspector. You make one call, not five.
Master Electrician, Licensed in NH, MA & ME
Service entrance and meter work is high-voltage and code-sensitive. A licensed Master Electrician performs the work. Moore Electric never subcontracts it out to unlicensed crews.
Utility Requirements Checked First
Before the disconnect is booked, we confirm the meter base, its location and the service conductors meet your utility's requirements. That check happens before your power is ever off.
Straight Pricing on a Big Job
Service upgrades carry more variables than a panel swap. You get a free on-site estimate with a written quote, and the price Brenden quotes is the price you pay. No surprise change orders.
Local to Southern NH
Based in Plaistow, NH, not a big-city outfit driving an hour to reach you. We work with homeowners and commercial properties across southern NH and northern MA.
Proven Track Record
More than 25 years in the trade, and voted Best of Newburyport 2025.
Serving communities throughout southern NH and northern MA
What Our Customers Say
Moore Electric holds a 5.0 rating across 24 Google reviews. These three come from service, panel and inspection work.
They upgrade our main panel and outside service. Very professional, friendly, courteous. Definitely recommend
Brenden and his crew were very knowledgeable and helpful from the estimate to the final inspection. Any questions I had were answered promptly and very clearly. 10 out 10 recommend Moore electric and crew!
Absolutely beautiful work done by Moore Electric. Beside installing some difficult pieces, they were extremely neat, organized and displayed great attention to the details. They installed a sub panel and updated old wiring as well. All workers were very respectful of our property and our time. The owner Brendan and his team listened to our request and went above and beyond. We would definitely hire this very professional team again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Service Upgrades
What is an electrical service upgrade?
An electrical service upgrade replaces the equipment that delivers power from the utility to your home: the service entrance conductors, the meter base, the weatherhead on overhead service, or the lateral on underground service. It raises your home's capacity, most often from 100 amps to 200 amps.
Does a panel replacement include a service upgrade?
No. A panel replacement swaps the breaker box inside the house and keeps your existing service size. Going from 100 to 200 amps also takes a new meter base, larger service entrance conductors, and a utility disconnect and reconnect. Many homes need both, and Moore Electric can handle them as one project. See electrical panel upgrades for the inside half of the job.
How much does a 200-amp service upgrade cost?
It depends on whether your service is overhead or underground, how long the run is, whether the meter base and weatherhead need replacing, your town's permit fee, and the utility's requirements. Moore Electric gives a free on-site estimate and a written quote before any work begins. Request a free estimate.
Who handles the utility side of a service upgrade?
Moore Electric does. We handle the paperwork with your utility (Unitil in Plaistow, National Grid in Haverhill), confirm the meter base meets its requirements, and book the disconnect and reconnect around the inspection. You do not need to call the utility yourself.
Can I add an EV charger without upgrading to 200 amps?
Sometimes. A load calculation shows whether your existing service has room for a Level 2 charger. If it is close, an energy management device that limits charging while other large loads run can be an option. More on chargers on our EV charger installation page.
Do I need a permit for an electrical service upgrade in NH?
Yes. Your town issues the electrical permit, and the new service is inspected before the utility reconnects it. Moore Electric pulls the permit and meets the inspector.
How long does an electrical service upgrade take?
Most service upgrades take one to two days of on-site work. The overall timeline is usually one to three weeks once you count permit processing and utility scheduling. Underground service changes and overhead-to-underground conversions can take longer because of trenching and extra utility coordination. Moore Electric keeps you informed at every step.
Should I choose underground or overhead electrical service?
Underground service offers better storm resilience, lower long-term maintenance, and a cleaner appearance with no visible wires. Overhead service has a lower upfront cost and is more widely available. The right choice depends on your property, budget, and what the local utility supports. If storm damage or appearance is a priority, underground is usually worth it, and we can walk you through both options during a free assessment.
What are signs I need an electrical service upgrade?
Common signs include: your home still has 60-amp or 100-amp service and you're adding major loads (EV charger, heat pump, home addition), visible rust or damage on your weatherhead or meter base, the utility has flagged your service entrance during a meter change, breakers trip frequently even after a panel evaluation, or you're planning generator installation that requires higher capacity. A free assessment from Moore Electric confirms whether an upgrade is needed.
Do you offer financing for a service upgrade?
Yes, for qualifying customers. After your free estimate you get a written quote, and if you would like to look at payment options we send an application link to your email or phone. Once you are approved, Moore Electric files the permit and books the work. Call 603-836-9513 to get started.
Get a Free Electrical Service Upgrade Estimate
Moore Electric handles the permit, the utility and the inspection on every service upgrade, so you have one company to call from the estimate to the reconnect.
Serving Plaistow, NH and surrounding communities in southern NH and northern MA.