Replacing an electrical panel isn’t something most homeowners ever plan on doing.
Unlike remodeling a kitchen or replacing a roof, an electrical panel quietly does its job every day, often for decades. Most people never think about it until they’re told it’s outdated, they’ve run out of room for new circuits, or they’re planning a project that requires additional electrical capacity.
When that day comes, it’s completely normal to have questions.
How long will the power be off?
Do I need to be home?
Why are utility companies showing up before the electricians?
What exactly happens while the power is off?
At Gaddie Electric, we perform electrical panel upgrades throughout Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities every year. While every home is a little different, the process is remarkably similar. Understanding what happens before, during, and after installation can help remove much of the uncertainty and make installation day far less stressful.
It Starts Before Installation Day
Most homeowners think the project begins when the electricians arrive. In reality, the work often starts days—or even weeks—earlier.
Once your proposal is approved, permits are obtained, materials are ordered, and installation day begins to take shape. Scheduling an electrical panel upgrade involves much more than simply finding an opening on our calendar. We also coordinate with your utility provider and Colorado 811 to make sure everything is ready before installation day arrives. This coordination is one of the reasons panel upgrades require more planning than many other electrical projects. Multiple organizations are involved, and everyone has to work together to keep the project moving.
Don’t Be Surprised If Utility Crews Visit Your Home
One thing that surprises many homeowners is seeing utility vehicles arrive before the electricians. During the week leading up to your scheduled installation, you may notice one or more utility companies visiting your property to perform utility locates. These locates help identify underground utility lines and are an important safety step before work begins.
One important thing to understand is that Gaddie Electric does not schedule these visits. We submit the locate request, but each utility company schedules and performs its own locates. That means crews may arrive at different times over several days, often without a specific appointment.
To help avoid delays, we recommend that homeowners:
- Make sure gates are unlocked and the yard is accessible.
- Keep pets safely contained while utility crews are working.
- Ensure utility boxes and meters are easy to access.
If a required locate can’t be completed because a crew is unable to access part of the property, it can delay the entire project. Since your panel upgrade also depends on coordinating with the utility company for disconnecting and restoring power, one missed locate has the potential to affect the installation schedule. Fortunately, these visits are usually quick, and once completed, they help ensure installation day goes as planned.
Installation Day Begins
Our electricians typically arrive around 9:00 a.m.
Before any work begins, we’ll review the project with you, answer any last-minute questions, and prepare the work area. We carefully document the existing electrical panel and identify every circuit before beginning the replacement. While homeowners often only see a collection of wires inside the panel, each conductor serves a specific purpose and must be transferred correctly to the new panel.
Around 10:00 a.m., Colorado Springs Utilities or Mountain View Electric Association will typically arrive to disconnect power to the home.
It’s important to remember that while we coordinate this process, the utility company’s schedule is outside of our control. Occasionally they arrive earlier than expected, and sometimes later. Our goal is to be prepared so that once power is disconnected, we can begin work immediately.
While Your Power Is Off
For several hours, your home will be completely without electricity. That means no lights, no internet, no garage door opener, and no heating or cooling equipment that relies on electricity. If you work from home or have equipment that depends on power, it’s a good idea to make arrangements before installation day. While the house may seem quiet, a tremendous amount of work is taking place inside your electrical panel. This isn’t simply replacing one metal box with another.
Every circuit is individually disconnected, transferred, terminated, torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications, and tested. Grounding and bonding systems are inspected. New breakers are installed. The service equipment is reassembled, and every connection is verified before power is restored. It’s detailed work that requires patience and precision because your electrical panel is the distribution center for every circuit in your home.
Our Goal Is to Have You Ready for Power Restoration
One question we hear often is, “When will my power be back on?”
Our goal is typically to have your new electrical panel completed and ready for reconnection by around 2:00 p.m. At that point, we’ve done everything we can do. The next step depends on the utility company returning to restore power. Just like the morning disconnect, the exact reconnection time is determined by the utility provider’s schedule. Once they restore service, our electricians immediately begin testing the electrical system to verify everything is operating properly.
Testing Isn’t Just Flipping Breakers On
Once power has been restored, our work isn’t finished. We systematically verify that your home’s electrical system is operating correctly. Circuits are checked, breakers are tested, and we confirm that lighting, receptacles, major appliances, and other critical electrical systems are functioning as expected. Finally, we label the electrical panel so you’ll have a clear understanding of what each breaker controls. It’s one of those details homeowners appreciate for years afterward whenever they need to shut off power to a specific circuit.
Every Home Is Different
Although the overall process is similar from one home to the next, every panel upgrade has its own unique challenges. Sometimes older wiring requires additional attention. Occasionally homeowners choose to prepare for a future EV charger, add dedicated circuits, or make other electrical improvements while the work is already underway. Because every home is different, we always discuss those options during the estimating process so there are no surprises on installation day.
More Planning Than Most People Realize
One of the things we hear most often after completing a panel upgrade is:
“I had no idea everything that went into this.”
And that’s understandable.
From the homeowner’s perspective, it may seem like a one-day project. Behind the scenes, however, permits have been obtained, materials ordered, inspections coordinated, utility companies scheduled, locates completed, electricians assigned, and installation planned long before the first tool comes off the truck. When everything goes smoothly, it often looks easy. That’s usually a sign that a great deal of planning happened before installation day ever arrived.
Conclusion
An electrical panel upgrade is one of the most important improvements you can make to your home’s electrical system. While the process involves coordination between electricians, utility companies, permitting agencies, and inspectors, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
At Gaddie Electric, our goal is to make the experience as smooth and predictable as possible by communicating clearly, coordinating the details behind the scenes, and performing quality workmanship every step of the way.
If you’re considering an electrical panel upgrade, have questions about your existing panel, or are planning future projects like an EV charger or home addition, we’re happy to help. Learn more about our Electrical Panel Upgrade services, our Whole-Home Surge Protection options, or contact Gaddie Electric to schedule an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an electrical panel upgrade usually take?
Most residential panel upgrades are completed in a single day. The exact timeline depends on the complexity of the installation and the utility company’s disconnect and reconnect schedule.
Why are utility companies visiting my property before installation?
Utility companies perform required underground utility locates through Colorado 811 before the project begins. These visits help ensure work can be completed safely.
Will I have power all day?
No. Your home will typically be without electricity for several hours while the panel is being replaced. We work to minimize the outage and coordinate closely with your utility provider.
Do I need to be home during the panel upgrade?
Yes. We recommend that someone be available if questions arise and to allow access to the home during the installation.
Is a panel upgrade a good time to install a whole-home surge protector?
Absolutely. Since the electrical panel is already open, it’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective times to install whole-home surge protection or prepare for future electrical additions like an EV charger.