100 Amp Zinsco Panel Upgraded to 200 Amp Service

Here's what we were working with - an old Zinsco panel recessed into the stucco wall, with circuit labels hand-written directly on the enclosure. Zinsco panels have a well-documented history of breaker failures, and a 100 amp service just doesn't cut it for a modern home with today's electrical demands. This setup had to go.

We pulled everything out and installed a new 200 amp Square D panel with a proper exterior enclosure, clean conduit runs, and a dedicated SMUD-compliant meter base. Every circuit got a labeled breaker slot - including two EVCS (electric vehicle charging station) circuits and surge protection built right into the panel. That's a setup built for the long haul.

One thing we always make sure to do on panel upgrades like this is position the work to qualify for available utility rebates. This install was done specifically to meet the requirements for SMUD's Gas to Electric program, the Go Electric bonus, and the Charge at Home rebate. Those programs can put real money back in your pocket - but the electrical work has to be done right for the utility to approve it.

If your home is still running on a Zinsco, Federal Pacific, or any older 100 amp panel, it's worth having someone take a look. Beyond the safety concerns, older panels are a hard stop for EV chargers, heat pumps, induction ranges, and just about everything else that's becoming standard in homes today. Upgrading the panel is the foundation that makes all of it possible.

SMUD rebates are available right now, and they don't stay open forever. If an upgrade has been on your to-do list, this is genuinely a good time to move on it.