A panel replacement on Long Island runs from about $1,800 for a straight 100 amp swap to $5,800 or a bit more for a 200 amp upgrade with a new meter socket, cable and grounding. Those are the ranges two Long Island electricians publish for 2026. The low end is a panel changed on an open basement wall. The high end is a house where the meter has to move.
What local electricians publish for a new panel
| Job | Installed price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 100 amp panel replacement | $1,800 to $3,200 | Long Island Electric Co., 2026 price page |
| Panel upgrade, typical job | $2,000 to $5,000 | Strong Island Electric, New Hyde Park, Jul 2026 |
| 100 to 200 amps, basic swap | $2,500 to $3,500 | Haines Electric, Lido Beach, Feb 2026 |
| 200 amps with new service cable and grounding | $3,500 to $4,500 | Haines Electric, Feb 2026 |
| 200 amps with the meter moved and a new mast | $4,500 to $6,000 and up | Haines Electric, Feb 2026 |
| 200 amps turnkey, permit, inspection and PSEG cutover included | $3,200 to $5,800 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| 400 amp service | $6,500 to $12,000 | Long Island Electric Co., 2026 price page |
Long Island Electric Co. also breaks its turnkey price into parts, which helps when you compare quotes that are laid out differently:
| Line item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Panel, meter pan and breakers | $700 to $1,400 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| Labor, two electricians for one to two days | $1,800 to $2,800 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| Permit | $150 to $350 (Nassau villages $150 to $250, Suffolk towns $200 to $350) | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| Final inspection | $85 to $185 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| Moving the meter | add $600 to $1,200 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| New service mast | add $400 to $800 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| Grounding upgrade | add $150 to $300 | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
| AFCI or GFCI breakers | add $35 to $60 per circuit | Long Island Electric Co., Mar 2026 |
Why two houses on the same block get different quotes
Haines Electric lists the things that push a panel job up. An old 100 amp service with aluminum cable, a rusted meter socket or poor grounding means more parts and more hours. Where the panel sits matters too: an open basement wall is the cheapest spot, a finished basement or garage costs more, and a tight closet or a move to an outside wall costs the most.
The other big swing is whether the amperage changes. Swapping a worn panel for a new one of the same size is a job between you, the electrician and the inspector. Going from 100 to 200 amps brings PSEG Long Island in, and that is where most of the waiting happens.
Signs an old panel or fuse box is due
The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI) lists these as reasons to call a licensed electrician:
- breakers that trip often, or fuses that keep needing replacement
- lights that dim or flicker
- switch plates or outlet covers that feel hot or look discolored, or a smell like hot plastic
- sparks, buzzing or sizzling from the panel, a switch or an outlet
- fuses or breakers rated higher than the circuit they protect, which ESFI calls an overrated panel
Strong Island Electric adds a panel that feels warm, and lights that flicker when a big appliance kicks on. Planning to add a charger, central air or a heat pump is the other common reason. PSEG Long Island asks to hear from you before an EV charger goes in, and before a house switches to heat pumps as its main heat.
When the service size changes, PSEG gets involved
PSEG Long Island needs an Electrical Inspection Certificate before it sets a new meter or service. It usually replies within three business days with a project reference number, and it says most requests are done in three to five weeks. Fees over $1,000 and all deposits have to be paid by bank check or money order, not a credit card. Long Island Electric Co. counts a quote that leaves you to call PSEG yourself as a red flag. The electrician should handle it.
Permits and the inspection on Long Island
Haines Electric says virtually every town and incorporated village in Nassau requires a permit for panel work, and that the permit has to be pulled by a licensed master electrician registered with that town or village. The inspection itself is usually done by a private electrical inspection agency rather than the town building inspector. Our guide to electrical inspection agencies lists the ones Brookhaven, Islip and New Hyde Park accept.
Licensing works differently in the two counties. Nassau County Consumer Affairs says towns, cities and villages license electricians in Nassau, and Suffolk County licenses master electricians countywide. Our license guide shows how to look up each one.
Put these to every electrician who quotes
- Is the permit on the quote in writing, with the fee?
- Which inspection agency will you use, and will I get a copy of the certificate?
- Will you file with PSEG Long Island and schedule the meter work?
- What brand of panel, and how many spaces will be left open after my circuits?
- Does the price include grounding, new service cable, surge protection and a labeled directory? Haines Electric warns that low quotes sometimes leave those out.
- How many hours will the power be off, and on what day?
Quotes that should make you pause
Long Island Electric Co. says any turnkey 200 amp quote under $2,800 in 2026 almost always skips something, usually the permit. It suggests reading a much cheaper quote line by line. A quote with no line for the inspection is another warning sign.
Be wary of anyone who gives you a “Nassau County electrical license” number. Nassau County Consumer Affairs says electricians in Nassau are licensed by the towns, cities and villages, so the license should name one of them.
Help paying for a panel
NYSERDA’s EmPower+ program covers electrical service and wiring upgrades for income-eligible owners and renters of one to four family homes. On Long Island, low income households can get the work done at no cost up to $14,000 per project, and moderate income households get 50% covered up to $7,000. NYSERDA’s Sustainable Futures program can add up to $5,000 for a panel box and up to $2,500 for a wiring upgrade on top of those caps. Applications go through NYSERDA’s MyEnergy portal, or call 866-NYSERDA.