This surprise cost could derail your heat pump or EV charger installation. Here’s how to avoid it.

Upgrading a home’s electrical service can add thousands of dollars to the cost of installing heat pumps, induction stoves or EV chargers, potentially putting electrification plans out of reach. The article explains that some homes may be able to avoid a costly service upgrade by managing when high-demand appliances run.

Many older US homes have a 100-amp panel or less, while newer homes are generally built for 200 amps; about a third of US homes have capacity of 100 amps or below, rising to nearly half in the Northeast. Service upgrades can cost $10,000 to $20,000, especially where underground lines or rural infrastructure are involved. The author’s 200-amp home appeared to need a more expensive upgrade after plans for extra heat pumps and an electric dryer pushed its calculated load towards 192 amps; smart panels that manage circuits were one possible, but costly, option.