Adding electric appliances and systems to your building or home - such as electric heat, stoves, dryers, and electric vehicle chargers - increases the load on the building’s electrical system.
An electrical panel – sometimes called a breaker box or fuse box – acts as a central hub that distributes electricity from the service line coming into the home to feed all parts of the home through circuits and wiring. Unlike other electrical infrastructure like power lines and utility poles, an electrical panel is the property of the homeowner or property owner and not the electric utility. For full building or home electrification, upgrading your service panel may be necessary.
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Make a list of electrification upgrades you want to pursue. This could include
heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, electric dryers, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. If any of these projects involve switching from a fossil fuel appliance to an electric appliance, you will likely need a new circuit.
✅Determine panel size. Check the size of your home’s electrical panel. This will help you determine if you can add new loads to your existing panel without requiring a panel or service upgrade. Depending on the age and size of your home, your electrical panel could range from 60-400 amps. If your panel has less than 200 amps and you are looking to upgrade to a heat pump for your hot water or space heating needs, a service upgrade may be necessary for that equipment to work properly.
✅Create a list of electricians. Get at least three quotes to compare costs.
✅Research incentives. Determine if there are incentives you can leverage to defray some of the costs.
Single-family residential:
- Sec. 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit: Homeowners can claim an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit of up to $600 for electrical upgrades that support the installation of new electric equipment. Note that the IRA tax credit is capped at 30% of the project cost.
Commercial/non-residential:
Electric panel upgrades are eligible measures for the following grant programs.
The
Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, empowers Maryland’s building owners to make well-informed energy investments in their properties by connecting them to financial, educational, and technical assistance. Sign up for the Hub newsletter
here.
