Short answer: most panel replacements in West Kelowna are a one-day job. Labour is $1,000 for the day + GST at our published 2026 rates; the panel, breakers and materials are billed at supply cost on top, and every upgrade is permitted and inspected through Technical Safety BC. The honest total depends on your service size and what we find when the cover comes off — which is why we ballpark from photos first.
When a panel upgrade is actually needed
- EV charger, heat pump or hot tub going in — a loaded 100A panel often has no room for a 40–60A circuit. (Load calculation first; sometimes load management beats an upgrade.)
- 60A or 100A service in an older home — common in older Westbank, Lakeview Heights and Glenrosa homes.
- Insurance letters — some insurers flag Federal Pioneer (FPE/Stab-Lok), Zinsco and Sylvania panels. We replace these regularly.
- No spare breaker spaces, double-tapped breakers, a warm cover, or frequent nuisance trips.
- Renovation or suite — adding a legal suite almost always means a service and panel review.
What drives the price
Two panels that look identical from the driveway can be very different jobs. The main variables: overhead vs underground service, 100A vs 200A, the condition of the meter base and mast, grounding that needs to be brought to current code, aluminum branch wiring that needs proper terminations, and whether BC Hydro needs to schedule a disconnect. That’s why we don’t publish one flat price — we give you a ballpark range from photos, then a firm number before work starts.
How the process works
- Send photos — panel with the cover on, the meter outside, and the main breaker label. Same-day ballpark, usually.
- Firm quote & booking — we confirm scope, order the panel, and book BC Hydro if a disconnect is needed.
- Swap day — power down in the morning, new panel and breakers labelled and torqued, power back the same day in almost all cases.
- Technical Safety BC inspection — we pull the permit and handle the inspection. You get the paperwork your insurer wants to see.
Why Pfitztech
Pfitztech Contracting Ltd. is an FSR-certified electrical contractor based in Kelowna, working across West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon and Penticton. We’re also the crew people call for EV chargers, hot tubs and smart-home work — so when we touch a panel, we plan it around what you’ll want on it in five years, not just what’s on it today. Rates are published on our 2026 rates page.
Get a ballpark from photos today
Text or email photos of your panel and meter to (250) 575-5721 or use the contact page. You’ll usually have a range the same day.