Electrical Panel Upgrade in Camas, WA: Load, Permit and Utility Plan

A crowded breaker panel, a tripping circuit and a planned EV charger are different problems. Begin with the service rating, main disconnect, panel condition, available spaces, grounding and bonding, visible corrosion, and a list of existing loads. Do not remove the cover yourself. Photograph the closed equipment, meter location and labels, then record electric heat, water heating, cooking, dryer, hot tub, workshop and other major equipment. A qualified electrician can decide whether the issue is a damaged component, a branch circuit, the panel, or the utility service.

Ask for a documented load calculation that includes planned equipment, not a guess based only on the number printed on the main breaker. A heat pump, induction range, electric water heater and Level 2 charger may be added in different years, yet they belong in one capacity plan. Load management can sometimes coordinate large loads, but it is a designed electrical system, not permission to overload equipment. The proposal should explain why the selected service size and panel configuration fit the actual house and future plan.

A panel replacement can stay on the customer side of the meter or expand into a service upgrade involving the meter base, mast, conductors or underground service. Clark Public Utilities provides a process for new or upgraded service and for disconnect, reconnect and inspection coordination. Start that conversation before the installation date. The electrician should identify who opens the utility job, what equipment is furnished by each party, required clearances, scheduling dependencies and what happens if existing service components do not meet the current utility detail.

Access changes the bid. Record whether the panel is in a garage, finished room or exterior wall; whether a flush panel requires drywall repair; and whether landscaping or storage blocks the meter. Include circuit-directory work, surge protection, grounding and bonding corrections, spare capacity, labeling and finish restoration. If solar, battery storage or a generator is planned, show it now. A panel selected without those interfaces can create avoidable redesign even when its amp rating appears sufficient.

Washington L&I states that electrical work generally requires a permit and inspection, with limited exceptions. The person or company performing the work must obtain the proper permit; a hired contractor should not shift that responsibility to the homeowner. Confirm the exact jurisdiction for the Camas address and whether L&I or another authority performs the inspection. The City of Camas Building Division is the local contact for related building questions, while the serving utility controls its service procedures.

Verify the electrical contractor and the people performing regulated work through official L&I records. The written scope should name the panel or service equipment, breaker system, conductor work, grounding, utility coordination, permit, inspection, outage window, drywall or siding restoration, disposal and exclusions. Compare bids against that same list. A low “panel swap” price is not comparable if another proposal includes meter work, circuit corrections, labeling and final inspection.

Before the scheduled outage, protect refrigerated food, arrange medical-device backup when relevant, shut down sensitive electronics and keep the work area clear. Ask how long normal power is expected to be off and what conditions could extend the outage. Do not connect a portable generator to house wiring without approved transfer equipment. The contractor should leave energized components enclosed and the site safe if utility or inspection timing changes.

At completion, verify that covers are secure, circuits are accurately identified, required inspections are final and all planned equipment operates. Save the permit, inspection result, load calculation, panel schedule, product information, utility job number, photos and warranty. Update future EV, HVAC, solar or remodel bidders with this record. A useful panel upgrade is not merely a new gray box; it is a documented capacity decision that later trades can understand.