Get the most out of your electric panel

Most homes can electrify without getting an expensive service panel upgrade. Your breaker box may look full, but that doesn't mean you're using all of your home's electrical capacity. 

An optimized electrical panel is critical to supporting a healthy grid. Try working within the existing panel capacity, choose less power-hungry devices, and/or use energy management devices first before increasing panel size.

Here are some resources that can help you optimize your existing electric service:

• Watch this presentation[External] entitled "Doing the Most with the Electric Panel you Have" by Eric Morrill of All-Electric California (from the 2022 Marin Green Home Tour)
• Check out PG&E's guide on how to switch to electric appliances without an electrical panel upgrade.
• See how Mary fully electrified her San Anselmo[External] home without upgrading her existing 125-amp electrical service (from the 2023 Marin Green Home Tour).
• Review case studies of 10 homes in San Mateo County[External] that were fully electrified without electric service upgrades.
• Use Redwood Energy's Watt Diet Calculator to help you assess your electricity usage and find opportunities to use your current capacity wisely.
• HomeIntel, a free energy coaching service for PG&E customers, includes an analysis of your electricity usage and the remaining capacity and potential of your service panel.