Why Kearny homes need panel upgrades
Kearny's housing is classic Hudson County: tightly packed two-family homes, older single-families, and converted multi-units, much of it built before 1950. These homes were wired for a simpler era — a few lights, a radio, maybe a window AC unit. In 2026 they're being asked to run central air, modern appliances, finished basements, EV chargers, and more.
That mismatch is why panel upgrades are one of the most-requested electrical jobs in Kearny. If your home still runs on a 60-amp or 100-amp service, a fuse box, or a panel that trips constantly, upgrading to modern 200-amp service is usually the smartest electrical investment you can make.
What a panel upgrade costs in Kearny
A 200-amp service upgrade in Kearny typically runs $2,800–$4,800. A few local factors affect where you land in that range:
Two-family homes. Many Kearny properties are two-families with either a shared service or separate meters per unit. Upgrading may mean coordinating both units' service and confirming the home's overall capacity. We sort out the metering setup during the assessment.
Service entrance condition. Older Kearny homes often have an aging service mast, meter pan, or undersized service conductors. If the upgrade requires a new mast or meter pan, that adds to the scope — but it's also exactly the kind of safety issue you want corrected.
Older wiring. It's common to find cloth-insulated wiring or early BX cable. A panel upgrade doesn't require a full rewire, but circuits with unsafe wiring should be addressed; your electrician and the inspector will advise.
The Kearny permit process
Electrical work in Kearny is permitted through the Town's Building Department under the NJ Uniform Construction Code. Your licensed electrician submits the permit application — you don't need to handle it yourself. Panel upgrade permit fees generally run $150–$300, and approval typically takes 5–10 business days. After the work is complete, a municipal inspector signs off, and we provide you the permit record for your files.
PSE&G coordination for Kearny service upgrades
Kearny is PSE&G territory. Every 200-amp service upgrade requires PSE&G to disconnect the meter, after which we perform the panel swap and PSE&G reconnects with a new meter. Current lead time runs 1–3 weeks after the permit is approved. We file the PSE&G application and manage the scheduling so you're not on the phone with the utility.
For two-family homes adding a second meter or separating service, PSE&G coordination takes a little longer — we identify that early so the timeline is clear from the start.
How long the whole project takes
The panel upgrade itself is typically a one-day job. The full timeline — permit approval, PSE&G coordination, and final inspection — usually runs 2–4 weeks from signed estimate to sign-off. We schedule the utility disconnect and reconnect to keep your power-off window as short as possible, usually a few hours on install day.
How to choose an electrician in Kearny
Before hiring anyone, confirm three things: that they're a licensed NJ electrical contractor (ask for the license number and verify it at the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs), that they pull the permit and meet the inspector, and that the quote is all-inclusive — panel, labor, permit, and PSE&G coordination. A cheap quote that skips permits or uses undersized equipment tends to cost far more later through failed inspections, insurance problems, or safety issues.
Why Kearny homeowners choose us
Malfettone Electric has been based in Jersey City — minutes from Kearny — since 1977. We're a third-generation, family-owned contractor, and we've done panel upgrades in every kind of Hudson County home, including Kearny's two-families and older single-families. We know the building department, the inspectors, and the PSE&G process.
Call us at (848) 294-1739 or request a free panel assessment. We'll look at your Kearny home's electrical system and give you an honest recommendation and a written price — no obligation.