Union City panels carry more than most — and many are overdue
Union City is one of the densest cities in the country, and its housing reflects that: rowhomes, two- and three-family buildings, and converted units that were wired for a 1960s electrical load and are now running modern kitchens, mini-splits, and EV chargers. If your breakers trip when the AC and microwave run together, or you still have a fuse box or a 100A panel feeding a full house, you're not imagining it — the service is undersized for how you actually live. Here's what a panel upgrade in Union City involves.
What a panel upgrade costs in Union City
- 100A → 200A service upgrade (single unit): typically $2,800–$4,500 including the panel, meter pan, permit and inspection.
- Fuse box replacement: similar range, sometimes higher if the service entrance and grounding need to be brought to current code.
- Multi-family / multi-meter work: priced per unit and per meter stack — we quote these in person because every building's service configuration is different.
The honest variable is what we find at the service entrance: grounding, the meter pan, and the utility connection all have to meet current code, and older Union City buildings sometimes need that brought up to standard as part of the job.
Multi-family and shared-meter realities
In a two- or three-family, the question isn't just "upgrade the panel" — it's which panel, which meter, and whose service. Each unit typically has its own meter and panel, with a house meter for common areas. Upgrading one unit's service may involve the shared meter stack and the main disconnect, which is exactly the kind of thing that needs an electrician who works these buildings regularly. We map the whole service before quoting so there are no surprises mid-job and every unit stays code-compliant.
The permit and PSE&G process — handled
A service upgrade in Union City requires an electrical permit through the Union City Construction Code Office and a coordinated PSE&G disconnect/reconnect, because the utility has to drop power to swap the meter and service. We pull the permit, file the PSE&G ESI application, schedule the disconnect, do the work, and meet the inspector for sign-off. For most upgrades your power is out for only a few hours in a single day.
Signs your Union City home needs a panel upgrade
- A fuse box, or a panel labeled 100A (or less) on a full household.
- Breakers that trip when major appliances run at once.
- Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or other known-hazard panels — these should be replaced regardless of capacity.
- Adding an EV charger, mini-split system, or electric range that the current service can't carry.
- Warm panel covers, scorch marks, or a burning smell — call right away.
How to choose an electrician for a panel upgrade
- Verify the NJ license. Ours is #17130 — a service upgrade is not DIY or handyman work.
- Confirm the quote includes permit and PSE&G coordination. Those aren't optional extras; they're the job.
- Choose someone who knows multi-family work. Shared meters and rowhome service entrances trip up generalists.
- Hire local. We're a family licensed electrician in NJ serving Hudson County since 1977.
Think your panel is overdue?
Send us a photo of your panel and meter setup and we'll tell you whether you need an upgrade and what it'll take. Call (848) 294-1739 or request a free estimate at /contact.