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⚠️ Failing & Unsafe Panel Replacement · Northern NJ

Electrical Panel Replacement in Northern NJ — Federal Pacific, Zinsco & Failing Panels

Replacing a failing, unsafe, or uninsurable panel is about safety — not amperage. We replace Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco, Pushmatic, corroded, and insurance-flagged panels across Northern NJ. Permit pulled, PSE&G coordinated, inspection passed.

💰
Same-amperage panel replacement from $1,800 – $3,000
Written quote before any work. Need more capacity too? See our 200-amp panel upgrade.
Get a Free Estimate →📞 (848) 294-1739
NJ Licensed & Insured
Permits Pulled
Insurer Documentation
4.9★ · 124 Reviews
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4.9★ · 124 Google Reviews
Same-Week Scheduling
Done in 1 Day
✍️ By Michael Malfettone, Licensed Master Electrician📋 NJ Electrical Contractor License #17130🕐 Last updated June 2026
When Repair Isn't Enough

8 Signs Your Panel Should Be Replaced, Not Repaired

Some panels have defects that no breaker swap can fix. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels in particular are flagged by insurers and pose a documented fire risk — these need to come out.

📋Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) panel
📋Zinsco or Sylvania-Zinsco panel
🏦Insurer flagged or won't renew your policy
🔥Burning smell, scorch marks, or melted breakers
🦠Rust, corrosion, or water inside the panel
🌡️Panel or breakers feel hot to the touch
🔁Breakers that won't reset or won't trip
🏠Pushmatic, fuse box, or other obsolete panel

Not sure if yours is a repair or a replacement? Read our guide to Federal Pacific & Zinsco panels and NJ insurance, or see whether a panel repair is all you need.

Straightforward Pricing

What a Panel Replacement Costs in NJ

Same-amperage replacement
$1,800 – $3,000

A like-for-like swap — for example, a failing 100A panel replaced with a new 100A panel — including the new panel, breakers, grounding and bonding updates, permit, and final inspection. This is the right scope when your panel is unsafe but your service size is fine.

Also want more capacity?

If you're adding an EV charger, heat pump, or generator, increasing your service to 200A is a separate (often combined) job. See our electrical panel upgrade page for 200-amp pricing, and the 2026 Zinsco panel replacement cost guide for a full breakdown. If your service-entrance cable or meter socket also needs work, we quote it upfront.

How It Works

Your Panel Replacement, Start to Finish

We handle everything — safety assessment, permit filing, PSE&G coordination, replacement, and inspection sign-off — and we give you the documentation your insurer needs.

01
Free Safety Assessment
We open and inspect your panel, identify the brand, and tell you straight whether it's a safety replacement or a repair — no upsell.
02
Written Quote
You get a clear, itemized quote — including whether a same-amperage swap is enough or a capacity upgrade is worth doing while we're in there.
03
Permit Pulled
We file the electrical permit with your municipality and handle all the paperwork.
04
PSE&G Coordinated
We schedule the utility meter disconnect and reconnect so your downtime is minimal — usually a single day.
05
Replaced & Inspected
New panel installed, circuits transferred and labeled, municipal inspector signs off. You get the records for your insurer.
Related Help
⚡
Permit to Replace a Panel in NJ
How the NJ permit and inspection process works
⚡
Federal Pacific & Zinsco + Insurance
Why most NJ carriers flag these panels
⚡
Panel Upgrade (200A capacity)
When you need more power, not just a safer panel
Insurer Asking You to Replace It?

We schedule fast and hand you the permit record and inspection sign-off your insurance company needs.

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Real Customers · Real Results

What Northern NJ Homeowners Say

★★★★★

“Our insurance company gave us 30 days to replace a Federal Pacific panel or lose coverage. Malfettone came out fast, replaced it, and handed us the inspection paperwork the insurer wanted. Saved our policy.”

Dana F. · Montclair
★★★★★

“Had a Zinsco panel that was buzzing and warm. They explained why a breaker swap wouldn't fix it and replaced the whole panel at the same amperage. Honest, no pressure to upsell me to 200A I didn't need.”

Greg P. · Jersey City Heights
★★★★★

“Found rust and scorching inside our old panel during a home sale. Malfettone replaced it same week and the buyer's inspector signed off with zero issues. Professional from start to finish.”

Lillian M. · Nutley
Common Questions

Panel Replacement FAQs — NJ

Does my insurance require panel replacement?+
Often, yes. A growing number of NJ home insurers will decline new coverage, refuse to renew, or charge higher premiums on homes with a Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok), Zinsco, or Pushmatic panel because of their documented failure and fire history. Some carriers give you a window to replace the panel as a condition of keeping the policy. We provide documentation of the replacement and the municipal inspection so you can give your insurer exactly what they ask for.
What happens if I have a Federal Pacific panel?+
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels and breakers have a well-documented defect: the breakers can fail to trip during an overload or short circuit, which is a real fire hazard. The defect is in the design, so a breaker swap does not fix it — the panel itself should be replaced. The same applies to Zinsco panels, which suffer from breakers that melt to the bus bar and fail to trip. If you have either, we recommend full replacement and can usually schedule it the same week.
How much does panel replacement cost in NJ?+
A like-for-like electrical panel replacement at the same amperage typically runs $1,800–$3,000 in Northern NJ, including the new panel, breakers, grounding and bonding updates, the permit, and the final inspection. If you also want to increase capacity — most commonly from 100A to 200A — that is a separate service; see our panel upgrade page for 200-amp pricing. If the service-entrance cable or meter socket also needs replacing, that adds to the job and we quote it upfront in writing.
Can you replace my panel without upgrading the amperage?+
Yes. If your panel is failing or unsafe but your service size is adequate, we do a like-for-like replacement at the same amperage — for example, a 100A panel swapped for a new 100A panel. That is the $1,800–$3,000 service. You only need a 200-amp upgrade if you are adding major loads like an EV charger, heat pump, or whole-home generator, in which case we can do the replacement and the capacity upgrade in the same visit.
Do I need a permit to replace my electrical panel in NJ?+
Yes — every electrical panel replacement in New Jersey requires a municipal electrical permit and a final inspection. Malfettone Electric pulls the permit on your behalf, coordinates the PSE&G or JCP&L meter disconnect and reconnect, and schedules the inspector. You get the permit record and completion documentation for your files and your insurer.
See our full NJ electrician FAQ — 56+ Q&As →

Where We Work

Panel Replacement Across Northern NJ

Malfettone Electric replaces failing and unsafe electrical panels across Northern New Jersey — Hudson, Essex, Bergen, and Passaic counties — from our Jersey City and Cedar Grove offices. We pull permits with every local municipality, coordinate directly with PSE&G and JCP&L, and document the replacement for your insurer.

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Jersey City, NJHoboken, NJBayonne, NJWeehawken, NJUnion City, NJSecaucus, NJKearny, NJHarrison, NJNorth Bergen, NJWest New York, NJMontclair, NJCedar Grove, NJNutley, NJBloomfield, NJClifton, NJPassaic, NJBelleville, NJNewark, NJLyndhurst, NJRutherford, NJHackensack, NJFort Lee, NJParamus, NJEdgewater, NJ
Get Started Today

Failing or Uninsurable Panel? Let's Replace It Safely.

Call or request online. We'll assess your panel, tell you straight whether it's a repair or a replacement, and give you a written quote — same day, no obligation.

Get a Free Estimate →📞 (848) 294-1739