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Project overview: Meter Base & Service Replacement in Charlotte, NC
Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte branch completed a comprehensive Panels & Service Upgrades project for homeowner Alex Dean in Charlotte, NC. This job focused on a full meter base and service replacement with a new indoor subpanel, an outdoor riser, whole-home surge protection, and a complete grounding upgrade. Our Matthews-based team handled permitting, coordinated with the utility, and ensured inspections were completed for a code-compliant, reliable service.
Technician: Chris Rogers
Completed: November 27, 2024
Primary category: Panels & Service Upgrades
Secondary category: Meter Base & Service Replacement
Service area: Charlotte, NC
Scope of work
- 200A meter/panel combo install: Supplied and installed an over/under combo with feed-through lugs. Our team scheduled the power drop with the utility, pulled the required permits, and installed ground rods with grounding electrode conductors.
- New indoor subpanel (hallway): Installed a midsized 12/24-circuit subpanel rated up to 125A to provide organized capacity for present and future circuits.
- 100A feeder to subpanel: Added a 2-pole 100A breaker and ran approximately 30 feet of 4‑wire SER #2 cable for a robust subpanel feed.
- Branch circuit breakers: Installed two 30A double‑pole breakers for dedicated 240V loads and five 15A standard breakers for general lighting and branch circuits.
- Riser/weatherhead upgrade: Installed a new exterior riser for safe, code-compliant service entrance conductors.
- Whole‑home surge protection: Added a surge protector to help safeguard sensitive electronics and appliances from voltage spikes.
- Grounding system: Installed ground rods and grounding electrode conductors to enhance system safety and meet current code requirements.
- Permits and inspections: All work was permitted and inspections were completed for compliance and peace of mind.
Code and safety notes
As local inspectors continue implementing NEC 2020 requirements, some projects may require upgrading select breakers to AFCI. In certain homes, installing AFCI devices can expose preexisting conditions—such as shared neutrals—that may cause immediate tripping and require additional diagnostic time to correct. Our team explains these possibilities up front and provides practical options if they arise during inspection.
To minimize downtime during utility coordination and panel changeovers, our Charlotte team carefully schedules the power drop with the provider. Upon request, a temporary generator can be made available for limited power usage during the outage.
Local expertise from our Charlotte branch
This Charlotte, NC project was delivered by our Matthews-based branch serving the greater Charlotte area. With organized permitting, utility coordination, and a clean installation by Chris Rogers, the service upgrade equips the home for present needs and future additions like EV charging, HVAC upgrades, or a workshop circuit.
Customer feedback
Alex Dean praised our work with a review after project completion. Read Alex’s review on Google.
Why this upgrade matters
- Capacity and reliability: A modern 200A meter/panel combo supports today’s loads and reduces nuisance trips.
- Cleaner distribution: The hallway subpanel adds space for new circuits without overcrowding the main panel.
- Protection and safety: Whole-home surge protection and a properly bonded grounding system help protect equipment and people.
- Code compliance: Permits secured and inspections completed for a documented, compliant upgrade.
- Future-ready: Ample breaker space and a dedicated subpanel make adding circuits more straightforward.
Need a meter base or service upgrade in Charlotte?
Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte team is ready to help with meter base replacements, service upgrades, subpanel installations, surge protection, grounding, and permitting. If you’re planning renovations or adding high‑demand appliances, we can assess your load, recommend the right panel configuration, and coordinate the entire process for a smooth, code-compliant result.