Touchstone Electric
Raleigh 200A Panel & Meter Replacement with Surge Protection completed by Touchstone Electric
Completed Project

Raleigh 200A Panel & Meter Replacement with Surge Protection

Panels & Service Upgrades completed by Touchstone Electric in Raleigh.

RaleighCompleted: January 19, 2026
Service TypePanels & Service Upgrades
Project TypeMeter Base & Service Replacement
Work StandardCode compliant
Performed ByLicensed electricians
Call 855-502-2244

Raleigh 200A Panel and Meter Replacement with Whole‑Home Surge Protection

Touchstone Electric’s Raleigh branch completed a comprehensive service upgrade in Raleigh, NC for homeowner Erin Defretias. Led by technician Matthew Castello, this permitted project replaced the existing meter/main with a new 200A meter/panel combo and added a $100k / 10‑year whole‑home surge protection system for stronger, safer power. Completion date: January 19, 2026.

What We Installed

  • Permitting and utility coordination: Pulled the required permit and scheduled the temporary power drop with the utility provider.
  • 200A meter/main replacement: Installed an over/under meter/panel combo with feed‑through lugs, new ground rods, and grounding electrode conductors. The panel features an aluminum bus bar that carries a 20‑year transferable warranty.
  • Whole‑home surge protection: Installed a device rated with $100,000 equipment coverage and a 10‑year warranty to help protect the home’s electrical system, appliances, and hard‑wired devices from damaging voltage spikes.
  • Breaker updates for reliability and safety:
    • 1 × 30A double‑pole standard breaker (typical for appliances like a dryer, water heater, air condenser, spa, or EV charger)
    • 2 × 15A AFCI breakers (for 120V receptacles and lighting in common areas such as kitchen, dining, bedrooms, living room, halls)
    • 1 × 25A double‑pole standard breaker (e.g., small condenser, well pump, or small mini‑split)
    • 1 × 15A double‑pole standard breaker (small appliances as applicable)
  • Signature Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty: Our workmanship on this project is backed by Touchstone Electric’s Signature Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty.
  • First responder discount: A first responder discount was applied to the project.

Why Surge Protection Matters for Raleigh Homes

Whole‑home surge protection is installed at the main electrical panel to divert excess voltage safely to ground. This helps safeguard sensitive electronics and major appliances from surges caused by lightning activity, power grid fluctuations, and equipment cycling. Over time, even small surges can degrade internal components—this upgrade helps extend the lifespan of household systems and devices.

Warranty notes: Coverage is secondary to your homeowner’s insurance and excludes direct lightning strikes. Typical “covered equipment” includes major appliances, HVAC equipment located inside the home, wiring, outlets/switches, electrical components, and other hard‑wired devices when protected by a properly connected SPD. Security systems and medical equipment are excluded.

Code, Compliance, and AFCI Considerations

As Raleigh inspectors continue implementing the NEC 2020 code cycle, some circuits may require AFCI protection. While AFCI breakers greatly improve fire safety, they can immediately trip if a preexisting wiring condition exists—such as a shared neutral on a circuit. When that occurs, additional diagnostic time may be needed to locate and correct the issue, which can involve methodically inspecting devices on the affected circuits.

Project Logistics

  • Utility coordination: We scheduled the power drop to perform the meter/main swap safely and efficiently.
  • Temporary power options: Upon request, Touchstone can make a generator available for limited power usage during the outage.
  • Scope boundaries: The core package does not include the cost of a new riser/weatherhead, service entrance cable to the weatherhead, or feeder/conduit to downstream panels if needed. If these items are required, our team can provide options.

Customer Experience

After completion, Erin praised our Raleigh team with a positive review, highlighting the care, coordination, and quality we bring to Panels & Service Upgrades and Meter Base & Service Replacement projects across Raleigh, NC.

Choose Touchstone Electric — Raleigh

From permitting and utility scheduling to final inspection, our licensed electricians deliver safe, code‑compliant installations designed for long‑term reliability. If you’re planning a 200A service upgrade, meter base replacement, or whole‑home surge protector in Raleigh, our local team is ready to help.