Eric_Scantlebury wrote:

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
With moderate DIY skills and an average tool kit, you should be able to
complete the job for $300 worth of materials and an afternoon's work.
That's what it took me.

Well, I know a 200 amp load center is fairly cheap ($150 or so) but I would
need to replace both the wiring into the 100 amp service (the existing
aluminum is not "big" enought) and I believe the meter would need to be
changed. I'm good with simple wiring and circuits (i.e. anything past the
panel in the house) but I am not confident enough to do this type of
upgrade, even if the electric company would let me.

If the meter socket through the load center needs to be replaced and
there are not complicating factors (difficult location, existing
circuits in really bad shape, etc.) it should run between $1,000 -
$1,500 and take most of a day to complete.

'Bub's comments on the DIY side are pretty much correct unless you opt
for higher end components. A friend had to upgrade his house from 60A
fuse to 100A breaker (small house no justification for 200A), and with
an evening of instruction he did the DIY in roughly the same time and
cost.

I did an upgrade myself a couple years ago from 200A service to 200A
service Actually it was replacing a 200A POS Stab-Loc incendiary
device with a 200A Square D QO load center in the house and upgrading
the sub in my shop 80' away to a 125A QO load center along with
installing all new conduit and wire underground to the shop. It took me
about two days to complete (not counting trenching the concrete like
clay) and ran around $1,500 which also included a complete internal
rewire in the shop.