On Sep 13, 4:47*pm, millinghill wrote:
Dear Readers,
I'm getting contractors' quotes on replacing my existing main
electrical panel (The subpanel for the house distribution is circuit
breakers, but the main panel is old 100amp fuse block, not circuit
breakers.). *Some of them are saying that replacement of the line from
the power company to my main box must be done with such a replacement,
and that I should upgrade to 200AMP service while I'm at it.
I've been just fine with 100AMP service. *My house is 1500sqft. *I ran
calcs (following guidelines in an electrical load design book) that
showed even if I "finished" my basement and had window air
conditioners in most rooms, and the electric stove blaring, I would
not exceed 100AMPS. *I can't imagine I will ever install central air,
and my property can't fit a pool. *So, my opinion is I have no big
electric loads in the foreseeable future.

Question #1: to replace main panel, is it standard procedure to
replace service line drop?
Question #2: If #1 is NOT true, should I upgrade to 200AMP service now
just because they're doing the work right there? *Is there a realistic
benefit other than looking good on a real estate listing when I sell
in 20years?

Thanks

Theodore

Depends on how much natural gas you use. If your stove is ng and your
heating is ng and your drier
is ng then 60 amps will do you. But in todays BIGGER is better
society and for re-sale value, I would go with 200.