Once you have decided to replace the panel, the questions change: how long will the power be off, who calls FPL, does someone need to be home, and what happens if the inspector comes late? This guide walks through the usual sequence for a Miami house or condo so the day holds no surprises. Every job differs in the details, and your contractor will give you the plan for yours before work starts.
Before the day: the permit
Panel replacement is permitted work. A licensed electrical contractor applies for the permit with the building department that covers your address, which in Miami-Dade may be the county or your city. Our guides to Miami-Dade electrical permits, City of Miami permits and Miami Beach permits describe the offices. In a condo, the building may also want an approval form and the contractor's certificate of insurance in advance; see condo electrical repairs.
Before the day: FPL
FPL has to cut power at its side so the panel and service can be worked on safely, then restore it. FPL's project types page sets out its process for this kind of job:
- A disconnect and reconnect is requested online through FPL's application. For single-phase residential service there is a self-service option.
- FPL says it generally takes one to two weeks before an appointment is scheduled, and dates are set case by case.
- If the work touches the meter enclosure, FPL needs an electrical inspection from the local authority before it can schedule the reconnection.
- FPL says its disconnect and reconnect appointments must not exceed four hours, and that if work runs longer it cannot promise reconnection the same day.
- Where FPL's own equipment has to be upgraded, that is a different project with its own outage.
Your contractor will tell you who books the appointment and how the inspection is lined up with it, because that is what sets how long you are without power.
Getting the house ready
- Clear a path to the panel and the meter, and move anything stored in front of either.
- Plan for the refrigerator and freezer to be off; keep doors closed and use a cooler for anything you cannot lose.
- Charge phones and laptops. Wi-Fi, garage door openers, gates and alarm panels will be off.
- Shut down computers properly so they are not cut off mid-task.
- If anyone at home depends on powered medical equipment, tell your contractor when the job is booked so the timing can be planned around it.
- Secure pets, and tell us about gate codes and parking.
In summer, a house without AC heats up quickly. Many owners plan to be out for the middle of the day.
The day itself
With power off at the meter, the old panel is disconnected and removed and the new one is mounted. Each circuit is reconnected to a breaker sized for its wire, and circuits that need AFCI or GFCI protection get it. If the job includes the meter base, riser or service conductors, those are replaced too. Grounding is brought up to current requirements, and on a replaced service the code now calls for surge protection; see what drives replacement scope for those items. Anything found once the old panel is out, such as damaged wires or undocumented circuits, is explained to you before it is dealt with.
Inspection and reconnect
The building department's inspector checks the work against the permit. For work that touches the meter enclosure, FPL relies on that inspection before reconnecting, so the order matters: when the inspection is done in time, FPL can restore power; when it is not, the house stays off until the reconnection. If an inspector finds something to correct, it is fixed and re-inspected; our guide to a failed electrical inspection explains how that works.
Labeling and testing
A new panel deserves an accurate directory. Every breaker should be labeled with what it actually controls, not "lights" or "misc." Once power is back, each circuit is checked: AC, water heater, range, outlets in each room, GFCI and AFCI test buttons. Walk the house with us and flag anything that does not work the way it did. Some electronic clocks, ovens and thermostats will need resetting.
Paperwork to keep
- The permit number and the passed final inspection.
- The invoice describing what was replaced and the new panel's brand and size.
- Photos of the new panel, open with the label visible, and closed.
Those are what an insurer or the next 4-point inspector will ask for. See the 4-point inspection and your panel and when an insurer flags a panel.
Questions people ask
Do I need to be home?
Usually someone needs to let us in at the start and be available at the end to walk through the house. In a condo, building rules may require it. We will tell you when you book.
How long will the power be off?
It depends on the scope and on how the FPL appointment and inspection line up. We tell you what to plan for before work starts, not on the day.
What if a storm is coming?
Outdoor service work and FPL appointments may be rescheduled for weather. Hurricane season is a good reason to plan replacement early rather than at the last minute. See storm readiness.
If your panel is not ready for replacement but has a problem now, start with electrical panel repair. If you are planning a larger service or more capacity, our panel upgrade page explains how we plan it.
Need it looked at?
KRW Electric (EC13012832) troubleshoots and repairs panels and services before and after a replacement in Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, South Miami and Miami Beach, with same-day service when scheduling permits. Call (305) 359-7312 and tell us what you are seeing. We will ask a few questions, tell you whether it sounds urgent, and give you the earliest time we have. Our before you call checklist covers what to have ready, and what happens on a repair visit explains the rest.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
