FAST ELECTRIC SPOKANE · GUIDE
100 amp vs 200 amp: which panel does your home need?
The number on your main breaker - 100 or 200 - is the size of your home’s electrical supply. Here is what it means in plain terms and how to decide if an upgrade is worth it.
Updated October 16, 2026
Published October 16, 2026
What the amperage number means
Amps measure how much electrical current your home can draw at once. Every device you run - range, dryer, water heater, furnace blower, EV charger, hot tub - adds to that draw. A 100 amp panel can supply roughly half of what a 200 amp panel can. The number is printed on the main breaker at the top of your panel.
When 100 amps is enough
Plenty of Spokane homes run fine on 100 amps, especially smaller homes with gas heat, a gas water heater and no EV. If your breakers never trip under normal use and you are not adding major loads, there is no rule that says you must upgrade.
When 200 amps makes sense
- Adding an EV charger. A Level 2 charger draws 32-48 amps by itself - a big share of a 100 amp supply.
- A hot tub, sauna or workshop. Large dedicated loads stack up fast.
- An addition or finished basement. More space means more circuits.
- Switching from gas to electric. Heat pumps, induction ranges and electric water heaters all add steady load.
- An old or full panel. If the panel is out of spaces for new breakers, an upgrade solves capacity and room at once.
What an upgrade involves
A panel upgrade means a new panel, usually a new meter base and often a new service entrance cable. It needs a permit - through the City of Spokane inside city limits, or Washington State L&I elsewhere in the county - and the utility (Avista in most of the Spokane area) disconnects and reconnects the power. Most homes are without power for part of one working day. Read the full sequence in our Avista panel upgrade process guide, and what drives price in the panel upgrade cost guide.
Not sure what you have? Call (509) 239-5654 - we can often tell from a photo of your panel, and confirm on a visit.
Common questions
How do I know if my panel is 100 or 200 amps?
Open the panel door and look at the main breaker at the top - the amperage is printed on the switch. If it says 100, you have a 100 amp service; 200 means 200 amp.
Do I need 200 amps for an EV charger?
Not always, but often. A Level 2 charger draws 32-48 amps on its own. On a 100 amp service with electric heat or an electric range, there may not be room; an electrician can do a load calculation to know for sure.
Does a 200 amp panel use more electricity?
No. The panel size is capacity, not consumption. You pay for what you use either way - a larger panel simply lets you run more at once safely.
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Fast Electric Spokane · 12 N Grant St, Spokane, WA 99202