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200 Amp Service Upgrade Ann Arbor, MI
New meter socket, mast and main breaker for older Ann Arbor homes, planned around the trees, the historic streets and the city permit. Free written quote.
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3D Electric plans and installs every 200 Amp Service Upgrade Ann Arbor, MI job we take on, from the weatherhead down to the main breaker, for houses in the city and in Pittsfield and Scio Townships. Ann Arbor has plenty of older homes still running on 60 or 100 amp service, and many of their service drops pass through tall street trees. This page on 200 Amp Service Upgrade Ann Arbor, MI explains what changes on a job here: the canopy, the historic districts, the hills and the permit office.
We are a family-owned, licensed and insured electrical contractor based in Belleville, about 20 miles east along I-94, with about two decades in the trade. For a full rundown of the equipment itself, read our guide to 200 amp service upgrades across Southeast Michigan. For everything else we wire in town, start at the Ann Arbor electrician page.
Lectro's tip
Snap a photo of your meter and the label inside your panel door before you call, so the first conversation already covers your amps.
Why older Ann Arbor homes run short on amps
Ann Arbor counted about 49,000 households in 2020, and many live in houses built long before central air and electric cars. A 60 or 100 amp service was plenty for gas heat, a gas range and a window unit. It gets tight fast when the house goes electric.
What tips the balance
A heat pump in place of a gas furnace or boiler.
A Level 2 EV charger in the garage or driveway.
An induction or electric range, or an electric dryer.
A finished basement, an addition or a backyard studio.
A load calculation at the free estimate shows how much margin your current service really has. Sometimes 100 amps still works with load management. When it does not, 200 amps is the usual next step.
Grounding in older houses
Some older homes rely on a single bond to a metal water pipe. When a plumber swaps part of that pipe for plastic, the bond can be lost without anyone noticing. A new service brings the ground rods and bonding up to what the inspector checks for today.
Service drops under Tree Town's canopy
Ann Arbor's nickname is Tree Town, and on many streets the overhead drop runs through big limbs before it reaches the house. More than 176,000 DTE customers lost power in the storm of July 26, 2023, and the National Weather Service reported fallen trees and limbs in the Ann Arbor area. One heavy branch on a drop can bend the mast, pull the weatherhead loose or tear the meter socket off the siding.
Who owns which part
DTE owns the drop wires and the meter. The mast, weatherhead, service conductors and meter socket on the house are yours. DTE says it is investing in Ann Arbor's grid through 2029, including a rebuild in southeast Ann Arbor, but that work stays on the utility side of the meter.
Height and clearance
A new mast is set tall enough that the drop clears the roof, the driveway and the yard as code requires. If branches already rest on the line, ask DTE about trimming before the service day.
Meter changes on the Old West Side and other historic streets
The Old West Side joined the National Register in 1972, and city ordinances protect it. A 200 amp upgrade can move the meter, add an outdoor disconnect or raise a new mast. Each of those changes how the house looks from the street.
Before the plan is final, ask the city whether your address needs historic review for that change. Where DTE's meter rules allow it, setting the new socket where the old one sat keeps the visible change small. We settle the location with you before the written quote is done.
Underground service on hilly, wooded lots
Ground level in Ann Arbor runs from about 750 to 1,015 feet, and the slopes get steeper toward the Huron River. Some owners bury the service to get it out of the trees. Others need a feeder to a detached garage, a workshop or a studio at the back of a deep lot.
Planning the trench
We walk the path with you and look for the shortest run that misses large root zones.
MISS DIG 811 marks buried gas, water and cable lines before anyone digs.
On a slope, the trench may follow the grade or turn around a retaining wall.
Depth and conduit type follow code and DTE's requirements, confirmed for your address.
Permits in the city, Pittsfield and Scio
For a house inside city limits, the electrical permit comes from the City of Ann Arbor Building Department, part of the Build, Rent, Inspect unit at 301 E. Huron St. Applications go through the city's STREAM online system. Addresses in Pittsfield Township or Scio Township use their own township offices instead.
An Ann Arbor mailing address does not always mean a city parcel, so check your tax bill or ask the office. Confirm current requirements for your address before the work is scheduled. In most cases the inspector approves the work before DTE reconnects the service.
Rentals and split houses near campus
Some older houses near the University of Michigan campus have been divided into apartments, each with its own meter. Replacing a bank of meters means sizing the feed for the whole building and labeling every unit's disconnect. Landlords should plan the shutoff with tenants well ahead.
How an Ann Arbor service upgrade comes together
Photos and a call. Send pictures of the meter, mast and panel when you call. We drive in from Belleville, so photos help us plan the visit.
Free estimate on site. We check the service, the panel and the grounding, then run the load calculation.
Written quote. Scope and price in writing before work starts, with no hidden charges. Financing is available.
Permit and DTE scheduling. We file for the permit and set the disconnect date with DTE.
Work day, inspection and reconnect. Power goes off, the new equipment goes in, and power returns after approval.
Most service changes include a new breaker panel, covered on our page about panel replacement for Ann Arbor homes. With the service open, it is also a good time to add circuits for new lighting in Ann Arbor houses.
Thinking about backup power later? Size the service and the transfer switch together. We have installed a generator in Ann Arbor, and our generator installation work in Ann Arbor covers that side. For the company in town, see the 3D Electric Ann Arbor overview. Ready to start? Use the Ann Arbor quote request form or our main contact page.
Related pages
Panels, lighting, EV chargers and repair
The equipment and process in detail
The breaker panel inside the house
Standby power sized to your service
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. A load calculation shows whether your current service can carry the heat pump along with everything else. A 100 amp service often runs short once a heat pump and an EV charger are both on the list, and 200 amps leaves room for both.
For a city parcel, the City of Ann Arbor Building Department issues it through the STREAM system. Pittsfield and Scio Township addresses go through their own offices. Confirm current requirements for your address before work is scheduled.
Maybe. The district is protected by city ordinances, so ask the city about historic review before planning an exterior change. DTE also has its own rules for where a meter can go.
Stay away from the wires and call 911, then DTE. DTE handles its drop and the meter. We rebuild the mast, weatherhead and meter socket once DTE has made its line safe, and 24-hour emergency service is available.
Usually. The trench may follow the grade or bend around roots and retaining walls. We walk the path with you and have buried lines marked through MISS DIG 811 before quoting the dig.
Yes. We serve Ann Arbor addresses in the city and in both townships. The permit office changes with the parcel, and we plan the job around whichever office covers your address.