Old Federal Pacific Panel Replacement in the East Bay
Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panels have a well-documented history of breakers that fail to trip. Independent testing has shown failure rates high enough that most insurers now require replacement before they'll renew, which is why so many East Bay homes end up with an insurance-flagged FPE panel. AC3 LLC gives you an insurance letter with before-and-after photos of the replacement, proof the old panel is gone and a new code-compliant panel is in.
We replace FPE panels every week across Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, El Sobrante, San Pablo, Albany, and Berkeley — with expedited scheduling when your insurance deadline is tight.
The Process. We identify the panel and confirm it's FPE. You get a straightforward price. We pull the permit and schedule the work. New SQ D panel goes in, circuits are transferred and labeled. Final inspection is passed and power is restored.
Customers on our Yelp page specifically call out how we get the City permit and inspection sign-off so the job actually gets finished.
Ready for a quote? Call 510-224-5795.
Federal Pacific Panel FAQ
Should you replace a Federal Pacific Electric panel?
Yes. FPE Stab-Lok breakers have a long record of failing to trip, and most insurers now flag them at renewal or sale. AC3 LLC replaces FPE panels with a modern breaker panel, permitted and inspected.
Are Federal Pacific panels still made?
No. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels haven't been made in decades. Replacement breakers you find online are usually used or aftermarket parts, which is why we replace the whole panel instead of swapping breakers.
Can you sell a house with a Federal Pacific panel?
You can, but home inspectors almost always call it out, and buyers' insurers often won't cover the home until it's replaced. Many East Bay sellers replace it before listing to keep the sale on track.
How much does it cost to replace a Federal Pacific panel?
Inside panel replacements start at $2,100 and can go up to $6,000.
Do you replace Federal Pacific panels from Hercules to Berkeley?
Yes. We replace FPE panels in Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, El Sobrante, El Cerrito and South Berkeley, and we pull the permit with your city or Contra Costa County.
How fast can you replace my Federal Pacific panel?
Most Federal Pacific replacements are done in two to four business days. I come out, look at your panel, answer all your questions, and give you a written price the same day. You leave a deposit the next day, I pick up materials, and we're usually finished that day. Permits are pulled within 24 to 48 hours. Call early in the morning and same-day replacement is possible.
Will my new indoor panel be 200 amps?
It depends on what feeds it now. Your indoor panel keeps the same amperage as its existing subfeed, so a 200 amp subfeed stays 200 amps and a 100 or 125 amp subfeed stays at that size. When we install a new outdoor meter/main, we often don't need to touch the indoor panel at all. If your subfeed is under 100 amps, we highly recommend upgrading to a new panel with new arc fault and ground fault breakers where applicable. Upgrading the subfeed to 200 amps is available for an additional price.
