ABR Electric’s 2026 Video: Switching to Eaton CH 200 Amp Panels – What It Costs, Why It’s Great, and New Rules

McKinney, Texas, United States, 24th Feb 2026 – ABR Electric is a top licensed electrician company that serves Collin County and the greater DFW area. Today, they shared important info about switching to the Eaton CH 200 Amp electrical panel. As more homes and businesses use things like electric car chargers and smart devices that need a lot of power, upgrading panels is key for staying safe and working well. With the new 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) rules now in place, ABR Electric points out the costs, new trends, and rule changes to help Texas homeowners choose wisely.

The Eaton CH 200 Amp panel is a common pick for home upgrades. It has a simple design that makes setup easier and cuts down on work time. It offers better protection for circuits and works with new breakers. It’s great for replacing old 100 Amp systems in older houses. As Nathan from ABR Electric explained during a job, “changes or alterations to the electrical system, which in fact, we are doing here today because, as I mentioned, we’re replacing the panel. So, you come over here, we are going with an Eaton CH 200 amp panel with a main breaker.” He added that it’s often “doing essentially just a straight swap. The existing panel was a 150 amp. So, the feeder wires there coming from the overhead feed from Oncor, unfortunately, is only one. So, we are going to be upsizing the feeder wires there as well, bumping that up to two wiring. So, we can get this client safely up to 200 amps for this new 200 amp panel.”

 Eaton CH 200 Amp Panel Upgrade Costs in North Texas in 2026 Nathan at ABR Electric in Plano, Texas, said something like this “on average is going to cost about $6,000 to $8,000.” He warned that “If people are quoting you 10 to $15,000 for something like what we’re doing right here, it’s likely too much.” This price is for a straightforward replacement and includes:

• A 200 amp electrical panel, upgrading the electrical system from older models.
• An outside disconnect, which one of the crew members, Billy, was working on.
• Confirmation that the grounding system is “good and intact.” Nathan noted, “Of course, now when we’re doing this, we have to bring everything up to current code. So, we check things like the primary grounding method. So, in this home, it will be a cold water bond and then your ground rods then is the secondary on the outside of the home.”
• A whole-home surge protector, specifically the “Vortex, the PSP Vortex series R ’cause it just has a fantastic rating, specs, and warranty.” The surge protector comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
• A permit and inspections. Nathan said this covers “What we shoot for is getting this inspected on the front end so we can get a meter release inspection. So that basically allows us to get the power turned back on for the client as soon as possible.”

The Eaton CH panel comes with a lifetime warranty, and ABR Electric provides a two-year warranty on their workmanship and the parts they supply. People might save money with rebates for energy-saving upgrades. ABR Electric gives free talks to make custom price plans. They focus on safe, insured work that follows Texas rules.

Main 2026 NEC Rule Changes for Panel Upgrades The 2026 NEC brings updates for better safety, modern tech, and power use. It doesn’t force changes on old systems unless big fixes are happening. Key changes are:

• More Labels for Arc Flash: All main power gear now needs labels to keep workers safe during fixes.
• Disconnect Spots: For homes with one or two families, power shut-offs must be outside or easy to reach, even in older setups.
• Updates for GFCI and Special Protectors: New options for high-frequency protectors on air conditioners, with old exceptions ending on September 1, 2026, to fix matching problems.
• Power Management Systems: Moved to a new section, these let smart controls balance power and skip expensive full upgrades.
• Higher Voltage Rules: New parts for systems over 1000 volts, helping with solar and electric car setups.

These rules focus on strong systems for green energy and electric cars. No need to upgrade old panels unless swapping main gear or adding power-hungry items.

New Trends in Panel Upgrades for 2026 The electrical world is changing fast, with 2026 trends on smart and green options:

• Smart Panels with Tech: Panels that watch power use, predict fixes with AI, and let you control them via apps.
• Ready for Electric Cars and Solar: Upgrades with two-way charging and more power (like 200A as the norm) for clean energy.
• Protection from Surges and Strong Systems: Whole-home guards against power spikes and setups for small local power grids during bad weather.
• Better Efficiency and Auto Features: Switching to LED lights, systems to balance loads, and digital plans for quicker work.

Company Details

Organization: ABR Electric

Contact Person: James Adams

Website: https://abrelectric.com/frisco

Email: Send Email

Contact Number: +12146901941

Address: 1971 Univ Business Dr #106, McKinney, TX 75071

City: McKinney

State: Texas

Country: United States

Release Id: 24022641799