Homeowner guide
How a service upgrade works with Eversource and United Illuminating
Short version. The electrician owns the process, but the utility owns the calendar. In Eversource towns the contractor files a service request at least 15 days before the work and finishes within 60 days; in United Illuminating towns (Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, Milford) the contractor files a Service Location Request, gets a UI job number, and UI sets the meter only after the town's inspection is posted. Standard residential service from Eversource is 200A single-phase.
The sequence, Eversource territory
- Service request. Required for "any new, relocated, upgraded, changed, removed or temporary service," including load data, before work starts (Information & Requirements §118). Replacing the meter socket, service entrance or mast counts as a change (§137). Requests are normally filed by the licensed contractor and assigned to a technician within two business days (Eversource FAQ).
- Permit. Town electrical permit with the service request number on it. Town fees →
- Cut and reconnect day. Under the Residential Cut and Reconnect Policy (overhead services ≤400A), the E-1/E-9 electrician cuts at the weatherhead, replaces the service entrance, meter socket and panel, reconnects, and reinstalls the existing meter — common for 60–100A → 100–200A upgrades. Service request number obtained ≥15 days prior; work complete within 60 days.
- Meter socket. Must be from Eversource's approved list; all sockets require lever-operated bypass jaws with a safety flash shield (list dated September 17, 2024).
- Inspection. The town inspector signs off; the electrician reports any code violation to Eversource.
- Reseal. Eversource reseals or installs the meter. Homeowner-permit jobs (owner-occupied single-family, I&R §114) do not qualify for cut-and-reconnect — Eversource de-energizes and reconnects after municipal approval.
The sequence, United Illuminating territory
- Service Location Request online (or via UI Customer Care); UI assigns a job number that the town needs for approval — Bridgeport requires the UI work order number on the permit application.
- Permit and work. Per UI's 2017 Guidebook (§5.4), an E-1/E-9 (or supervised E-2/apprentice) may cut and reconnect overhead single-phase services up to 200A after contacting UI; work is completed within 15 days of the service date. Homeowners may install only de-energized services.
- Inspection posted. "Construction acceptance" must be in UI's system before scheduling or energizing.
- Meter. UI installs the meter after municipal inspection; the old meter must not be reinstalled. Unauthorized de-energizing is billed.
Who does what
| Task | Homeowner | Licensed electrician | Utility | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Load calculation, scope, estimate | Provides appliance list | Owns | ||
| Service request / job number | Files | Issues, assigns technician | ||
| Permit | May pull if owner-occupied (CGS §20-340) | Normally pulls | Issues, inspects | |
| Cut, replace, reconnect | Never | E-1/E-9 under policy | Otherwise the utility | |
| Meter | Eversource: reinstalls existing | Eversource reseals; UI installs new | Inspection first | |
| Point-of-attachment / drop changes | Requests | Approves and performs |
What to ask before you sign
- "Which utility, and what's the service request or job number?" If they don't know the utility for your address, they haven't done many of these here.
- "Is my service overhead or underground, and is it within the cut-and-reconnect policy?" Underground and >400A services are utility-scheduled.
- "Which approved meter socket are you installing?"
- "Same-day power restoration, or is there a utility visit between inspection and reseal?" In UI towns, meter installation follows the posted inspection — ask how that's timed.
Ready for a real number?
Planning ranges are not quotes. A licensed Connecticut electrician prices your panel after seeing it.
Request a free estimate →Sources (checked 2026-09-10)
- Eversource CT — Information & Requirements for Electric Service, 2024 Edition (PDF) — https://www.eversource.com/docs/default-source/ct---pdfs/ct-information-requirements-booklet.pdf — page dated 2024
- Eversource CT — Residential Cut and Reconnect Policy (PDF) — https://www.eversource.com/docs/default-source/ct---pdfs/cut-and-reconnect-policy.pdf?sfvrsn=db0ced62_15 — page dated 2018-05-01
- Eversource — Electric Service FAQ for builders and contractors — https://www.eversource.com/residential/about/doing-business-with-us/builders-contractors/electric-service-faq — no date on page
- Eversource — Connecticut approved meter sockets (PDF) — https://www.eversource.com/docs/default-source/doing-business/connecticut-approved-meter-sockets.pdf — page dated 2024-09-17
- Eversource — Homeowner guidelines — https://www.eversource.com/residential/services/construction-renovation/references-resources/homeowners-guidelines — no date on page
- United Illuminating — Install or upgrade service — https://www.uinet.com/account/moving/install_upgrade_service — no date on page
- United Illuminating — Guidebook of Requirements for Electric Service, 2017 (PDF) — https://www.uinet.com/documents/1678076/1704062/UI_Guidebook_for_Requirements_for_Electric_Service_08-17-2017_doc_16051.pdf/abb2df72-a0c1-9743-6821-f78dfae87cb8?version=1.0&t=1643355982375 — page dated 2017-08-17
- HomeGuide — panel replacement duration — https://homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-replace-electrical-panel — page dated 2024-12-30
- TJF Electric (CT) — one-day upgrade timeline — https://tjfelectric.com/guides/electrical-panel-upgrade-cost/ — page dated 2026-06