When your commercial electrical panel runs out of capacity, trips breakers under normal load, or cannot support the equipment your business needs, it is time for an upgrade. Unity Power & Light performs commercial panel upgrades for businesses throughout Aiken, SC -- from small retail spaces to large industrial facilities. We handle load analysis, panel sizing, utility coordination, permitting, installation, and final inspection, with scheduling designed to minimize disruption to your business operations.

Commercial panel upgrades differ significantly from residential work. Higher voltages, three-phase power, larger fault currents, arc flash considerations, and the need to minimize business downtime all add complexity that requires experienced commercial electricians. Our team has the training, equipment, and experience to handle commercial panels safely and efficiently.

When You Need an Upgrade

Out of Breaker Spaces

Every slot is full and you need additional circuits for new equipment, lighting, or HVAC. A larger panel or additional sub-panel provides the capacity you need.

Frequent Breaker Trips

Breakers tripping during normal business operations indicate the panel and circuits cannot handle current demand. The system needs to be resized for actual usage.

Adding Equipment

New kitchen equipment, HVAC systems, manufacturing machinery, or EV chargers may exceed the panel's rated capacity. A load calculation determines whether an upgrade is needed.

Defective Panel Brand

Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and certain Challenger panels have documented breaker failures. In commercial settings with higher voltages, replacing defective panels is a safety priority.

Tenant Buildout

New tenants with different electrical needs may require additional capacity. A panel upgrade as part of the buildout ensures the space meets the new tenant's requirements.

Code or Insurance Requirement

Pulling a renovation permit or renewing insurance on an older building may trigger a requirement to upgrade the electrical panel to current code standards.

Our Process

1

Load Analysis & Assessment

We catalog every load on the system, calculate total demand, and determine the appropriate panel size. We include spare capacity for growth so you do not need another upgrade in five years.

2

Planning & Scheduling

We design the panel layout, coordinate with the utility for any service changes, pull all required permits, and schedule the work at a time that minimizes business disruption. After-hours and weekend installation is available.

3

Installation

We install the new panel, transfer all existing circuits, add new circuits as needed, and balance loads across phases. All connections are torqued to specification and every circuit is labeled. The old panel is removed and properly disposed of.

4

Inspection & Energization

After installation, we schedule the required building department inspection. Once approved, we energize the new panel and verify operation of all circuits before handing the system back to you.

Minimizing Downtime

We understand that every hour of power outage costs your business money. Our downtime reduction strategies include:

After-hours scheduling: Evening, overnight, and weekend installation keeps the outage outside of business hours

Phased upgrades: In some configurations, portions of the building remain powered while other sections are upgraded

Temporary power: Portable generators keep critical systems (refrigeration, servers, alarms) running during the switchover

Pre-staging: New panels and equipment are assembled and tested before the shutdown begins, minimizing the time between disconnecting old and energizing new

Commercial Panel Upgrade in Aiken, SC