A main-panel replacement can be finished, inspected, and ready to energize, yet the property can still be left without power if the PG&E-side work is not handled by a properly qualified contractor. Homeowners are now hearing that “ITS certification card, identity card with photo id, now required for all electricians to work on both over head and underground pg&e main panels or pg&e may not hook you back up, as of this march 29th, 2026.” The practical message is clear: before hiring an electrician for a PG&E service upgrade or main-panel change, confirm that the contractor is qualified for the type of utility service at your property.
What the ITS Photo ID Requirement Means for PG&E Work
An ITS certification card with photo identification is used to verify that a contractor and qualified workers are authorized for specific PG&E system work. This is not the same thing as holding a California electrical contractor license, carrying insurance, or being able to install a new panel inside the building. Those credentials still matter. They do not automatically establish authorization to perform work involving PG&E overhead or underground service equipment.
For a service-panel project, there are usually two separate sides of the job. The customer-owned side includes the main electrical panel, meter-main equipment where applicable, service conductors, grounding, bonding, breakers, and circuits inside the property. The utility side may include the service drop, service lateral, meter-related coordination, connection point, and the process for disconnecting and restoring power.
The exact division of responsibility varies by service configuration and project scope. That is why a contractor needs to look at the existing equipment before quoting a panel replacement. A simple 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade in an older Oakland home is not automatically a simple job if the service is overhead, the mast is damaged, the meter location must change, or the existing feeder path is inadequate.
Overhead and Underground PG&E Main Panels Are Different Jobs
Overhead service is common on older East Bay homes. Power arrives from a pole through a service drop, often connecting at a weatherhead and service mast. A panel upgrade may require a new mast, new service entrance conductors, corrected attachment height, proper clearances, and new meter-main equipment. The work has to be planned around utility disconnect and reconnect procedures, not just the panel installation.
Underground service brings a different set of problems. The service lateral may run through conduit from a transformer or utility connection point to the meter. Conduit size, pulling access, underground splices, trenching, damaged raceways, and meter locations can all affect the schedule and cost. A deteriorated underground conduit can turn an otherwise straightforward panel upgrade into a larger civil and electrical project.
Neither configuration is automatically harder, but both require the contractor to understand the PG&E process. An electrician who regularly replaces interior panels may be excellent at branch-circuit work and still not be equipped to coordinate a utility-side service change. That is the gap the ITS qualification is intended to address.
Why a Reconnect Can Be Delayed
PG&E does not reconnect power simply because a new panel looks complete. The job must meet the requirements for that service, the permit and inspection process must be handled correctly, and the utility must be able to safely complete its part of the work. If the contractor lacks the needed qualification for the service arrangement, the customer may face a delayed reconnect or need to bring in another qualified contractor.
That delay can be expensive. A home without power may have no refrigeration, no heating equipment, no internet, no garage access, and no ability to charge an EV. For a rental property, a delayed reconnect can disrupt tenants and create a serious management problem. For a home sale, it can interfere with a closing or a repair contingency.
The risk is highest when the project is rushed after a failed inspection, a burned main breaker, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel discovery, storm damage, or a last-minute requirement from a buyer’s inspector. Those are the situations where homeowners are tempted to hire whoever can arrive first. Fast service is valuable, but service-equipment work needs the right qualifications before the power is disconnected.
Questions to Ask Before You Approve a PG&E Panel Upgrade
Ask the electrician whether your service is overhead or underground and whether that changes the scope of work. If the answer is vague, the contractor may not have inspected the job carefully enough. A qualified contractor should be able to identify the service type, explain what equipment is being replaced, and describe the likely disconnect, inspection, and reconnect sequence.
Ask whether the contractor is registered and qualified through ITS for the relevant PG&E work, and request verification of the photo ID card when applicable. Do not assume that a business license, a C-10 license number, or a prior panel replacement proves that qualification. Those are separate issues.
Also ask who will pull the electrical permit, who will be present for inspection issues, and who is responsible if PG&E identifies a problem at the connection point. A written estimate should make clear whether it covers the panel only or also includes a meter-main, service mast, grounding upgrades, permit work, utility coordination, trenching, and repairs to stucco, siding, or concrete.
The lowest estimate is often low because it excludes work that cannot be seen from a quick walk-through. That does not mean every panel job needs a full service replacement. It means the electrician should explain what is known, what must be verified, and what could change once equipment is opened or PG&E requirements are confirmed.
ITS Certification Does Not Replace Electrical Safety Work
A photo ID certification card is one part of a properly handled PG&E main-panel project. It does not eliminate the need for code-compliant installation. The new service equipment still needs correct grounding and bonding, proper breaker sizing, approved working clearances, correctly sized conductors, and a panel that matches the building load.
This matters especially in homes with old electrical systems. A panel change may expose unsafe aluminum branch wiring terminations, missing grounding electrode connections, overloaded circuits, obsolete fuse equipment, knob-and-tube wiring, or an undersized service that cannot safely support an EV charger, heat pump, induction range, or added dwelling unit load.
A good service-upgrade estimate considers the actual demand on the property. A 200-amp panel is common, but it is not a magic answer for every building. Some homes need load calculations, feeder upgrades, or correction of dangerous branch-circuit conditions before new equipment can be approved. Small commercial properties may need a different approach altogether, particularly where three-phase equipment, tenant improvements, or added machinery are involved.
Planning the Work So You Are Not Left Without Power
The safest approach is to plan the job before the scheduled shutoff date. The contractor should inspect the panel, meter area, service route, grounding system, and condition of the existing equipment. If the home has an overhead service, the mast and attachment point should be evaluated early. If it has underground service, access and conduit conditions should be discussed before work begins.
Permitting and inspection timing must be coordinated with the utility process. There may be a period when the power is off while the old equipment is removed, the new service equipment is installed, and the necessary approvals are completed. Experienced planning reduces that downtime, but homeowners should be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed same-day reconnect without first reviewing the actual service conditions.
Williams Electric has handled PG&E service upgrades and dangerous-panel replacements for decades, including overhead and underground systems. Geoff Williams is registered through ITS as a qualified PG&E system contractor and has worked on more than 10,000 electrical jobs since 1967. For homeowners dealing with a service-panel change in Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, or Lafayette, the right first step is an on-site evaluation of the existing service – not a guess based on a photo of the breaker panel.
If your panel is damaged, obsolete, overloaded, or being flagged during a sale, ask about the PG&E qualification before the disconnect is scheduled. Getting that answer early can prevent the worst kind of electrical repair delay: a finished panel and a dark house waiting for power to be restored.
