More power for the way Sarasota homes and businesses actually run now: central AC, pool equipment, an EV charger, a generator, a kitchen remodel or a light-commercial build-out that outgrew the original drop. We upgrade 60-, 100- and 150-amp services to 200 amps, and larger renovations to 320 or 400 amps when the load calculation calls for it. We pull the City of Sarasota or Sarasota County permit and coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with Florida Power & Light (FPL). Sarasota is about 38 straight-line miles from our Seminole shop across the Sunshine Skyway, so service upgrades here are planned, scheduled work — never a same-day response promise. Licensed (EC#13014717).
Call (727) 476-7079 or request a service upgrade assessment. Office 7 AM–5 PM, weekend service, 24/7 emergency calls.
Why Sarasota services run short
The City of Sarasota has about 57,000 residents, and the median home was built in 1976 (Census ACS 2020–2024). The electrical story splits by neighborhood:
- Downtown, Rosemary District, Gillespie Park and Laurel Park homes that started with 60- or 100-amp services never meant for central AC, electric cooking and modern appliances all at once
- 1970s–90s subdivisions toward Fruitville, Bee Ridge and Southgate, where a pool heater, second heat pump and now an EV charger have piled onto a 100- or 150-amp drop
- Barrier-island and bayfront houses on Lido Key and around St. Armands, where the mast and meter can are weathered and flood-zone rules affect what can be replaced
- Unincorporated Sarasota mailing addresses that look like city jobs on paper but permit through the county
- Retail and restaurant spaces along Main Street, Fruitville Road and Tamiami Trail that need more capacity before a tenant change
Signs the service can’t keep up: the main breaker trips, lights dim hard when the AC starts, the load calculation for an EV or pool heater comes back short, or an insurer or buyer calls the service undersized.
Service upgrade or panel upgrade?
We’ll tell you which one you actually need:
- A panel upgrade in Sarasota replaces the breaker panel. The power coming into the house stays the same. Many corrosion and 4-point problems are solved here.
- A service upgrade increases the power coming in. That typically includes a new meter can, service entrance conductors, a main disconnect, grounding and bonding and often a new panel, with FPL disconnecting and reconnecting. Going above 200 amps usually means a 320-amp meter base feeding two panels, and FPL may need to upsize the line to your house.
Load calculation first
We add up your existing and planned loads using the National Electrical Code method and show you the result.
- Sometimes the existing service is fine and a bigger panel or a subpanel solves the problem.
- Sometimes load management avoids the upgrade. A load-managed EV charger, or a SPAN smart panel in Sarasota with SPAN PowerUp™, can pause or slow big loads to keep the home within its service rating, which can sometimes avoid a utility service upgrade.^ We’re a SPAN Authorized Installer with 20 SPAN installs.
- Sometimes the upgrade is the right call, especially when you’re adding several big loads at once or the meter can and mast are already failing. Then every part of the job goes on its own line of your quote.
Planning an EV? See EV charger installation in Sarasota.
What’s different about a Sarasota / FPL service upgrade
- Utility is FPL. Service requirements, meter sockets and disconnect/reconnect scheduling follow Florida Power & Light’s process. We handle that coordination so you’re not calling a utility desk between remodel deadlines.
- City vs. County permitting. Inside city limits it’s the City of Sarasota Building & Permitting online portal. Unincorporated Sarasota County addresses with a Sarasota mailing address go through Sarasota County Accela Citizen Access, which lists electrical service-change work as an electrical trade permit.
- Overhead and underground. Older downtown streets often still have overhead drops that need a new mast and weatherhead. Newer subdivisions and many island streets are underground; the utility is generally responsible for the lateral and the meter, and the owner is responsible for the meter can and everything on the house side.
- Flood zones. Bayfront and Lido Key streets may sit in FEMA flood zones. Equipment heights and whether the work counts as a substantial improvement can matter. We check before we quote.
- HOAs and condo boards. Exterior meter and disconnect changes can need architectural or board review. We provide equipment specs and photos if asked.
Distance and scheduling from Seminole
Our shop is at 6248 Seminole Blvd, Seminole, FL 33772. Sarasota is about 38 miles away in a straight line and farther by road across the Skyway, well outside our ~15-mile emergency and small-job response area. That makes it Tier 3: planned, high-ticket work only. We schedule the assessment and the install day; we do not promise a response time across the Skyway, and we don’t dispatch small service calls this far out. Office 7 AM–5 PM, weekend service available, and emergency calls are answered 24/7. For an emergency in Sarasota we’ll be honest about the drive and whether a closer electrician makes more sense.
What’s included
- New meter can and service equipment as required by FPL and the City or County
- 320-amp meter base and dual panels where the load calls for more than 200 amps
- New mast and weatherhead for overhead services
- New panel, Good (ABB) or Best (Siemens) options, with every circuit tested and labeled
- Whole-house surge protection, required by the electrical code adopted in Florida when a home’s service equipment is replaced. See whole-house surge protection.
- Grounding and bonding brought up to current code
- Permit, inspection and FPL coordination
How it works with us
- Site visit and load calculation: meter, panel, service lateral or drop, grounding and what you plan to add.
- Itemized quote after the site visit. Every part of the job on its own line. No service upgrade prices over the phone.
- City of Sarasota or Sarasota County permit.
- FPL coordination for the disconnect, reconnect and any line upsizing.
- Installation day. Power is typically off for part of the day. We’ll tell you the plan ahead of time.
- Inspection and reconnect. We meet the inspector, FPL restores power, and you get a labeled circuit directory.
Warranty, financing and scheduling
- 3-year workmanship warranty, extended to 5 years for Member Care Plan members.
- Financing available through Acorn Finance, subject to credit approval. Check your options without affecting your credit score. Ask us and we’ll include the financing link with your itemized quote.
- Hours: office 7 AM–5 PM, weekend service, and 24/7 emergency calls. Sarasota service upgrades are scheduled.
Why Sarasota homeowners call Keywest Lights & Electric
- Licensed electrical contractor, EC#13014717, in business since 2010
- Seminole shop, scheduled Sarasota work. About 38 miles across the Skyway, and we say so up front
- City or County permits and FPL coordination on permitted service work
- Residential and commercial, bondable to $1M, with projects up to $2M
- Woman-owned, family-run business and Home Depot preferred contractor
- Solar and battery systems are installed by our licensed partner installers; we handle the electrical work and manage the project
Sarasota service upgrade FAQ
How much does a service upgrade cost in Sarasota? It depends on your current service, the amperage you need, whether it’s overhead or underground, the meter can and panels, grounding, City vs. County permitting, flood-zone rules, and FPL’s requirements. We give you an itemized quote after a site visit.
My home already has 200 amps. Do I need 400? Most homes don’t. A 200-amp service handles a lot when loads are managed well. Large homes adding two EVs, pool heat and a second AC sometimes do need more. We run the load calculation and show you the numbers before recommending anything.
Who issues the permit for a service upgrade in Sarasota? The City of Sarasota inside city limits, and Sarasota County for unincorporated addresses. We confirm which from your address and pull the permit.
Can I add an EV charger without a service upgrade? Often, yes. A load-managed charger or a SPAN panel with SPAN PowerUp can keep the home within its service rating. PowerUp requires qualification and enrollment, and results are site-specific. See EV chargers in Sarasota.
How long will my power be off? Typically part of one day. FPL has to disconnect and reconnect, and we coordinate the timing with them and tell you the plan ahead of time.
Do you also upgrade service in Bradenton? Yes. See service upgrades in Bradenton.
Sarasota homeowners and business owners: call (727) 476-7079 or request an assessment.
^ Requires qualification and enrollment in SPAN PowerUp to avoid a utility service upgrade. Results are site-specific. SPAN® and SPAN PowerUp™ are trademarks of Span.IO, Inc. Keywest Lights & Electric is an independent SPAN Authorized Installer.
Related: Electrical Service Upgrades · Electrician in Sarasota, FL · Panel upgrades in Sarasota · EV chargers in Sarasota · SPAN in Sarasota · Service upgrades in Bradenton · SPAN in Longboat Key & Lakewood Ranch · Generator installation · Service upgrades in Lakewood Ranch