Electrical panel upgrades for a heat pump
A heat pump can be one of the largest new electrical loads in a Salt Lake City house, especially in cold weather if electric backup heat is part of the system. That is a reason to run a load calculation. It is not a rule that every heat pump requires a 200-amp service.
What actually uses the capacity
The outdoor unit is a 240-volt compressor load. If the system includes electric resistance backup or strip heat, that backup can draw a substantial additional current when temperatures drop — which is when Salt Lake Valley homes ask the most of a heating system. Existing kitchen, laundry, and other circuits still count. A Level 2 charger or a heat-pump water heater can arrive in the same project. Empty breaker spaces are not spare capacity.
When a panel conversation usually starts
Homeowners with a 60-amp service or a tight 100-amp service should expect the electrician to look at the service, not only at the condenser pad. Possible outcomes include a new circuit on the existing panel, a subpanel, a 100-to-200-amp upgrade, or equipment and control choices that change the backup-heat picture. This page cannot choose among those for you.
Rebates are a separate question
Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Homes program publishes Utah heat-pump incentives for eligible customers — for example, tiered air-source heat-pump rebates that, as of the program pages checked on November 12, 2026, include a $450 cold-climate upgrade amount and higher amounts for qualifying conversions from electric resistance heat. Dual-fuel and other measures have their own tables. Work generally must be done by a participating contractor, and applications have a filing window (the pages reviewed here say 180 days). Rebates are subject to change. They do not automatically pay for a panel or service upgrade, and they do not replace a Salt Lake City electrical permit.
Process and cost context: the permits guide, the day-of guide, and the cost guide. More topics are on the guides hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does a heat pump always require a 200-amp panel in Salt Lake City?
No. A heat pump is a large 240-volt load, and electric backup or strip heat can add still more. A 60-amp or already-full 100-amp service may not have room — or it might, depending on the equipment and the existing calculation. Only a load calculation on your house can say.
Are there Rocky Mountain Power rebates for heat pumps?
Yes, through the Wattsmart Homes program, with eligibility rules that change. Air-source heat-pump rebates for qualifying Utah customers on approved residential rate schedules are published on WattsmartHomes.com; some tiers apply only when converting from electric resistance heat, and work generally has to be done by a participating contractor. A rebate is not the same as a panel upgrade, and amounts can change with notice. Confirm current rules before you count on a number.
Do I need a city permit for the electrical work?
If the job installs or alters the electrical system in Salt Lake City — a new circuit, a panel change, or a service upgrade — Building Services requires a permit, filed through slcpermits.com. The HVAC installation may have its own mechanical permit path. Ask which permits are in the written scope.
What if I am also adding an EV charger?
Treat both loads in the same calculation. A Level 2 charger is typically a continuous load on a large two-pole breaker. Adding it in the same year as a heat pump is a common reason a 100-amp service starts to look tight. See the EV charger guide.
Request a quote
A local licensed electrician can look at your panel, service, and planned loads and give you a written scope. There is no obligation to hire anyone.