While doing a home inspection, I am often asked about the electric service and if there enough amperage for a modern lifestyle. Recent conventional wisdom pushes the concept that a modern house needs a 200 Amp service. The thought being that when older houses were built, the average family had a radio, one television, one refrigerator and some lights, while a modern house often has several TV’s, surround sound systems, gaming systems, computers, as well as phones and tablets plugged in at night.
However the fact is many modern devices actually use less electricity than their predecessors. For example the average television purchase within the last few years use far less electricity than older tube televisions. Modern LED lightbulbs use much less electricity then incandescent or CFL bulbs. So while people do often have many more devices plugged in these days, the average house actually uses less electricity than in years past. Therefor a 200 amp service is not necessarily a requirement for a modern lifestyle.
In fact I inspected a house where the homeowner had a modern refrigerator and large computer setup, along with lights and fans, all running on only a 60 amp service. The homeowner declared that they had no problems with not having enough electricity. The key, however, was this home did not have air conditioning.
Appliances are where the story of the 200 amp service comes into play. If a home has an electric stove, electric oven, and/or electric heating, then a 200 amp service is more likely to be necessary. However, here in the Los Angeles area, most our major appliances run on natural gas, so this is rarely a factor. So while many people ask of they should upgrade to a 200 amp service, here in Los Angeles, it may not always be a necessity.