How Much Does Electric Meter Box Replacement Cost in Boston, MA? [2026 Data]

Electric meter box replacement cost in Boston, MA is $1,083 on average at most homes. You can expect to pay between $542 and $2,274 overall. The local electrician you hire will look at things like your home's size, circuitry configuration, and box accessibility to determine a price. Use a licensed Boston, MA electrician to comply with permits and codes.

Electric Meter Box Replacement Cost Factors 

An electrical meter box is an important component of your electrical system. It holds the electrical meter, which measures the amount of energy your home uses. Your Boston, MA electric meter box monitors energy usage at your home. A malfunction or code violation could lead to everything from getting your power shut off to having issues with your home insurance company. Here's what you can expect to pay to fix the problem.

Power

The cost of the electrical meter box itself is $60 to $360 in most cases, but it varies based on the strength of the box (measured in amperes or amps) and its features. Homes with larger electrical panels need meter boxes that match that capacity. Most homes have an electrical panel that can handle 200 amps.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for an electric meter box (not including labor) depending on your home’s current electrical capacity:

Materials

In addition to the cost of the meter box itself, which runs between $60 and $360, you may need to pay for additional parts and materials for installation. This can include connectors, fittings, and fasteners, which cost around $120 altogether.

Meter Location

Home electric meters can be in several locations, including outside for easy access or next to the electrical panel. But there’s a caveat about electric meter locations: You can’t always change them. Electric meter locations may be mandated by local building codes and agreements with local utility companies. In Boston, MA, Eversource and the Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) dictate that electric meter boxes must be placed on the outside portion of a home that's easily accessible for utility workers. The height requirement dictates that the box is mounted 5 feet from the ground. However, the height range can be 3 feet to 6 feet for different circumstances.

The power company may charge you a fee for moving it or may not let you move it at all. If you can move the meter, expect it to cost between $1,600 and $2,500. However, there is another option: You can move your electrical panel to a new location if it was installed beside the meter. This is a big project requiring a professional electrician, and it can cost between $1,600 and $4,200, depending on the panel’s new location.

Electrician Costs

Local electricians in Boston, MA are the only pros that should be hired for this job because local officials will only grant permits to someone with the correct qualifications to handle this job in coordination with Eversource or another utility company. You'll find the costs that factor into what you'll pay for this task below.

Local Labor

Electricians in Boston, MA charge an hourly rate of $60 to $125 on average.

Permits

Any installation, alteration, or repair of an electric meter box in Boston, MA requires a basic electrical permit issued by the ISD. The base permit application fee is $20. You may pay more depending on any alterations or hardware choices. For example, the city adds $1 per fixture or plug. The permitting process in Boston, MA is highly regulated. In order to obtain the permits needed for this task, your electrician will need to show proof of a non-expired Massachusetts trade license and proof of liability insurance. Boston, MA homeowners are not allowed to apply for electrical permits on their own.

Taxes

Your Boston, MA electrician will tack on sales tax for all hardware purchased for this task. Factor in the local combined 6.25% sales for this.

Insurance

Electricians in Boston, MA aren't legally required to carry liability insurance. However, all LLCs do need coverage in order to work. Additionally, workers' compensation is required for all companies or contractors with employees. In total, this can add $40 to $250 in monthly premiums for electrical contractors.

Licensing and Certification Requirements

Any electrician you hire to replace an electric meter box in Boston, MA must be licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians (BSEE). Licensing fees total $226 for journeymen electricians and $276 for master electricians.

Does Replacing an Electric Meter Box Increase Home Value?

While replacing a broken or outdated electric meter box won’t necessarily increase your home value in and of itself, it’s a smart investment for other reasons. For one thing, the risk of having your power shut off for noncompliance is high. Homeowners can pay $200 in reconnection fees. In addition, you may not be able to sell your home if you have an out-of-code box. Once you have an electrician at your home, it may also be a good time to ask about the cost to upgrade an electrical panel to boost your home's resale value by making it equipped to handle newer or higher-powered appliances.

How Angi Gets Its Local Cost Data 

To help homeowners plan their next project, Angi provides readers with carefully researched cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We start with national average project costs, which we collect by analyzing competitor information, retailer material costs, and input from professional contractors. We then apply local price index data to calculate location-specific estimates that reflect what homeowners typically pay in their local area. To do that, we use data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), including its Regional Price Parities (RPPs), which measure price differences across cities. This helps us account for differences in labor, materials, and overall cost of living, so estimates in higher- or lower-cost areas better reflect real-world local pricing.

Every estimate undergoes a thorough editorial review to verify accuracy, consistency, and alignment with observed market conditions.

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