Why does electrifying a home raise the load?
Moving off oil, propane or gas means moving heat, hot water and cooking onto electricity. Each new appliance shows up in the load calculation, and the calculation is built to be cautious: it assumes a lot runs at once. Add an EV and a house that was comfortable on 200 A can look over its limit on paper.
Which loads matter most?
Exact numbers come from each appliance's nameplate and your electrician's calculation. The table shows how we usually sort them when we plan Savant priorities.
| Load | When it peaks | Can it pause briefly? |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pumps for heating | Cold mornings and nights | No, keep heat on |
| Induction range and oven | Dinner time | No, people are cooking |
| EV charger | Overnight, by choice | Yes, first to pause |
| Heat pump water heater | Mornings and evenings | Yes, the tank holds heat |
| Dryer | Whenever laundry runs | Yes, for a few minutes |
| Pool or spa heater, snow melt | Seasonal | Yes |
How do you plan it?
Start with a load calculation that includes everything you plan to add over the next few years, not just the first heat pump. If the total fits your service, you are done. If it does not, see which loads can pause and whether an energy management system brings the managed total under the limit. The 2023 National Electrical Code lets the electrician use the system's setpoint in the calculation (section 220.70). Our guide on avoiding a service upgrade covers the code side.
With Savant, a module goes on each load you want to manage. The modules come in 20 A at 120 V and 30 A or 60 A at 240 V, so they cover a charger, a dryer and a water heater. You set the order in the app and can see what each circuit uses.
When is an upgrade the better answer?
If the house is on 100 A, if the heat pumps alone fill most of the service, or if two EVs need a full charge every night, upgrading is often simpler. See 200 A to 400 A service upgrades for what that involves. Heat pump rebates and installer rules change, so check Mass Save for the current offers.
