What does a SPAN Smart Panel do?

A SPAN Smart Panel replaces your traditional breaker box with an intelligent, connected system that lets you monitor, control, and prioritize your home’s power use in real time — all from the SPAN app.

Can SPAN work without the internet?

Yes. SPAN works locally even without Wi-Fi, so essential functions remain available during outages. Some remote monitoring and app features may require Wi-Fi or LTE connectivity depending on model and activation.

Do I need a SPAN Smart Panel to add solar or a battery?

Not always. But it can simplify installation, offer more control, and — in many homes — eliminate the need for a separate critical-loads subpanel

How long does installation take?

Most SPAN Smart Panel installations are completed in a single day by licensed electricians.

Is a SPAN Smart Panel worth it?

For homeowners planning to electrify — solar, batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps — SPAN can help avoid or delay costly electrical service upgrades.

Can SPAN be installed in homes served by CMP or Versant?

Yes. SPAN Smart Panels are compatible with standard 120/240V residential service found throughout CMP and Versant territories. Final approval depends on utility and local permitting.

Who installs SPAN Smart Panels in Maine?

MSS Electric is a SPAN Certified Installer , providing expert installation, integration with solar and battery systems, and ongoing support for Maine homeowners.

Smart Electrical Panel Maine | SPAN by MSS Electric

Updated November 2025

Smart Electrical Panels in Maine: The Future of Home Power

Maine homes are using more electricity than ever — from heat pumps and EV chargers to battery backups and new all-electric appliances. Yet most electrical panels haven’t changed since the day the house was built, long before today’s energy demands. Many homeowners are surprised to learn how quickly modern appliances can push older systems to their limits. And as more Maine homes electrify, the limitations of older panels become even more noticeable.

Smart electrical panels in Maine are changing that. They don’t just distribute electricity — they show you where it’s going, help manage it more efficiently, and prepare your home for the next generation of energy technology.

One of the most popular options is the SPAN Smart Panel, a connected replacement for your traditional breaker box that lets you understand and control your home’s energy use — right down to the circuit level. MSS Electric is a SPAN Certified Installer, giving Maine homeowners access to expert installation, support, and seamless integration with solar, batteries, EV chargers, and generators.

Before looking at what a smart panel can do, it helps to understand why many Maine homeowners are upgrading their electrical panels in the first place.

Why Maine Homeowners Upgrade Their Electrical Panels

Every home depends on its electrical panel — the heart of the system that distributes electricity from the grid to every circuit. We often see original panels from 25 to 40 years ago still in service — safe for their time, but not designed for today’s electrical loads.

Common reasons to upgrade include:

Safety: Old, corroded, or failing breakers can pose shock or fire risks.
Age: Components in panels older than 25–30 years may be worn or outdated.
Capacity: Older 100-amp service can struggle with heat pumps or EVs.
Tripping breakers: Frequent trips often signal an overloaded system.
Renovations or new builds: New spaces require new circuits — making it an ideal time to install a smart panel.

Upgrading keeps your system safe, code-compliant, and ready to support a remodel, new electrical appliances, service upgrades, solar, or battery systems.

What Makes a Smart Panel Different

For homeowners planning a more electric future, SPAN offers a modern, future-ready upgrade that keeps your home efficient, flexible, and connected. A smart electrical panel doesn’t just distribute power — it helps you understand, optimize, and control how that power is used throughout your home.

The SPAN Smart Panel replaces a standard breaker box with a connected, intelligent system that gives you real-time insight and remote control. It turns your electrical panel into an interactive tool for efficiency, safety, and backup power management — all from one easy-to-use app.

SPAN Smart Panel with the SPAN app showing circuit-level energy monitoring.

With the SPAN Smart Panel and App, You Can:

Prioritize circuits during outages if you have battery backup
Monitor energy use in real time at the circuit level
Control circuits remotely from anywhere

The subscription-free SPAN app provides real-time visibility, smarter outage management, and the flexibility to expand your system without costly service upgrades or extra hardware.

Smart Load Management: SPAN PowerUp

SPAN includes PowerUp, a certified Energy Management System (EMS) that continuously monitors your home’s electrical load and responds automatically when demand gets too high.

When total demand spikes — for example, when a dryer, heat pump, and EV charger are running at the same time — PowerUp can temporarily pause lower-priority circuits. This prevents overloads and keeps essential systems running without interruption.

These pauses are brief and automatic — most homeowners never notice them, and essential circuits continue running without interruption.

For many Maine homeowners, this makes it easier to:

Add EV chargers
Add heat pumps
Run multiple large appliances
— and in many homes, avoid or delay a costly 400-amp service upgrade.

You can also see exactly which circuits draw the most power — such as a heat pump pulling 3,000W or an EV charger drawing 7,200W — giving you a clear picture of how and when your home uses electricity.

How SPAN Works With Solar, Batteries, EV Chargers, and Generators

With Solar

See how much of your electricity comes from the sun vs. the grid, and identify when shifting loads improves efficiency.

With Batteries

SPAN can remove the need for a separate critical-loads subpanel in many installations and lets you choose which circuits stay on during an outage. SPAN integrates with Tesla Powerwall 2 & 3, SolarEdge Home Hub, FranklinWH, and more. During outages, homeowners can use the SPAN app to prioritize essential circuits like heating, refrigeration, and lighting.

With EV Chargers

When you add a home EV charger, SPAN automatically balances the load so charging doesn’t overwhelm your panel — helping avoid breaker trips or a costly service upgrade.

With Generators

SPAN works alongside transfer switches to help you manage and monitor loads during generator use.

When a Smart Panel Makes Sense

At MSS Electric, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all upgrades. A smart panel isn’t necessary for every home, but for the right home, it can be one of the most impactful electrical upgrades you can make.

A SPAN Smart Panel makes sense if you’re:

Planning an electrical service upgrade
Adding solar, battery storage, or an EV charger
Interested in tracking and managing energy use
Building new or remodeling

It may NOT be right for:

Homes with newer panels and plenty of breaker space
Homeowners with no planned upgrades
Small homes with low electrical demand

If your panel is newer, has capacity, and you don’t need circuit-level control, a standard panel upgrade is often the most cost-effective option. Our licensed electricians can evaluate your setup and recommend the right path.

Cost, Safety, and Professional Installation

SPAN Smart Panels fall into the “premium upgrade” category — costing more than a standard panel replacement due to the advanced technology, hardware, and installation requirements. The value comes from SPAN’s intelligent load management, detailed monitoring, and ability to support high-demand loads like solar, batteries, heat pumps, generators, and EV charging.

Each panel is installed by licensed electricians, built with UL-listed components, and designed to meet current NEC safety standards. SPAN includes a 10-year limited warranty and automatic software updates — with no subscriptions required.

In larger homes or homes with heavy electrification — multiple HVAC units, EV chargers, geothermal, hot tubs, or several high-demand appliances — a 200-amp service can begin approaching the 400-amp range. In these situations, SPAN’s load management can help avoid a costly upgrade and deliver meaningful long-term savings.

Installation costs vary based on your existing service, panel location, and load requirements. Every home is different, which is why a site evaluation is the best way to understand what your specific project requires. Our team provides detailed upfront pricing based on your home’s unique setup.

The MSS Advantage: One Team Under One Roof

MSS Electric is the electrical division of Maine Solar Solutions — meaning your electrical upgrades, solar, batteries, and EV charging can be handled by one coordinated team.

That’s especially important with smart panels like SPAN, which sit at the intersection of your home’s electrical system and future energy upgrades.

Our electricians and solar designers work together to ensure:

Your panel is sized correctly for future EVs, heat pumps, or solar
Battery systems integrate smoothly without extra hardware
Outage-ready circuits are designed correctly the first time
Everything is code-compliant, efficient, and built to last

No juggling contractors, no miscommunication — just one local, experienced team handling your whole project.

Ready for Maine’s All-Electric Future

Smart panels like SPAN aren’t right for every home, but when they are, they offer unmatched visibility, flexibility, and load management.

Whether you’re upgrading an older panel, adding solar, or preparing for EV charging, MSS Electric’s licensed electricians can help you choose the best path — safely, locally, and built to last.

Ready to see whether a SPAN Smart Panel makes sense for your home?
Contact MSS Electric today to schedule your free consultation.