With 2 heat pumps and 5000 sq. ft., your contractor is probably on the right track. My house has 200 amp service, but it is only 1500 sq. ft. The heatpumps draw a lot of current when the electric heat strips are on in very cold weather. With that much house, you will probably have a lot of electrical gadgets plugged in as most people do. You don’t want your lights to dim every time the a/c or heat kicks on, and it really doesn’t cost that much to upgrade. I went from 70 amps to 200 for around $1000. Most of that was for labor, so even more amps would have cost only a little more.

a 400 amp service doesn’t mean you will use it, but it’ll allow for some growth. You’ll only draw and pay for what you need, up to 400 amps. If you stick with 200, then you are maxed at 200.

Without knowing every single thing in the house, I can’t tell you if you really need it NOW, but it’ll definitely give room to grow.

I would upgrade just in case, it can’t hurt.

Your contractor. While the 200 service might squeak by, it’s far better to err on the coservative side. That 400 is one hell of a lot cheaper than a new house!

call home depot