It is much tighter than the all-gas case. Under the optional-method structure, a range nameplate goes into the general load. Adding a 32-amp or 48-amp charger on a 100-amp service with an electric range often lands close to, or above, the rating in a simplified walk-through. Measured demand may tell a milder story if the range and charger rarely coincide — but you cannot assume that without data.
Educational example: 1,800 ft², a 12,000 VA range nameplate, 4,000 VA cooling example, and a 32-amp charger. Use your actual range nameplate; 12 kVA is a round example, not a code table value.
| Step (2023-style optional method, educational) | Result |
|---|---|
| General lighting at 3 VA/ft² | 5,400 VA |
| Small-appliance and laundry circuits at 1,500 VA each | 4,500 VA |
| General load including listed nameplates and EVSE | 29,580 VA |
| First 10 kVA at 100%, remainder at 40% | 17,832 VA |
| Larger of the heating or cooling values entered, at 100% | 4,000 VA |
| Calculated load | 21,832 VA · 91.0 A at 240 V |
| Compared with this walk-through’s service rating | 91.0 A is under a 100 A rating by 9.0 A |
Educational walk-through of the optional dwelling-unit method structure in NEC 2023 220.82. Not a permit calculation. 220.82(C) heating/cooling selections can be more involved than “the larger of two numbers,” especially with heat-pump backup strips.
This walk-through is about 91.0 A. The same house with a 48 A charger calculates to about 97.4 A. Both are close enough to 100 A that an electrician may look at a lower charger setting, load management, measured demand, or a service upgrade rather than waving the job through. See the calculator.
This is not a permit calculation, a utility approval, or a substitute for a licensed electrician, HVAC contractor, or the authority having jurisdiction. Panel Headroom is an independent educational site. It is not a utility, a certification body, or a contractor. Electrical and generator work that is done incorrectly can cause fire, shock, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Use the adopted electrical code and manufacturer instructions; pull permits where required.