Your energy provider delivers electricity to your home or business via a powerline to the service entrance. A service entrance is the power company's cabling that supplies power to a home or business.
A service drop is the name for overhead cables. If your electric wires are underground, they're called a service lateral. The service drop or service lateral connects to the electric meter and then to the electrical panel, usually through a conduit.
The main electric or service panel is next to or under the electric meter, which measures and feeds electricity to the board. The electrical wiring or circuits that run throughout the building begin and end at that panel. The panel is the central distribution point for the electrical circuits that run to lights, receptacles, and appliances throughout the house.
A service panel in new construction typically uses a system of circuit breakers. Older homeowners may have a fuse box instead of a modern service panel. Fuses are cartridges inserted between the terminal points of a circuit. They contain a thin metal strip that melts if the circuit is overloaded, opening the circuit and interrupting the flow of electricity.
Depending on the requirements of particular areas in the home or business, your electrical contractor may install a sub-panel to handle a heavier electrical load on specific circuits, such as the kitchen and laundry room. You may also need a sub-panel or panel upgrade if your electrical wiring needs changes.