Landlords and property managers in Palo Alto deal with electrical problems on a different schedule than homeowners do. A tenant reports a dead outlet on a Friday evening. A unit needs to be re-inspected before a new lease starts. A multi-unit building needs a panel looked at before the city signs off. These calls need a real answer, not a voicemail. Current Electric handles electrical work throughout Palo Alto for property managers, homeowners, and commercial tenants who need the job done on a workable timeline.
We cover the full range of residential and commercial electrical work: repairs and fault diagnosis, breaker panel upgrades, outlet and lighting installation, EV charger circuits, whole-home surge protection, and the dedicated circuits that keep high-draw appliances and equipment running safely. We are open every day from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and same-day service is available for calls that cannot wait.
Commercial and light industrial premises in Palo Alto run on schedules that do not accommodate a full-day shutdown. An office that needs a panel upgrade, a retail space adding circuits for new equipment, or a lab that cannot lose power to an active area all require a different kind of planning than a residential job. We work around operating hours, confirm which parts of a site need to stay live, and sequence the work so the disruption is as narrow as possible.
Out-of-hours scheduling is available for commercial accounts where daytime work is not practical. We confirm the scope on the call, talk through what needs to stay energized, and plan the job before anyone shows up. For property managers overseeing multiple units or locations, we can coordinate across sites and keep the communication straightforward.
We wire homes and businesses every day, and we're good at it, and commercial jobs are where that planning makes the most difference. We'll get the job wired and finished.
Electrical work is priced by what the job actually involves, not by a flat rate applied to every call. A single outlet replacement and a panel upgrade with load calculations are completely different scopes, and the quote reflects that difference. When you call, we ask about the job, where it is in the house or building, what the existing setup looks like, and what you are trying to accomplish. That conversation is what produces a real number.
What changes a quote: the age and condition of the existing wiring, whether the panel has capacity for the new circuit or needs to be upgraded first, whether the work is in a finished wall or an open area, and whether permits are required for the scope of the project. We explain what we find and what it takes to address it before anything is scheduled.
You get the price on the call. You decide whether to proceed. There is no pressure and nothing scheduled until you say so.
Same-day electrical service is available in Palo Alto for repairs, fault diagnosis, and installations that do not require advance materials or permitting. For urgent problems, tripping breakers that will not reset, outlets that are warm to the touch, or a smell of burning near the panel, call as early in the day as you can and we will do our best to get someone out the same day.
For tenants and businesses that need to stay open, we work around the situation. We confirm the appointment window when you book, and we explain who is coming and what they will need access to. Property managers coordinating through a tenant or building contact should call ahead so we can sort out access before the visit rather than on the doorstep.
We answer when you call. We explain the work. We leave it safe.
Palo Alto's housing stock covers a wide range of construction eras, from older homes with original wiring to newer builds with modern panels. Commercial premises range from small offices to larger multi-tenant buildings with more complex electrical infrastructure. One call is not like another, and the work reflects that. The service page carries the full breakdown, but here is how the common situations divide.
Intermittent problems are often the hardest to pin down. A breaker that trips under certain conditions, a circuit that loses power only sometimes, or a light fixture that flickers without an obvious cause all require a diagnostic approach rather than a straight swap. We test the circuit, check connections, and trace the fault rather than replacing parts at random. Older Palo Alto homes with knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch circuits present specific fault patterns, and knowing what to look for matters.
Many homes in this area were built with service capacity that made sense at the time but does not accommodate an EV charger, a battery storage system, and a modern appliance load running simultaneously. A load calculation tells us whether the existing panel can carry the added demand or whether a service upgrade is the right move. We handle the full scope: panel replacement, service-entrance upgrades, subpanel installation, and AFCI and GFCI protection throughout the home. Wiring work is checked against code before sign-off.
New circuits, whole-home rewiring, recessed and LED lighting, ceiling fans, and outlet installation all fall here. For homes with knob-and-tube wiring that has been modified or is no longer adequate for the load, replacement is the right answer rather than working around it. Code-compliant wiring throughout the home, including proper grounding and bonding, is part of every installation rather than an optional add-on. GFCI and AFCI protection is required in specific locations under current California code, and we make sure the work meets that standard.
Wildfire-season public-safety power shutoffs are a real concern across the region, and a properly wired generator hookup is the practical answer for households and businesses that cannot afford to go dark. The work involves installing a transfer switch at the panel so the generator can supply the home without back-feeding the grid. We size the transfer switch to the circuits that matter most and confirm the panel can handle the configuration.
Intermittent electrical faults are frustrating because they do not always show up when someone is looking for them. We use a systematic approach: checking the panel, testing the affected circuits under load, and inspecting connections at outlets, switches, and fixtures. This kind of diagnostic work is a straightforward choice for homeowners and property managers who have had a problem looked at before without a clear answer.
A whole-home surge protector installs at the panel and intercepts voltage spikes before they reach any circuit in the house. In a home with EV charging equipment, solar inverters, and connected devices, a single surge event can cause damage across multiple systems at once. We pair the installation with a check of grounding and bonding so the protection is actually working as intended. Same-day electrical service is available for this kind of installation when the schedule allows.
Outdoor outlets need to be installed in weatherproof enclosures with GFCI protection, and the wiring needs to be rated for the exposure. We install outdoor outlets for patios, garages, driveways, and garden areas, and we make sure the circuit is properly protected at the panel. For EV chargers installed in an exposed location, the enclosure and conduit work is part of the same job.
We serve Palo Alto and the communities around it throughout Santa Clara County and the broader Peninsula. That includes Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Ladera, Los Altos, and Mountain View. If you are just outside Palo Alto and are not sure whether your address falls in our service area, call and we will confirm. Most calls in this part of the county are within range.
The next job gets earned by doing this one right. That applies whether the call comes from Palo Alto or a neighboring town, and it is how we approach every visit.
the electrical details page is where the process is written out.
Save any open work and shut down equipment before the power goes off. For longer shutdowns, we let you know in advance which circuits will be affected and for roughly how long, so you can plan around it and protect anything sensitive.
Yes. Property managers overseeing multiple units or locations can call and we will work out a schedule that covers what needs to be done across the property. For situations where tenants need to be home or access needs to be arranged in advance, we work that out on the call before the visit is booked so the job does not stall on logistics. We're a local electrician for homeowners and property managers who need work handled without the back-and-forth.
It depends on the condition of the wiring, whether it meets current code, and whether it is rated for the new application. We inspect it before committing to reuse, and we explain what we find so you can make an informed decision.
Yes, and in specific ways. Older homes in the area are more likely to have knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, or panels that were sized for a much lighter electrical load than a modern household puts on them. These are not automatic emergencies, but they do change the scope of work and what needs to be addressed before adding new circuits or upgrading to a higher service capacity. When you call, describe the age of the home and we will ask the right questions to understand what we are likely to find.
We let you know on the call or during the visit if a specific part is not something we carry. We explain what needs to be sourced, how long it is expected to take, and schedule the completion visit once it is in hand so the job is finished properly.
We run a dedicated circuit or subpanel feed from the main panel to the outbuilding, sized for the load it needs to carry. The route, the method of burial or overhead run, and the panel capacity all factor into how the job is scoped. Call us with the details and we will walk through the options.
We test from the panel outward and from the affected circuit back toward the source to isolate where the problem originates. If the fault is on the utility side of the meter, we tell you that directly and explain what the next step is with your utility provider.
The amount of disruption depends on whether walls need to be opened. Surface work and panel work produce minimal debris. Rewiring or running new circuits through finished walls involves more dust and patching, and we take reasonable steps to contain it during the job.
We can, but we assess the existing work before continuing. If what was done does not meet code or creates a safety concern, we explain what needs to be corrected before we build on it.
Yes, and that is usually the most efficient way to handle a list of minor work. When you call, walk through everything you want addressed and we will confirm whether it all fits in one visit or whether the scope warrants splitting it across two.
Current Electric is ready to take your call for electrical repairs, panel upgrades, EV charger installation, surge protection, or any other electrical work in Palo Alto. We are open every day from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Pick the date. We do the wiring. We clean up after.
Call (650) 614-5391 and we will get you a price and a time. That is the whole next step.
We also work in: Mountain View, East Palo Alto, Sunnyvale.
Below is a quick look at the electrical services we handle for homes and businesses in Palo Alto and the surrounding Peninsula. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and a practical note to help you decide whether to call. If you have questions about a specific job, call us and we will walk through the scope with you before anything is scheduled.
| Service | What It Covers | Best For | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | panel-level surge protector installationgrounding and bonding checkprotection for EV and solar equipmentelectrical safety inspection pairing | homes with EV chargers, solar inverters, or a high density of connected devices | A surge protector at the panel covers everything in the house. Individual power strips at outlets do not provide the same level of protection. |
| Lighting Installation | recessed lighting installationfixture replacementAFCI breaker installationwhole-room lighting circuits | homeowners remodeling a room or updating fixtures throughout the home | California code requires arc-fault protection in bedrooms and living areas. We handle AFCI installation as part of lighting work where required. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 200-amp service upgradessubpanel installationload calculationsservice entrance and meter upgrades | older homes being renovated or adding EV chargers, solar, or high-draw appliances | Wiring work is checked against code before sign-off. Many Palo Alto homes still carry 100-amp service that was never sized for today's loads. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | fault diagnosis and circuit testingGFCI and AFCI protection checksgrounding and bonding issuesworn breaker replacement | homeowners dealing with flickering lights, dead outlets, or recurring faults | Same-day service is available for most repair calls. Waiting on an electrical fault usually makes it worse, not better. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | dryer and range circuitsdishwasher and refrigerator circuitsworkshop and garage circuitshot-tub circuit installation | homeowners adding major appliances or a workshop that needs its own power supply | Sharing capacity with the rest of the house causes nuisance trips and can shorten appliance life. A dedicated circuit fixes that. |
| EV Charger Installation | Level 2 charger circuit installationpanel capacity assessmentpanel upgrade if load requires itfuture-capacity planning | EV owners who want reliable home charging without relying on a standard outlet | EV adoption in Santa Clara County is among the highest in the country. We size the circuit for the charger you have and plan ahead for a second vehicle if needed. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | standard and GFCI outlet installationswitch replacement and upgradesadding outlets to underserved roomscode-required ground-fault protection | homeowners updating kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoor areas | Kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas all have specific code requirements for GFCI protection. We make sure the work meets those standards. |
| Solar & Battery Backup | solar system electrical wiringbattery storage circuit installationservice entrance and subpanel upgradesbackup generator hookup and transfer switch | homeowners adding rooftop solar, battery storage, or a generator for outage resilience | We work on the electrical side of solar and battery installations. California's public-safety power shutoffs have made outage planning a real priority in this area. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | new circuit runshome addition and remodel wiringolder-home rewiringconduit and cable work | renovations, additions, and homes where original wiring is no longer adequate | Rewiring scope depends on the home's age, the condition of existing wiring, and what the new load demands are. We assess before recommending. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | breaker testing and replacementfuse panel assessmentnuisance trip diagnosisload evaluation | homes where breakers trip repeatedly under normal use | A breaker that trips repeatedly is telling you something. We find the cause rather than just resetting it. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | fan and wiring installationbox and support upgrade where neededswitch and control wiring | rooms that need better air circulation without adding a new circuit | Many older ceiling boxes are not rated for fan weight. We confirm the box and support before installation. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | arc-fault and ground-fault gap identificationgrounding and bonding reviewpanel condition assessmentpre-purchase and pre-sale inspection | buyers, sellers, landlords, and owners of older homes that have not been inspected recently | Palo Alto has a lot of mid-century housing where original wiring is still in place. An inspection identifies what needs attention before adding load to the system. |
Every job is different, and a quick call is the fastest way to get a straight answer about what your electrical work actually involves. Call (650) 614-5391 and we will walk through the scope with you before anything is scheduled.
(650) 614-5391