Licensed Electrician in Oakland, California
Panel upgrades, EV chargers, solar and backup batteries for Oakland homes — from the flatlands to the PSPS-prone hills
Last updated: September 2026
Often paired with: Solar · Battery storage · EV chargers · Panel upgrades
Further reading: How to hire an electrician in Santa Clara County · What solar costs in the Bay Area (2026) · Solar payback under NEM 3.0
Pacific Edge Electric and Solar serves Oakland for the electrical, solar and battery projects that older East Bay housing calls for: 200A service upgrades for Craftsman bungalows in Temescal and Rockridge that still run on 60A or 100A, EV chargers in Fruitvale and Laurel garages, and solar-plus-battery systems in Montclair and the Oakland hills, where PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs make backup power a practical necessity rather than a luxury. We are a licensed C-10 contractor (CA License #1143455), bonded and insured, and every job is permitted through the City of Oakland Planning & Building Department.
Our shop is in Los Gatos, so Oakland is scheduled project work for us rather than emergency dispatch — we say that plainly. What Oakland customers get is one crew for the whole electrification job, published fixed pricing, and a contractor that has been installing the same equipment across the Bay Area since 2014. Electric delivery in Oakland is PG&E; generation for most households comes through Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy), which we account for when we explain how your solar bill will read.
Electrical Services for Oakland Properties
Residential Electrical
- Panel Upgrades - 100A to 200A+ service
- EV Charger Installation - Tesla and universal chargers
- Solar Installation - Rooftop solar systems
- Battery Storage - Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, Enphase
- Whole-House Rewiring - Modernize older homes
- Kitchen & ADU Electrical - Remodels and additions
- GFCI & AFCI - Safety code compliance
- Lighting & Ceiling Fans - Fixture installation
- Heat Pump & Induction Circuits - All-electric readiness
- Hot Tub & Outdoor Wiring - Exterior electrical
Commercial, Multifamily & Small Business
- Multifamily Service Upgrades - House panels and meter banks for 2–8 unit buildings
- Workplace & Garage EV Charging - Load-managed Level 2 arrays
- Restaurant Wiring - Commercial kitchens on Grand, Piedmont and Telegraph
- Retail Electrical - Storefront tenant improvements
- LED Lighting Retrofits - Title 24 lighting and controls
- Warehouse & Light-Industrial - 3-phase distribution and dedicated circuits
- Panel & Service Upgrades - More capacity for new equipment
- Commercial Solar - Rooftop and carport arrays
- HOA EV Readiness - Building-wide charging plans
- Code Compliance - Corrections, inspections and sign-off
Get Your Free Oakland Electrical Estimate
Licensed, bonded & insured Bay Area electricians. Upfront pricing and same-day estimates available.
CA Lic #1143455 · Tesla Certified Installer · Enphase · Bonded & Insured
✓ 10-year workmanship warranty · ✓ Our own licensed C-10 crew — no subcontractors · ✓ Upfront, no-pressure pricing
Get a Free Quote ☎ (650) 451-8464Why Oakland Customers Choose Pacific Edge
Hills Backup Expertise
Montclair, Piedmont Pines, Redwood Heights and the rest of the hills sit in PG&E’s PSPS zones. We size batteries for real outage durations, wire critical-load or whole-home backup, and pair storage with solar so the system recharges during a multi-day shutoff.
Old-Building Experience
Craftsman and bungalow housing in Temescal, Rockridge, Fruitvale and West Oakland often has 60A or 100A service, fuse boxes and cloth-insulated wiring. We have upgraded and rewired all of it.
Licensed & Insured
California C-10 Contractor License #1143455, bonded and insured. Permits pulled through the City of Oakland Planning & Building Department and inspected.
EV Charging Specialists
Tesla Certified Installer; Wall Connector, ChargePoint and universal Level 2 installs, with load management for homes where a full service upgrade is not yet practical.
Ava Community Energy Know-How
Most Oakland homes buy generation through Ava and delivery through PG&E. We file the PG&E interconnection and explain how net-billing credits show on the Ava side of the bill.
Transparent Pricing
Fixed, itemized quotes before work starts; our published ranges apply in Oakland, with any access or travel costs stated up front.
Common Electrical Projects in Oakland
Panel and Service Upgrades
A 60A or 100A service in a 1920s Rockridge or Temescal bungalow is the usual starting point for an Oakland electrification project. We upgrade to 200A, relocate meters that no longer meet PG&E clearances, correct grounding and feeders, and coordinate the PG&E service appointment and the City of Oakland inspection.
EV Charger Installation
Oakland garages and driveways vary from detached rear garages to street-side carports. A typical install includes:
- NEC load calculation for the new 40–60A circuit
- Dedicated 240V circuit, sometimes with a long run to a detached garage
- City of Oakland electrical permit and inspection
- Tesla Wall Connector, ChargePoint or universal Level 2 with app setup
- Load management (EVEMS) when the panel is at capacity
Solar and Backup Battery for Oakland Homes
In the flatlands solar pays back through self-consumption under NEM 3.0; in the hills it also has to keep the lights, refrigerator and internet on through a Public Safety Power Shutoff. We design for both, install with our own crew, and file the PG&E interconnection.
- Right-sized array for self-consumption
- Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH or Enphase IQ Battery sized for PSPS outages
- City of Oakland solar permit and PG&E net-billing application
- Optional SPAN panel for circuit-level backup control
Serving All Oakland Neighborhoods
- Rockridge & Temescal - Craftsman rewiring and 200A upgrades
- Montclair & Piedmont Pines - Solar + battery for PSPS backup
- Redwood Heights & Oakmore - Hills battery backup
- Grand Lake & Lakeshore - Residential electrical and EV
- Fruitvale & Dimond - Service upgrades and EV charging
- Laurel & Glenview - Residential solar and panels
- West Oakland - Victorian rewiring and panel upgrades
- Downtown & Jack London - Condo and small commercial electrical
Oakland Code Compliance
All electrical work complies with:
- City of Oakland Planning & Building Department permit and inspection requirements
- PG&E service and interconnection standards; Ava Community Energy net-billing enrollment
- Oakland wildfire-zone and roof-access requirements for solar and battery installations in the hills
- National Electrical Code (NEC 2023, as adopted by the 2025 California Electrical Code, Title 24 Part 3)
- California Title 24 energy standards
| Service | Typical range | What moves the price | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 EV charger | $900 – $2,500 | Panel capacity, distance from panel, trenching | 1 day on site; permit 1–2 wks |
| Panel upgrade (100A → 200A+) | $4,500 – $14,000 | Amperage, meter/service relocation, access | 1–2 days; PG&E coordination 2–6 wks |
| Home battery (installed) | $9,000 – $20,000 | Battery brand, unit count, backup scope | 1–2 days; permit + utility 2–6 wks |
| Residential solar | $20,000 – $50,000 before incentives | ~$2.50–$3.80/W; roof complexity, battery add-on | 1–3 days; 6–12 wks end to end |
Ranges are before incentives, in standard conditions. Full detail, benchmarks, and our Fixed-Price Guarantee on the pricing page.
FAQs — Oakland Electrician
How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in Oakland?
Most single-family Oakland panel upgrades run $4,500 to $14,000. Price depends on the target amperage, whether the meter must be relocated to meet PG&E clearances, the service-run length, and any grounding or feeder corrections the City of Oakland inspector requires. Multi-unit buildings are quoted individually. You get a fixed, itemized number after a free site visit.
How long does a panel upgrade take with the City of Oakland and PG&E?
The swap is one day. Timing is set by the electrical permit from the City of Oakland Planning & Building Department and by PG&E's disconnect/reconnect appointment; three to five weeks from signed quote to final inspection is typical, and we manage the whole process.
Who provides my electricity in Oakland, and does that change my solar bill?
PG&E delivers it; most Oakland households buy generation through Ava Community Energy. Solar interconnection is filed with PG&E, and net-billing export credits appear on the Ava portion of the bill. We explain exactly how it will read before you sign.
How big a battery do I need for PSPS outages in the Oakland hills?
It depends on what you want to run and for how long. A single Powerwall 3 or FranklinWH aPower (about 13.5 kWh) typically carries a refrigerator, lighting, internet, a gas furnace fan and a few outlets for a day or more, and recharges from solar during the shutoff. Whole-home backup with HVAC needs two or more units. We size it from your actual loads, not a guess.
Do I need a permit for an EV charger in Oakland?
Yes. A hardwired Level 2 charger requires an electrical permit from the City of Oakland, and we pull it and schedule the inspection. As a Tesla Certified Installer and C-10 contractor (CA #1143455) we also prepare the load calculation.
What does an EV charger install cost in Oakland?
With spare panel capacity, $900 to $2,500 is typical. A long run to a detached rear garage, exterior routing or a sub-panel raises the price. On a 100A service we price an EV energy management system next to a full upgrade so you can choose.
Are you a licensed and insured electrician serving Oakland?
Yes. Pacific Edge Electric and Solar holds California C-10 Contractor License #1143455 and is bonded and insured. We are a Tesla Certified Installer and Enphase, SPAN and FranklinWH certified, with more than 1,000 Bay Area projects since 2014.
Do you give a fixed price or bill hourly?
Fixed. Oakland projects are quoted as a total you approve before work starts, including any travel or access costs, and any scope change is agreed in writing first.
How much does it cost to rewire an older Oakland home?
Whole-house rewiring in Oakland usually runs $8,000 to $20,000 or more depending on square footage, circuit count, plaster walls and how much knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring is being removed from a Craftsman or Victorian. We plan it room by room and phase the work so the home stays livable.
Do you offer emergency electrical service in Oakland?
We serve Oakland for scheduled project work: panel and service upgrades, EV charging, solar, batteries and rewiring. Our shop is in Los Gatos, so we are not a 30-minute emergency dispatch in the East Bay; for a same-day emergency please call a local emergency electrician, then call us for the permanent fix.
Do you install solar and battery storage as well as electrical work?
Yes. One C-10 crew handles the panel, the EV charger, the rooftop array and the battery under one permit set. We install Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH and Enphase storage and handle the PG&E interconnection.
Request Your Free Quote
Licensed, bonded & insured Bay Area electricians. Upfront pricing and same-day estimates available.
CA Lic #1143455 · Tesla Certified Installer · Enphase · Bonded & Insured
✓ 10-year workmanship warranty · ✓ Our own licensed C-10 crew — no subcontractors · ✓ Upfront, no-pressure pricing
Get a Free Quote ☎ (650) 451-8464