Los Altos · Residential Electrical
Los Altos Electrician for Eichlers and Historic Homes
Los Altos was built in 1964 and is still wired for it.Los Altos homes are not generic. Radiant-slab Eichlers in Fallen Leaf Park, early-1900s Victorian and Craftsman wiring in Old Los Altos, and undersized mid-century ranch panels each call for a different hand. We do the work around how your house is actually built, and you reach our team directly.
- Median Los Altos build year
- 1964Median Los Altos build year
- Eichlers, in two tracts
- 45 to 50Eichlers, in two tracts
- City of Los Altos portal
- eTRAKiTCity of Los Altos portal
- Insured and bonded
- C-10 #1144031Insured and bonded
Quick answer
Eichler, historic and mid-century homes
Three kinds of Los Altos house, three kinds of wiring
One small city, three different electrical problems
Los Altos has roughly 45 to 50 Eichlers in two main tracts, Fallen Leaf Park (built 1967 to 1968) and San Antonio Court / Parsons Way (1974), with their radiant slabs and exposed post-and-beam ceilings. It has an original 1908 core in Old Los Altos, where Victorian and Craftsman homes carry the city's oldest wiring. And it has a wide band of mid-century ranch homes, with a median build year around 1964. Beautiful homes, but the electrical underneath them was designed for a 1960s household, not for induction ranges, heat pumps, EV chargers, and home offices all pulling at once. Where an owner would rather manage that demand than chase a bigger service, a smart load center such as SPAN can meter every circuit and shed the ones that can wait.
FPE and Zinsco panels are the recurring find
Both are documented across mid-century Los Altos-area homes, and both are known to fail to trip under a fault, which is exactly when a breaker is supposed to protect you. Many insurers now flag them. The oldest wiring sits in Old Los Altos, the original 1908 section near downtown, where knob and tube is still a real possibility. None of this means a teardown. It means an electrician who knows what to look for, prices the work honestly after seeing it in person, and pulls the permit so the upgrade is on record for your insurer and your eventual buyer.
Your utility is PG&E. Your generation is SVCE.
PG&E delivers electricity to Los Altos and owns the poles, wires, and meter, so it handles service upgrades and the disconnect and reconnect on a panel job. Generation is supplied by Silicon Valley Clean Energy, the community choice aggregator serving Los Altos and twelve other Santa Clara County communities since April 2017, on an auto-enrolled, opt-out basis. SVCE also runs the residential electrification rebates, and the City of Los Altos adds a stackable local heat-pump supplement for eligible projects, applied after SVCE approves the claim rather than reserved up front.
Permit office: electronic submittal only
Permits go through the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division at 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos CA 94022. The division uses electronic submittal only (no hard copies), and some simple residential permits can be filed through the eTRAKiT self-service portal. The city processes a plan submittal within 2 to 4 business days. The direct line is (650) 947-2752, open business hours Monday through Friday, but you do not make that call. We handle the submittal, the inspection coordination, and the permit close.
The foothill edge is a different job than flat Los Altos
The wooded edge of the city, The Highlands and Woodland Acres between Foothill Expressway and Highway 280 near the Los Altos Hills boundary, touches High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. That changes generator placement, service-entrance routing, and equipment choices on those specific lots. It does not affect flat, central Los Altos. Worth saying plainly: Los Altos Hills is a separate jurisdiction with its own building department, and a permit for one is not a permit for the other.
FPE / Zinsco
Fail-to-trip hazard panels
Documented across mid-century Los Altos-area homes and flagged by many insurers. Replacement, not repair.
1908
Old Los Altos knob and tube
The original section near downtown carries the oldest wiring in the city, including early cloth romex.
100A
Mid-century service at capacity
1960s panels are frequently near their limit before an EV charger or a heat pump is even added.
Los Altos coverage
- Electricity delivery
- PG&EOwns the poles, wires, and meter. We coordinate disconnects and reconnects.
- Generation
- Silicon Valley Clean EnergyCommunity choice aggregator since April 2017. Runs the home electrification rebates.
- Permit authority
- City of Los AltosBuilding Permit Division, 1 North San Antonio Road. Electronic submittal only. We file and manage.
Electrical services, Los Altos
What we handle in Los Altos
From panel replacements in mid-century North Los Altos and Rancho homes to radiant-slab-aware rewiring in the Fallen Leaf Park Eichlers: full-scope residential electrical with permits and inspections on every job.
Neighborhoods we serve
Where the work changes, block by block
Los Altos is small enough to cross in fifteen minutes and varied enough that the era of the house, more than the address, decides the scope of the job.
Old Los Altos
Original 1908 core
The section near downtown that carries the oldest wiring in the city. Victorian and Craftsman homes where knob and tube, early cloth romex, and undersized services are still a real possibility. This is where pre-sale clearance work concentrates.
Fallen Leaf Park
Eichlers built 1967 to 1968
One of the two main Eichler tracts in a city that has roughly 45 to 50 of them. Radiant slab heating you cannot trench through, exposed post-and-beam ceilings that make conventional concealment difficult, and original panels usually undersized for modern loads.
San Antonio Court and Parsons Way
Eichlers built 1974
The second Eichler tract, seven years newer than Fallen Leaf Park but with the same construction logic. Same slab constraint, same ceiling constraint, and the same original-panel capacity question once an EV charger or heat pump enters the picture.
North Los Altos and Rancho
Mid-century ranch, median build year around 1964
Single-story ranch homes on quarter-acre lots, many still on the 100A service they were built with. This is the largest share of the city and the largest share of our panel upgrade and EV charger work.
Loyola Corners and South of El Monte
Post-war residential
Village-scale neighborhoods on the south and east side of the city. Mid-century stock, so the same FPE and Zinsco question applies, and the same conversation about whether the existing service can carry what the household now runs.
The Highlands and Woodland Acres
Wooded foothill edge
Between Foothill Expressway and Highway 280 near the Los Altos Hills boundary, touching High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Generator placement, service-entrance routing, and equipment choices get extra attention on these specific lots. Flat central Los Altos is not in those zones.
Recent work
From the Los Altos homes we have wired.
What to budget
Pricing for Los Altos electrical work
Los Altos homes run from original Victorian and Craftsman houses in Old Los Altos near downtown, to single-story ranch homes on quarter-acre lots in Rancho, to the post-and-beam Eichlers in Fallen Leaf Park. Pricing reflects actual project scope, not a flat city rate.
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 100A to 200A Panel Upgrade | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| 200A Upgrade (meter relocation required) | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| FPE / Zinsco Panel Replacement | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| Level 2 EV Charger Installation | $750 to $3,000 |
| Standby Generator Installation | Quoted after the load assessment |
| Permits: City of Los Altos | $500 to $1,000 depending on scope |
Permits go through the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division, which uses electronic submittal only and processes a plan submittal within 2 to 4 business days. We file on your behalf and coordinate the city inspection. If you need a panel upgrade alongside an EV charger install or a generator, we scope them together: one permit, one inspection, one PG&E shutoff day. The figure that matters comes after an on-site assessment, in writing, before any work begins.
How it goes
From first call to closed permit
01
Free on-site assessment
We come to the house, in North Los Altos, Rancho, Old Los Altos, or a Fallen Leaf Park Eichler, run the load calculation, check the panel for FPE or Zinsco, and look at how a radiant slab or a foothill-edge lot changes the routing. No charge.
02
Written quote and permit
Written quote before any work begins. We file electronically with the Building Permit Division at 1 North San Antonio Road, using the eTRAKiT portal where it applies. The city processes a plan submittal within 2 to 4 business days, then notifies you how to pay the plan review fees.
03
Installation day
For a panel or service-entrance job we coordinate the PG&E disconnect and reconnect, since PG&E owns the meter and the wires in Los Altos. New circuits run without trenching an Eichler slab, masts and runs sized for larger lots. Work to NEC and Los Altos code.
04
Inspection and close
We coordinate the City of Los Altos inspection and close the permit with the Building Permit Division. You get the permit close documentation, a clean record for your insurer and your eventual buyer, which matters on mid-century and historic homes.
Rebate and incentive programs
What Los Altos homes may qualify for
Because PG&E handles delivery and SVCE handles generation, incentives from both can apply and can sometimes stack. The City of Los Altos also adds a local heat-pump supplement for eligible projects, applied after SVCE approves the claim. We do not quote program dollar amounts because the rules and caps change. Check the official program page for current eligibility before applying.
SVCE Home Rebates
Silicon Valley Clean Energy supplies generation in Los Altos and runs the residential electrification rebates: heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC, induction cooking, and panel prewiring or circuit-splitter devices, with enhanced amounts for income-qualified households. The panel-prewiring rebate generally has to be paired with a qualifying heat-pump rebate. Confirm current terms before you count on it.
Open program page ↗
PG&E Residential EV Charging Rebate
May apply to a PG&E-approved Level 2 charger, with an income-qualified Rebate Plus tier that can also help toward a panel upgrade. Because PG&E handles delivery and SVCE handles generation in Los Altos, incentives from both can apply. Confirm current terms on the program page.
Open program page ↗
Why Cali Rollin Electric
What we bring to every job in Los Altos
We are not a scheduling platform that sends whoever is available. You reach our team when you call, before the estimate, on the day of the job, and after the permit closes.
Los Altos electronic permitting handled
Filed with the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division at 1 North San Antonio Road. Electronic submittal only, no hard copies, eTRAKiT-ready, submittal processing tracked. Permit close documentation delivered.
PG&E and SVCE coordination handled
PG&E delivers Los Altos power and owns the disconnect and reconnect. SVCE supplies generation and runs the rebate programs. We coordinate the shutoff and point you to what is current.
Eichler and Old Los Altos experience
Radiant-slab-aware work in the Fallen Leaf Park Eichlers, knob and tube in the 1908 Old Los Altos core, and FPE and Zinsco swaps in mid-century ranch homes are all familiar ground for our crew.
C-10 contractor
CSLB C-10 #1144031. Verify at CSLB.ca.gov. Insured and bonded.
15+ years in the trade
Family-owned. We answer the phone, we show up, and we stand behind the work.
Direct line, no dispatch center
You reach our team when you call, whether the job is flat central Los Altos or a foothill-edge lot near Highway 280. Not a scheduling platform or answering service.
Read what Los Altos homeowners say about working with our team.
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Los Altos electrician FAQ
Do you serve Los Altos for electrical work?
Yes. From North Los Altos and the Country Club area near the foothills, to the single-story ranch homes around Rancho Shopping Center, to Loyola Corners, South of El Monte, and the original 1908 core of Old Los Altos near downtown, Cali Rollin Electric works throughout the city, including the Fallen Leaf Park Eichlers and the wooded foothill edge (The Highlands, Woodland Acres) near the Los Altos Hills boundary. We handle panel upgrades, FPE and Zinsco replacements, knob and tube and Eichler rewiring, EV chargers, generators, and emergency calls. C-10 #1144031. Note: Los Altos Hills is a separate jurisdiction with its own building department.
What electrical services do you provide in Los Altos?
Los Altos housing is overwhelmingly post-war mid-century (the median home was built around 1964) wrapped around an original 1908 core in Old Los Altos and roughly 45 to 50 Eichlers in the Fallen Leaf Park and San Antonio Court / Parsons Way tracts, so our work tracks that stock: 100A to 200A panel upgrades, FPE Stab-Lok and Zinsco hazard-panel replacements, knob and tube replacement in the Old Los Altos historic homes, Eichler original-panel swaps and radiant-slab-aware rewiring, Level 2 EV charger installation, whole-house generator installation, ADU electrical, pre-sale electrical clearance inspections, and emergency response. Permit pulled on every job that requires one, filed electronically with the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division.
Do I need a permit for electrical work in Los Altos?
Yes. Most electrical work in Los Altos requires a permit from the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division at 1 North San Antonio Road. Los Altos uses electronic submittal only (no hard copies), and some simple residential permits can be handled through the eTRAKiT self-service portal. The city processes a plan submittal within 2 to 4 business days, then notifies you how to pay the plan review fees. Permits typically run $500 to $1,000 depending on jurisdiction and scope. Cali Rollin Electric handles the permit application, electronic submittal, inspection coordination, and permit close on your behalf. The Building Permit Division direct line is (650) 947-2752, but you do not make that call. We manage the process.
Who is the electric utility in Los Altos?
PG&E delivers electricity to Los Altos, while generation is supplied by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), the community choice aggregator that has served Los Altos and twelve other Santa Clara County communities since April 2017. PG&E still owns the poles, wires, and meter, and handles service upgrades, so for a panel or service-entrance job Cali Rollin Electric coordinates the PG&E disconnect and reconnect scheduling for you. SVCE handles the generation side and also runs home electrification rebate programs.
We have an Eichler in Los Altos. Can you handle the electrical?
Yes. Los Altos has roughly 45 to 50 Eichlers, concentrated in the two main tracts: Fallen Leaf Park (built 1967 to 1968) and San Antonio Court / Parsons Way (built 1974). Eichlers carry their own electrical considerations: radiant slab heating that you cannot trench through, original panels that are often undersized for modern loads, and exposed post-and-beam ceilings that make conventional concealment difficult. We work these homes with their construction in mind, running new circuits without disturbing the slab and replacing original panels where capacity or safety calls for it.
Do you replace FPE and Zinsco panels in Los Altos?
Yes. FPE Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are documented across mid-century Los Altos-area homes, and both are known to fail to trip under fault conditions. Many insurers flag them. With a median home construction year of 1964, a large share of Los Altos housing is post-war mid-century and a candidate for one of these hazard panels. We replace them with a modern, properly bonded service panel, pull the permit with the City of Los Altos, and coordinate the PG&E shutoff so your home is brought up to current code.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Los Altos?
A standard 100A to 200A service upgrade runs $7,000 to $10,000. If the meter has to relocate, expect $8,000 to $15,000, which is also where conduit length and any mast or service drop work push the number. An FPE or Zinsco replacement runs $7,000 to $10,000 depending on what the existing service looks like behind the panel. Permit fees add $500 to $1,000 depending on scope. Written quote provided before any work begins. No surprise change orders.
How quickly can you respond to an electrical emergency in Los Altos?
For true electrical emergencies (burning smells, active sparks, panel arcing, main breaker failure), call 408-614-4451 immediately. We serve all of Los Altos, from the flat central neighborhoods like North Los Altos and Rancho to the foothill edge near Highway 280, and can prioritize same-day dispatch for urgent safety situations. For non-emergency power outages and repairs, same-day or next-day scheduling is typically available. You reach our team directly, not a dispatch center.
Can you install an EV charger at a Los Altos home?
Yes. Level 2 EV charger installation is one of our most common requests in Los Altos. We install all major brands including Tesla Wall Connector, ChargePoint Home Flex, Emporia, and Grizzl-E. Installation requires a dedicated 240V circuit and a permit filed with the City of Los Altos Building Permit Division. Many Los Altos homes, especially the 1960s ranch homes around Rancho and North Los Altos, need a panel upgrade or load-management device first because mid-century panels are often near capacity. We assess that on-site. On rebates, Silicon Valley Clean Energy runs its SVCE Home Rebates for residential electrification, and PG&E offers a Residential EV Charging Rebate for a qualifying Level 2 charger, with an income-qualified tier that can also help cover a panel upgrade. Amounts, eligibility, and funding change. Confirm current terms with the program before you count on it, and we will point you to what applies at the time of your project.
Is wildfire risk a factor for electrical work in Los Altos?
For most of flat, central Los Altos, no. The foothill edge of the city near Highway 280 and the boundary with Los Altos Hills touches High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, so generator placement, service-entrance routing, and equipment choices on those specific lots get extra attention. If your property sits on the wooded foothill edge, areas like The Highlands or Woodland Acres, we factor that into the design. The flat central neighborhoods are not in those zones.
Start here
Get a free Los Altos assessment
Tell us roughly when the house was built and which part of town it is in. In Los Altos that pair usually predicts the whole job: an Eichler, a 1908 Old Los Altos original, and a 1964 ranch are three different conversations before anyone opens the panel.
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Electrical services across Santa Clara County, serving Los Altos