Rochester Hills Electrical Company serves homeowners, landlords, property managers, and businesses across Rochester Hills and the wider Oakland County area. Whether you are dealing with a tripped breaker at midnight or planning a full panel upgrade before a home addition, we handle the work from start to finish. We are open every day from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Call (248) 791-9979 for a quote.
Fast diagnosis. Pricing set out up front. Clean work.
Electrical work here gets handled by people who answer to this community. When you call, you reach someone who knows Oakland County wiring, can scope the job on the phone, and can tell you what the visit will cost before anything is scheduled.
Dealing with a tripping breaker or a dead outlet? Those symptoms are worth taking seriously. A breaker that keeps tripping is not just an inconvenience. It is the panel telling you something is drawing too much current, or that a fault exists somewhere on that circuit. A burning smell near an outlet or along a wall is a reason to stop using that circuit and call right away.
We cover the full range of common electrical problems Rochester Hills residents call about: outlets that stopped working, GFCI outlets that trip and will not reset, flickering lights, a panel that hums or runs warm, and situations where half the house loses power with no clear cause. A diagnostic visit means reading the panel, tracing the fault to its source, and explaining what we found before any work starts. GFCI and AFCI protection gets checked and updated as part of code-compliant repair work, so the fix addresses the root problem rather than just resetting what tripped.
Estimates are no-pressure, priced up front, so you know the rate before we begin. We're ready to get your circuits working again.
From a single GFCI outlet to a whole-home rewire, the first step is the same: figure out exactly what the job involves before anything gets opened up. That applies whether you need one new outlet added to a room, a 240-volt outlet for a dryer or range, USB outlets in a kitchen or home office, or a full set of AFCI-protected outlets in an older bedroom circuit.
Switch work follows the same approach. Dimmer installation, smart switch wiring, and straightforward light switch replacement all require knowing what is already in the wall before the new device goes in. Older Oakland County homes sometimes have wiring that does not play well with modern dimmers or smart switches, and we check compatibility before we quote the job.
Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring show up regularly in the older housing stock across this part of Michigan. Knob-and-tube systems were never designed for today's electrical loads, and aluminum branch circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s requires specific connections and devices to remain stable. If your home has either, we can assess what is there and explain your options. Panel and wiring work is finished to code, which matters when you are selling a home or updating a rental unit. We'll sort the wiring and clean up after.
Don't let a small wiring issue turn into a fire risk, especially when it involves a lighting circuit that has been overloaded or a fixture that was installed without the right box support. We handle recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and exterior lighting across Rochester Hills. That includes security lights, motion sensor lights, flood lights, and landscape lighting circuits for the perimeter of a property.
Proper circuit sizing matters when you are adding multiple fixtures to a room or running a new outdoor lighting run. We calculate the load before we pull wire, so the circuit handles what is on it without nuisance tripping.
Ceiling fan installation involves more than swapping a light fixture. The electrical box in the ceiling has to be rated for a fan's weight and movement, and the wiring has to support a separate switch leg if you want independent control of the fan and the light. We handle the box support, the wiring, and the switch or remote setup as part of the installation.
When an existing fan is being replaced, we check what is already in the ceiling before committing to a scope. If the box is not fan-rated or the wiring does not support the configuration you want, we tell you that on the call. We'll take care of the circuits from here.
The wiring around here has its own patterns, and panels are where those patterns show up most clearly. Homes built across Oakland County from the 1950s through the 1980s often came with 100-amp service, which made sense at the time. It does not leave much room for a modern kitchen, a home office, an EV charger, and a heating system all running at once.
A panel upgrade to 200-amp service means a new breaker box, an updated service entrance where needed, and a load calculation to confirm the new panel can carry what is being asked of it. Subpanel installation is an option when a detached garage, a workshop, or an addition needs its own circuit group without running individual circuits back to the main panel.
Dedicated circuits for appliances, dryers, ranges, and refrigerators are part of this work. So is EV charger installation: a Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and we handle the circuit and the outlet or hardwired connection as part of the job. Whole-home surge protection is worth adding when the panel is already open. A single surge protector at the panel covers every circuit in the house, which matters in a region where ice storms and wind events can send voltage spikes through the line. Electrical service gets scheduled without the runaround. We'll make your wiring safe again.
Oakland County winters are hard on electrical systems. Multi-day outages from ice storms, heavy heating loads through January and February, and freeze-thaw cycles that stress pipes and rooflines all create specific electrical needs. The three services below address the work that comes up most often here when the temperature drops.
A generator hookup involves connecting a transfer switch or interlock kit at the panel, then running the wiring to the generator connection point. The transfer switch is what keeps utility power and generator power from feeding each other, which matters for safety and for the utility workers on the line during an outage.
Portable generator hookups and standby generator wiring are both options, and the right setup depends on the load you want to cover and the panel's current configuration. We do a load assessment and a panel compatibility check before the work starts, so the hookup is sized correctly for what you need to run. We're ready to get your circuits working again.
Oakland County homes built between the 1960s and the 1980s make up a large share of the housing stock in Rochester Hills, and many of them are still running on panels that were not designed for today's electrical demands. Electric heating loads, added appliances, and new circuits for EV chargers can push an older 100-amp panel past what it was rated to carry.
A panel upgrade means a new breaker box, a load calculation, and an updated service entrance where the incoming capacity needs to match. The result is a panel with room for the circuits the house actually needs, including dedicated circuits for heating equipment power supply, EV chargers, and any additions planned down the road. We'll take care of the circuits from here.
Heat tape circuits power the de-icing cables that protect roof edges and exposed pipes from Rochester Hills winters. A freeze-thaw cycle in January can turn a vulnerable roofline into an ice dam, and an unprotected pipe in an unheated crawl space can fail on the coldest night of the year. The electrical side of the job involves running a dedicated circuit to the connection point, sizing it correctly for the cable load, and installing GFCI protection on any outdoor circuit as code requires.
The heat tape product itself is the homeowner's or contractor's selection. We handle the circuit, the outlet, and the connection, and we confirm everything is protected and wired correctly before we leave. We'll make your wiring safe again.
An electrical inspection covers the panel condition, wiring type, grounding and bonding, outlet and GFCI status, and any visible code concerns throughout the property. It gives you a clear picture of what the electrical system looks like right now, which is useful whether you are buying a home, preparing to sell, or managing a rental unit.
Homebuyers use inspections to understand what they are taking on before closing. Sellers use them to address issues before a buyer's inspector finds them. Oakland County landlords and property managers call for inspections when a unit turns over, when a tenant reports a problem, or when a property needs to meet current code for a rental certificate. We also handle commercial and small business electrical inspections for properties where the panel and wiring need a documented review.
Panel and wiring work finished to code is the standard we work to, and the inspection report reflects what is actually there, not what someone hoped was there. We'll sort the wiring and clean up after.
Pricing gets discussed on the call, before anything is scheduled. You describe the issue or the job, and we give you a rate for the visit or the work. You decide before we come out. There is no commitment required to get a number.
We answer when you call. We explain the work. We leave it safe.
Common questions about panel replacement cost, outlet installation cost, EV charger installation cost, and ceiling fan installation cost all get answered the same way: call and describe what you need, and we will tell you what it costs. Every job is a little different, and a price that is worth anything has to be based on what is actually in front of us. Estimates are no-pressure, priced up front, so you know the rate before we begin.
Rochester Hills is our primary service area, and we cover the surrounding communities throughout Oakland County as well. That includes Troy, Auburn Hills, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Pontiac, Clarkston, Lake Orion, and Oxford.
Across that range we handle residential electrical work for homeowners, repair and inspection work for landlords and property managers, and electrical service for small businesses and commercial properties. The work is the same whether it is a single outlet replacement or a full panel upgrade for a commercial tenant buildout. We'll make your wiring safe again.
Stop using the affected outlet or circuit and do not reset a breaker that tripped due to a burning smell, sparking, or heat at the panel. Turn off the breaker for the affected circuit if you can do so safely, and keep the area clear. Do not attempt to open outlets, panels, or junction boxes while waiting.
A transfer switch is installed at the panel and isolates the home's electrical system from the utility line when the generator is running. Without it, generator power can back-feed into the utility line, which is a serious hazard for anyone working on the line during an outage. Every generator hookup we do includes a properly installed transfer switch or interlock kit sized for the panel configuration.
Breakers that trip repeatedly under normal loads, a panel that runs warm or produces a burning smell, breakers that will not hold their position after being reset, and visible corrosion or discoloration inside the panel door are all signs worth having checked. An older 100-amp panel carrying a modern household's full load is also worth evaluating before it becomes a repair call.
A Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit run from the panel to the garage or driveway, sized for the charger's amperage rating. We confirm the panel has the capacity to carry the new circuit before the work starts, and if a panel upgrade is needed, that conversation happens at the same time. The outlet or hardwired connection is installed to code with proper grounding.
A whole-home surge protector is installed at the main panel and intercepts voltage spikes before they reach the branch circuits. It covers every outlet and hardwired device in the house, including appliances, electronics, and EV charging hardware. A single surge event from a utility fluctuation or a nearby lightning strike can damage equipment across the whole house, and the panel-level suppressor is the most complete way to protect against it.
An inspection covers the panel condition, wiring type, grounding and bonding, outlet and GFCI status, and any visible code concerns throughout the property. It produces a clear picture of what the electrical system contains and what, if anything, needs attention. Homebuyers, sellers, and landlords are the most common callers, but an inspection makes sense for any property that has not had a formal review in several years.
Two-prong outlets throughout the house, a panel with no room for additional breakers, aluminum branch-circuit wiring at the outlets, visible knob-and-tube wiring in the attic or basement, and wiring with cracked or brittle insulation are all indicators that a closer look is warranted. These conditions do not always cause immediate problems, but they limit what the system can safely carry and can create risks over time.
GFCI protection is required at outlets near water: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoor circuits. AFCI protection is required on bedroom circuits and, under current code, on most living area circuits in new construction and significant renovations. The exact requirements depend on the age of the home and the scope of the work, and we confirm what applies before the job starts.
We check the breaker condition, the bus bar connections, the grounding and bonding, the service entrance, and the overall load relative to the panel's rated capacity. If the panel is full or showing signs of heat or corrosion, we explain what we found and what the options are before any repair or upgrade work is agreed.
For most jobs, yes. Access to the panel, the affected circuits, and the work areas is necessary, and someone needs to be present to confirm the scope and the price before work begins. Let us know your situation when you call and we will work out the scheduling details.
Every circuit is tested under load before we consider the job complete. Outlets are checked with a tester, GFCI and AFCI devices are tripped and reset to confirm they respond correctly, and panel connections are verified before the cover goes back on. If something does not test correctly, it gets addressed before we leave.
Built for homeowners. Ready for property managers. Ready for your panel.
Rochester Hills Electrical Company is open every day from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Call (248) 791-9979 for a quote.
When you call, you get a price before anything is scheduled, a clear explanation of what the work involves, and a visit that ends with the job done and the workspace cleaned up. We'll take care of the circuits from here.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle across Rochester Hills and Oakland County. Each row covers what the service involves, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. Pricing is discussed on the call, before anything is scheduled, so you can make an informed decision without any commitment.
| Service Type | What It Covers | Ideal For | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting Installation | Recessed and under-cabinet lightingExterior security and motion sensor lightsLandscape lighting circuitsCircuit sizing for multi-fixture runs | Homeowners adding interior lighting or improving outdoor security lighting around the property | Load calculation before pulling wire keeps the circuit from nuisance tripping once all fixtures are running. |
| Heat Tape Installation | Dedicated circuit for de-icing cableGFCI protection on outdoor circuitsCircuit sizing for cable loadRoof edge and pipe protection wiring | Rochester Hills homeowners protecting rooflines and exposed pipes from freeze-thaw cycles through Michigan winters | We handle the circuit, the outlet, and the connection. The heat tape product is the homeowner's selection. Everything is verified and protected before we leave. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 200-amp service upgradeNew breaker box installationLoad calculation and service entrance workSubpanel installation for garages and additions | Older Oakland County homes adding EV chargers, heating circuits, or major appliances to an undersized 100-amp panel | Panel work is finished to code and covers the full service entrance where the incoming capacity needs to match the new box. A load calculation is part of every upgrade. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-level surge suppressor installationFull-house circuit coverageProtection for EV chargers and appliancesPairing with panel upgrade work | Any Rochester Hills home exposed to utility fluctuations or ice storm outages that can send voltage spikes through the line | Installing surge protection while the panel is already open for an upgrade keeps the job efficient and covers every circuit in the house from a single device. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runs from the panelRewiring of older branch circuitsKnob-and-tube and aluminum wiring assessmentJunction box and connection updates | Homes with outdated wiring that cannot safely carry modern electrical loads, or properties adding new rooms or circuits | Knob-and-tube systems were never designed for today's loads. If your home has it, we assess what is there and explain your options before any work is agreed. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Dead outlets and tripped GFCI devicesFault tracing at the panel and circuit levelBurning smell and heat diagnosisFlickering light and power loss investigation | Any homeowner or property manager dealing with an active electrical problem | We read the panel and trace the fault to its source before quoting any repair work, so you are not paying to replace parts that are not the cause. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlet replacement240-volt outlet installationUSB and smart outlet wiringDimmer and smart switch compatibility | Homeowners adding outlets to a room, upgrading a kitchen or home office, or replacing outdated devices in older wiring | Older Michigan homes with aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring require specific devices and connections. We check what is in the wall before quoting the job. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch and interlock kit installationGenerator connection point wiringLoad assessment and panel compatibility checkPortable and standby hookup options | Oakland County homeowners who want to maintain power through multi-day ice storm or wind outages | The transfer switch is what keeps utility power and generator power from feeding each other. Every hookup includes one, sized correctly for the panel configuration. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan-rated box installationSeparate switch leg wiringRemote and smart control setupReplacement fan assessment | Homeowners replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan or upgrading an existing fan to independent fan and light control | The ceiling box has to be rated for a fan's weight and movement. We check the existing box and wiring before committing to a scope. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breaker replacement and testingFuse panel assessmentCircuit load evaluationAFCI and GFCI breaker upgrades | Homes where a breaker trips repeatedly or will not hold its position after reset | A breaker that keeps tripping under normal loads is signaling a fault or an overloaded circuit, not just a nuisance. We confirm which before any hardware is swapped. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | Dryer and range circuit installationRefrigerator and dishwasher circuitsWorkshop and garage circuitsPanel capacity check before installation | Homeowners adding a major appliance or workshop equipment that requires its own circuit | Every dedicated circuit starts with a panel capacity check. If the panel is already full, that conversation happens before the circuit work is quoted. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Panel condition and breaker assessmentWiring type and grounding reviewGFCI and AFCI outlet status checkCode concern documentation throughout the property | Homebuyers, sellers, and Oakland County landlords preparing a unit for occupancy or rental certification | The inspection report reflects what is actually there. If something needs attention, we explain it clearly so you can decide what to address and when. |
What causes breakers to trip repeatedly, and when does it mean something more serious?
A breaker trips because it is doing its job: stopping current flow when the circuit is carrying more than it was designed for, or when a fault exists somewhere on the line. A single trip after running too many appliances at once is usually a load issue. A breaker that trips again right after being reset, or one that trips under a normal load with nothing unusual running, points to a fault in the wiring or a device on that circuit. A panel that runs warm or produces a faint burning smell alongside repeated tripping is a reason to call right away rather than keep resetting.
How do I know if my home is ready for added electrical load, like an EV charger or a new appliance?
The answer starts at the panel. A 100-amp panel carrying a full household load, electric heat, and a major appliance already has little room left. Adding a Level 2 EV charger, which requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, can push an older panel past what it was rated to carry. We do a load calculation before any new circuit work starts. If the panel needs to be upgraded first, that conversation happens on the call so you have the full picture before anything is scheduled.
What are the risks of aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring in an older home?
Knob-and-tube wiring was designed for the electrical loads of its era, which are a fraction of what a modern home draws. It also lacks a ground conductor, which limits what devices can be safely connected to it. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s expands and contracts with heat in a way that can loosen connections at outlets and switches over time, which creates a fire risk at the device. Neither system is automatically a reason to panic, but both require a careful assessment to understand what the system can safely carry and what needs to be updated.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We read the panel and trace the fault to its source before any repair work is quoted. You are not paying to swap parts that are not the cause of the problem.
When is a full rewire necessary versus targeted circuit repairs?
A full rewire makes sense when the existing wiring is too degraded or undersized to support the home's needs across the board, when knob-and-tube is present throughout most of the house, or when a renovation is opening enough walls to make a full replacement practical. Targeted circuit work is the right call when the problem is isolated to a specific area or a few circuits and the rest of the system is in sound condition. We assess what is there and explain both options so you can make the decision that fits the home and the budget.
What does grounding and bonding mean, and why does it matter in an older home?
Grounding gives fault current a safe path back to the panel so a breaker can trip and stop the flow before it reaches a person. Bonding ties metal components together so they stay at the same electrical potential, which prevents a shock hazard when someone touches two metal surfaces at once. Older homes often have two-prong outlets with no ground conductor in the circuit, and some have grounding systems that were not installed to current standards. An inspection covers both, and we explain what we find in plain terms.
What is involved in sizing and hooking up a backup generator?
Generator sizing starts with a load assessment: which circuits do you need to run during an outage, and what is the combined draw of those loads. A whole-house standby generator and a portable unit that covers the essentials are both options, and the right choice depends on that load calculation and your budget. The electrical work involves installing a transfer switch or interlock kit at the panel, then running wiring to the generator connection point. The transfer switch is the critical piece. It isolates the home from the utility line while the generator is running, which protects anyone working on the utility side of the line during an outage.
Code-Compliant Work on Every Job
Panel and wiring work is finished to code, which matters when you are selling a home, updating a rental unit, or adding circuits that need to carry a real load safely.
How does pricing work, and what should I expect when I call for a quote?
Pricing is discussed on the call, before anything is scheduled. You describe the issue or the job, and we give you a rate for the visit or the work. Estimates are no-pressure and priced up front, so you know what the job costs before we come out. There is no commitment required to get a number, and the price is based on what the job actually involves rather than a flat rate applied to every situation.
When should I call an electrician instead of handling something myself?
Swapping a like-for-like light fixture or a standard outlet cover is generally within reach for a careful homeowner. Anything that involves opening the panel, running new wire, replacing a breaker, or diagnosing a fault is work where a mistake can create a serious hazard or leave the problem unresolved. If there is a burning smell, a warm outlet, a breaker that will not stay reset, or any situation where you are not certain what is causing the symptom, a call is the right move. The diagnostic visit is where the cause gets identified, and that is where the repair actually starts.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
From knob-and-tube assessments in mid-century homes to EV charger circuits in newer construction, we work across the full range of wiring types found in Oakland County.
What does GFCI protection cover, and where is it required?
A GFCI outlet monitors the current flowing through the circuit and cuts power in a fraction of a second if it detects an imbalance, which is the condition that occurs when current is taking a path through a person. Code requires GFCI protection at outlets near water: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoor circuits. It is also required for any outdoor circuit, including the dedicated circuit for heat tape on a roof edge or exposed pipe. We confirm what applies to your specific job before the work starts, since the requirements depend on the age of the home and the scope of the work being done.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
Most panel upgrades are completed in a single day. The timeline depends on whether the service entrance needs to be updated alongside the new box, whether a permit and inspection are part of the process, and whether any circuit work is being added at the same time. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call based on what the job involves, so you can plan the day accordingly. Power to the home will be off for a portion of the work, and we confirm that window before we start.
What does it mean when lights flicker or dim, and how serious is it?
Occasional flickering when a large appliance starts up is a load effect and is usually not a concern on its own. Persistent flickering, lights that dim across multiple rooms at once, or flickering that happens without any obvious cause are worth investigating. Those patterns can point to a loose connection at the panel or at a junction somewhere in the circuit, a failing breaker, or a service entrance issue. A loose connection that arcs intermittently is a fire risk, so flickering that does not have an obvious explanation is a reason to call rather than wait.
Call (248) 791-9979 to describe the job and get a price before anything is scheduled. We are open every day from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
(248) 791-9979