Licensed Electrical Contractor — C-13 Electrical | C-26041 General

Electrical Services

Full-service electrical contracting by licensed, in-house electricians. Panel upgrades, rewiring, new circuits, and commercial electrical work. The same expert team that installs our solar and battery systems.

Licensed & Insured In-House Electricians Residential & Commercial 33 Years Experience

What We Do

Our licensed electricians handle everything from simple repairs to complex commercial projects.

Panel Upgrades

Upgrade from 100A to 200A to support solar, battery, EV charger, and modern electrical loads. Essential for many solar installations.

New Circuits & Wiring

Dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances, EV chargers, hot tubs, workshops, and home additions.

Whole-Home Rewiring

Older Hawaii homes often need rewiring for safety and capacity. We bring your electrical system up to current code.

Commercial Electrical

Electrical work for commercial buildings, retail spaces, restaurants, and offices. Permits and inspections handled.

Emergency Repairs

Electrical issues that can't wait. Breaker failures, outages, safety hazards. Call us for priority service.

Meter & Service Upgrades

Upgrade your HECO meter base and service entrance to support solar, battery, EV chargers, and modern AC loads. Coordination with HECO included.

Inspections & Code Compliance

Electrical inspections for real estate transactions, insurance, and code compliance verification.

Meter & Service Upgrades

One of the most common electrical projects we handle — and one of the least understood by homeowners — is the meter and service entrance upgrade. Many older Hawaii homes have 100-amp service that was adequate when the house was built but cannot support the electrical demands of modern life: solar PV, battery storage, EV charging, and ductless AC systems.

When a Meter Upgrade Is Needed

The meter base and service entrance are the point where HECO’s power enters your home. If your service is rated at 100 amps, there is a hard limit on how much electrical capacity your home can draw — and how much solar equipment can connect to it under NEC rules.

Common triggers for a meter/service upgrade:

Adding Solar + Battery

NEC 705.12 limits how much solar can connect to your panel based on the bus bar rating. A 100A panel may only accept 20A of solar — roughly 4.8 kW. Upgrading to 200A service opens the door to full-sized 10–14 kW systems. (Note: Tesla Powerwall 3’s Power Control System may eliminate this need on some homes — read our PCS guide.)

Installing EV Chargers

A Level 2 EV charger draws 30–50 amps on a dedicated 240V circuit. On a 100A service that is already supporting AC, water heater, and kitchen loads, there is simply no room. The charger needs capacity that does not exist until the service is upgraded.

Adding Mini-Split AC

A multi-zone Mitsubishi mini-split system can draw 20–40 amps depending on the number of zones. Homes built before the 1990s were not wired for whole-home air conditioning. Adding 3–4 zones of AC to a 100A home often pushes the service past its rated capacity.

Aging or Unsafe Equipment

Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels — common in 1960s–1980s Hawaii homes — are considered fire hazards by most electricians. A meter upgrade is often combined with replacing these panels regardless of whether solar is involved.

What the Upgrade Involves

A meter and service upgrade is a permitted project that requires coordination between your contractor, the City & County permit office, and HECO. The typical process:

1. Assessment & Permit

1–2 Weeks

We assess your current service, size the upgrade, and pull the electrical permit through DPP. Load calculations determine whether 200A is sufficient or if 320/400A is needed (rare for residential).

2. HECO Coordination

Scheduled

HECO must disconnect your meter during the swap and reconnect after. We coordinate the disconnect date and handle all utility paperwork.

3. Installation

1–2 Days

New meter base, new service entrance cable, new main panel, and reorganization of all existing circuits. If bundled with solar, this happens on day one of the project.

4. Inspection & Reconnect

3–5 Days

City & County inspector verifies the work. Once passed, HECO installs the new meter and re-energizes your home.

Cost

A residential meter and service upgrade from 100A to 200A typically runs $2,500 to $4,500 on Oahu, including the permit and HECO coordination. Bundling with a solar or AC installation reduces the cost by $800–$1,200 because you share the permit cycle, HECO coordination, and inspection trip. This is one of the strongest arguments for doing everything in one project rather than piecemeal.

Solar-Ready Electrical Work

Planning to go solar in the future? We can prepare your electrical system now so the solar installation goes smoothly later. This includes panel assessment, capacity planning, and potential pre-wiring for solar, battery, and EV charger circuits.

Bundling electrical work with a solar or AC project? We coordinate everything under one contract — one crew, one permit process, one point of contact.

Typical Project Costs

Panel Upgrade (100A → 200A)

$2,500 – $4,500

Includes permit, installation, and city inspection. Required for most solar + battery installations on older homes.

Dedicated 240V Circuit

$500 – $1,200

For EV chargers, mini-split AC, hot tubs, or workshops. Price depends on distance from panel.

Whole-Home Rewiring

$8,000 – $15,000

Older homes with aluminum wiring or undersized circuits. Includes panel upgrade, new circuits, and code compliance.

All prices include permit fees. Commercial projects quoted individually. Request a free estimate.

Why Choose a Licensed Electrical Contractor

Hawaii law requires a C-13 licensed electrical contractor for most electrical work. Here’s why that matters:

Code Compliance

All work meets NEC 2020 and Hawaii county electrical codes. Inspections pass the first time.

Insurance Protection

Licensed work is covered by homeowner’s insurance. Unlicensed electrical work can void your policy.

In-House Crews

Every electrician is our employee — never subcontracted. Trained on solar, battery, and EV charging systems. 33 years of Hawaii experience.

One Company for Everything

Need solar, AC, roofing, or EV charging too? One contract, one crew, no coordination hassle.

Electrical FAQ

Do I need a panel upgrade for solar?

Many Hawaii homes need a panel upgrade to 200A service before solar and battery installation. Our licensed electricians assess your panel during the free site survey and handle the upgrade as part of the project.

What electrical work does solar installation require?

Solar requires dedicated breakers for the inverter and battery, a production meter socket, and rapid shutdown compliance. As a licensed C-13 contractor, we handle all electrical work in-house.

Can you add circuits for EV chargers or mini-split AC?

Yes. We install dedicated 240V circuits for EV chargers and Mitsubishi mini-split AC systems. Bundling with solar or AC saves time and cost.

Are your electricians licensed?

Yes. We hold Hawaii electrical contractor license C-13. All electricians are employees with training in solar PV, battery storage, and EV charging systems.

Related Resources

Solar + Battery

Most solar installs include electrical work.

Panel Upgrade Guide for Solar

Learn when and why a panel upgrade is needed.

EV Chargers

Dedicated 240V circuit installation.

Solar Calculator

See if you need a panel upgrade.

Need an Electrician?

Licensed, insured, and experienced. Request a quote for any residential or commercial electrical work.