Panels from that era were sized for the loads of the time. Add an EV charger, a home office, and a couple of modern appliances and you're pushing a 100-amp panel past what it can safely handle. We do load assessments and 200-amp upgrades that give your home the capacity it actually needs.
The newer parts of Rancho Cordova around Sunridge and Anatolia are a different situation. Solid wiring, bigger panels, but homeowners still need charger installs, dedicated circuits, and lighting work. Whatever your home needs, we do the work right and pull the permits to back it up.
Panel upgrades are our most common job in Rancho Cordova. Most homes here are at the age where it's time.
Panel upgrades in Rancho Cordova's 70s and 80s homes
Most of Rancho Cordova went up between the late 60s and the mid 80s, and a lot of those houses still run on the original 100-amp panel. Plenty of them are Zinsco or Federal Pacific, two brands with a documented habit of breakers that don't trip when they should. A panel that old was never sized for central air, an induction range, and an EV charger at the same time.
A 200-amp upgrade here means a SMUD application, a planned outage, the City of Rancho Cordova permit, and an inspection. We handle every piece of that. The job itself is usually one day, with the power off for a few hours in the middle of it, and the price lands in the $2,500 to $10,000 range depending on how much service entrance work comes with it.
Panel upgrades and service changes
Six signs your panel needs replacing
Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Challenger, Pushmatic: what to do
How the SMUD side of a panel upgrade works
Electrical repair and emergency calls
Tripping breakers, a dead outlet in the kitchen, lights that dim when the AC kicks on, a GFCI that won't reset. Those are the calls we get most from Rancho Cordova, and the cause is usually a worn connection, an overloaded circuit, or a breaker that's reached the end of its life. We charge a $59 diagnostic to trace it to the source and credit that toward the repair.
If it's a burning smell, sparking, or a panel that's warm to the touch, don't wait for a regular appointment. We run 24/7 and we'll tell you over the phone what to shut off before we get there.
Electrical repair and troubleshooting
What to do in an electrical emergency
EV chargers in Sunridge, Anatolia, and Kavala Ranch
The newer neighborhoods east of Sunrise Boulevard are where most of our Rancho Cordova EV charger work happens. Those homes have 200-amp panels with room to spare, so the job is a dedicated 240-volt circuit, a hardwired charger or a NEMA 14-50 outlet, and a test under load. With the panel in the garage, most installs land in the $500 to $1,500 range.
Because Rancho Cordova is SMUD territory, the Charge@Home rebate applies. It has covered up to $600 toward the charger and its circuit. We confirm the current terms when we quote and file the paperwork for you.
SMUD rebates for EV chargers and panel upgrades
Our Services in Rancho Cordova
Whatever your home or business needs, electrical is the only trade we work in. Explore the services we provide throughout Rancho Cordova: