San Jose is the largest city in Silicon Valley and one of the country’s strongest markets for electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar and batteries. Many of its homes were built in the post-war boom with small services that now struggle to carry an EV charger, induction range and heat pump at once. PG&E delivers the power, while the city’s own clean energy program supplies it.
Free to call · Independent licensed electricians
Serving Willow Glen, Rose Garden, Naglee Park, Japantown, Almaden Valley, Evergreen and every other San Jose neighborhood.
San Jose at a glance
Electrical services in San Jose
The calls San Jose homeowners make most, followed by every service independent licensed electricians handle here.
Not sure which service you need? Describe the problem and an electrician will tell you.
Call for Electrical Service in San JoseHousing and wiring
Naglee Park and the Hensley Historic District have Victorian and Craftsman homes, Willow Glen and the Rose Garden have homes from the 1920s through the 1940s, and huge areas of Cambrian, Blossom Valley, Evergreen and Berryessa are post-war tract homes, including several neighborhoods of Eichler homes with their distinctive post-and-beam construction.
Neighborhoods we cover
Local issues
Problems that come up again and again in local homes, and the service that fixes each one.
Many San Jose homes still have 100-amp or smaller services. Adding an EV charger, heat pump and induction range usually requires a load calculation and either a service upgrade or load-management devices.
Electrical Panel UpgradeEichler homes have flat or low-slope roofs, exposed beams and little or no attic, which makes running new wiring a specialized job. Many also have original panels that electricians recommend replacing.
House RewiringSan Jose permits thousands of accessory dwelling units, and each needs a properly sized feeder or separate meter coordinated with PG&E.
Electrical Panel UpgradeLocal guide
History, housing, weather and rules that shape electrical work in San Jose, CA.
Since 2019, most San Jose homes have received electricity from San José Clean Energy, the city’s community choice program, which buys power with a higher share of renewable sources. Customers still pay PG&E for delivery, and PG&E handles meters, service upgrades and outages.
Developer Joseph Eichler built thousands of modernist homes in the Bay Area, including neighborhoods in San Jose such as Fairglen and parts of Willow Glen and Cambrian. Their open beam ceilings, glass walls and radiant floor heating make them beloved but tricky to rewire. New circuits often run on the roof in conduit or through carefully planned chases, and owners usually want work that respects the original design.
Willow Glen’s tree-lined streets and the Rose Garden neighborhood near the Municipal Rose Garden have homes from the 1920s through the 1940s, many expanded over time. Original wiring sections, small panels and DIY additions are common findings, and renovations often bring service upgrades.
Naglee Park near San Jose State and the Hensley Historic District north of downtown have Victorian and Craftsman homes. Some have been divided into apartments and student housing. Restorations usually require complete rewiring while preserving historic features.
San Jose’s Japantown is one of only a few remaining in the country, with older homes and small commercial buildings. Renovations often update services while maintaining the neighborhood’s character.
In February 2017, Coyote Creek overflowed and flooded the Rocksprings neighborhood and other areas, forcing thousands to evacuate. Homes with water inside needed outlets, panels and appliances replaced. Homes near creeks should keep electrical equipment above flood levels.
During the September 2022 heat wave, San Jose reached record temperatures and the state grid operator issued Flex Alerts. Many older homes lacked air conditioning, and owners are adding heat pumps that require circuits and often panel upgrades.
Neighborhoods in the Almaden and Evergreen foothills are near high fire-risk areas where PG&E may shut off power during extreme wind. Batteries or generators with transfer equipment help these homes during shutoffs.
San Jose sits between the San Andreas, Hayward and Calaveras faults, and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused damage across the region. Securing water heaters and appliances and knowing how to shut off the main breaker are basic precautions.
San Jose was among the first California cities to require all-electric new construction, starting around 2020. Existing homes are not required to switch, but many owners are electrifying voluntarily with heat pumps and induction cooking.
Santa Clara County has some of the highest EV ownership in the country. Many households have two EVs, which can require load-management devices or service upgrades to charge both.
Since the state changed how new solar customers are credited in 2023, most new San Jose solar systems include batteries. Systems need city permits and PG&E interconnection approval.
Zinsco and Federal Pacific panels are common in Bay Area homes built in the 1950s through the 1970s. Many electricians recommend replacing them, and replacement is often combined with a service upgrade.
San Jose’s tech workforce has many home offices with computers, monitors and networking gear. Dedicated circuits and surge protection keep equipment safe.
Downtown San Jose has many newer condos and apartments where EV charging and electrical changes require association approval.
Common requests include service upgrades, EV chargers, heat pump circuits, ADU wiring, Eichler rewiring, solar and battery work and panel replacements.
A common San Jose scenario is a 1960s ranch home on a 100-amp service whose owners now drive two electric cars and want to replace a gas furnace with a heat pump. A load calculation usually shows the service cannot handle everything at full power. The options are a service upgrade to 200 amps, which requires PG&E coordination and can take months, or smart load-management devices and EV chargers that share capacity and pause charging when the heat pump or range is running. Many homeowners start with load management and upgrade later if needed.
San Jose has been one of California’s leaders in permitting accessory dwelling units, including preapproved designs that speed the process. Each backyard unit or garage conversion needs a feeder sized for its kitchen, heat pump and water heater, or a separate PG&E meter, along with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The main house’s service must have room for both households, which frequently turns an ADU project into a service upgrade as well.
East San Jose neighborhoods such as Evergreen, Alum Rock and Berryessa grew from the 1960s through the 1990s with tract homes and townhouses, many with original panels. Multigenerational households are common, and adding bedrooms, kitchens or ADUs requires careful attention to capacity. Some foothill homes in Evergreen also face wildfire-related shutoffs.
Small jobs can often be scheduled quickly and permitted online, but service upgrades depend on PG&E engineering and scheduling, which can stretch for weeks or months. Starting the utility application early, especially for ADUs and electrification projects, keeps renovations on schedule.
Almaden Valley and Cambrian on the south side have larger lots and homes from the 1960s through the 1980s, many with pools and two-car garages. Owners there frequently add solar, batteries and EV chargers, which often requires replacing original panels. Homes on the edges of the foothills should also plan for possible PG&E fire-weather shutoffs.
Many older San Jose homes were built without air conditioning, relying on cool nights. As heat waves grow more intense, ceiling fans and ductless heat pumps are popular additions. Fans need fan-rated boxes, and heat pumps need dedicated circuits.
San Jose has many older wood-frame apartment buildings with parking beneath, and seismic retrofits on these buildings often require relocating meters, panels and wiring in the parking level. Coordinating the electrician with the structural contractor avoids rework and keeps tenants’ power interruptions short.
Questions
The City of San José Planning, Building and Code Enforcement department issues permits, many of them online. Neighboring cities such as Santa Clara, Campbell and Milpitas have their own offices.
San José Clean Energy supplies the electricity, but PG&E still owns the lines and meters, so service upgrades and solar interconnection go through PG&E.
Problem guides
Breaker Keeps TrippingWhy does my circuit breaker keep tripping?
Flickering LightsWhy are the lights in my house flickering?
Buzzing Electrical PanelWhy is my electrical panel buzzing?
Two-Prong Ungrounded OutletsAre two-prong outlets safe?
Knob and Tube WiringDo I need to replace knob and tube wiring?
Overloaded Power StripsIs it dangerous to plug a power strip into another power strip?Same-day help often available
Call an electrician in San Jose
Describe the problem and your San Jose neighborhood. Your call goes to an independent licensed electrician who works locally.
Call (855) 679-2483Smoke, flames or sparking? Leave the building and call 911 first.
Pronto Electrician is a free referral service. Calls are answered by independent licensed electricians in your area. Pronto Electrician does not perform electrical work, and the electrician you choose sets the price, schedule, permits and warranty.
Nearby
Free to call · All 50 states + DC
Describe the problem and get connected with an independent licensed electrician who serves your area.
