Pontiac Electrical Company handles electrical work for homes and businesses across Pontiac and the surrounding Oakland County area. Whether you have a breaker that keeps tripping, an outlet that stopped working, a panel that needs an upgrade, or a new circuit to run for an EV charger or major appliance, we take the call and get the work scheduled. We are available every day from 8 AM to 11 PM, so you are not stuck waiting until Monday to get a real answer.
Our scope covers the full range of residential and commercial electrical needs: repairs and troubleshooting, breaker panel replacements, outlet and switch installation, indoor and outdoor lighting, ceiling fans, wiring and rewiring, dedicated circuits, whole-home surge protection, EV charger hookups, and backup generator connections. Breakers that hold. Outlets that work. Lights that stay on.
Call now and we'll get the power back where it belongs.
Electrical problems don't wait, and neither do we, so when something goes wrong with your wiring, the faster it gets looked at, the better. A breaker that trips repeatedly is telling you something about the load on that circuit. A burning smell from an outlet or a sparking light switch is a signal that needs attention right away, not put off until a more convenient time. Half the house losing power without a storm outside usually points to a tripped main breaker or a fault deeper in the panel.
Dead outlets are one of the most common calls we get, and a surprising number of them trace back to a tripped GFCI or AFCI device somewhere upstream. Before assuming the worst, we run through the diagnostics systematically. Clear communication from the first call to the final test means you understand what we found and what we did, not just that the lights came back on.
Reach out and we'll get it diagnosed.
Keeping a home safe starts with the wiring behind the walls, and in Pontiac, that wiring can tell a long story. Oakland County's housing stock includes a significant number of homes built in the mid-twentieth century, and some of them still carry knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch circuits that were never updated. Both present real considerations for safety and for homeowners insurance. We handle full and partial rewiring, aluminum wiring remediation, and knob-and-tube replacement for homes that need to be brought up to current standards.
We treat your home the way we would want ours treated. That means protecting floors and surfaces, explaining what we found before we start, and leaving the work area clean when the job is done. We also work with landlords and rental property owners who need electrical repairs handled quickly and correctly between tenants or in response to a tenant complaint. We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own.
Call and we'll get you back to full power.
A new outlet installation sounds simple, but the right approach depends on where it is going and what it needs to handle. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations all require GFCI protection. Bedrooms and certain living areas require AFCI protection under current code. We install standard outlets, GFCI and AFCI outlets, USB combination outlets, outdoor weatherproof outlets, and dimmer switches, three-way switches, and smart switches throughout the home. If an outlet stopped working or a switch is behaving strangely, we find the cause rather than just swapping the device.
We install ceiling fans with or without existing wiring in place, and we run new switch legs where the box or the switch location does not yet exist. For lighting, the scope covers recessed LED fixtures, pendant lights, chandeliers, under-cabinet lighting, and exterior fixtures including security lights and motion-sensor lights. Outdoor lighting tied to a timer or a photocell adds both safety and function, and we handle the wiring from the panel out to the fixture location.
A dedicated circuit puts one appliance on its own breaker so it is not competing with the rest of the house for capacity. Electric dryers, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, and refrigerators all benefit from a dedicated 20-amp or 240-volt circuit, and many of them require one by code. We run new circuits, install the correct outlet type, and confirm the panel has the capacity to support the load before the work starts. For older homes needing a full or partial rewire, we scope the job on the call and walk you through what the work involves.
What sets this service apart is straightforward: we handle commercial and rental electrical work with the same attention we bring to residential calls, and we understand that property managers and business owners need the job scheduled and completed without the back-and-forth that slows things down. We work in offices, retail spaces, warehouses, apartment buildings, and commercial properties across Oakland County.
Code compliance is a common reason commercial clients call us. A failed electrical inspection, wiring that does not meet current standards, or a panel that is not up to code can hold up a lease, a sale, or a certificate of occupancy. We handle the remediation work, pull the required permits, and document what was done. Electrical service scheduled without the runaround means you get a clear scope, a price on the call, and the work completed so the inspection can move forward.
We make the fix and leave it tidy.
No matter what's going wrong with your wiring, a remodel or addition usually starts the same conversation: does the panel have room for what we are adding, and where do the new circuits go. We handle the electrical scope for kitchen and bathroom remodels, basement finishes, garage builds, detached garage wiring, and workshop circuits. That includes running new circuits from the panel, installing subpanels where the distance or load warrants it, and roughing in boxes for outlets, switches, and fixtures before the drywall goes up.
For homeowners adding smart switches, smart lighting, or low-voltage wiring for a home network, we handle the installation and make sure the load side is set up correctly. The wiring done properly, start to finish means the inspector signs off and the system works the way it is supposed to from day one.
Pontiac winters are serious. Extended sub-freezing temperatures, ice storms, and wind events are a regular part of life in Oakland County, and they put real demands on both the electrical system and the structure of the home. Older housing stock with panels that were sized for a different era of electrical load, combined with the increasing demand from EV chargers and electric heating, means the panel is often the first thing we look at. Power restored. Code-compliant. Done right.
When a winter storm knocks out power for two or three days, a generator connection is the difference between a manageable situation and a serious one. The electrical side of a generator installation involves a transfer switch or interlock kit, a dedicated circuit from the panel to the generator connection point, and a load review to confirm the panel can handle the configuration safely. We do not install or service the generator unit itself, but we handle all of the wiring, the transfer switch installation, and the panel work that makes the hookup safe and functional. Michigan's grid takes hits every winter, and a properly wired generator connection means you are ready for the next one.
Many Pontiac homes still have 100-amp service or, in some cases, a fuse box that was never converted to a breaker panel. Neither is adequate for the electrical loads a modern household puts on the system. An EV charger alone can require a 50-amp dedicated circuit, and that is before accounting for an electric range, a dryer, or a finished basement with additional circuits. A panel upgrade to 200-amp service gives the home the capacity it needs and clears the way for the circuits that modern living requires. We handle the panel replacement, the service entrance work, and the load calculations that confirm the upgrade is sized correctly.
Heat tape keeps pipes from freezing when temperatures drop below zero, but the tape itself needs a proper electrical supply to work safely. That means a dedicated circuit, GFCI protection, and a weatherproof outdoor outlet installed to code. Running that circuit correctly is the part we handle. A heat tape system wired to a standard indoor outlet on a shared circuit is both a code issue and a safety concern. We scope the circuit, install the outlet in the right location, and confirm the GFCI protection is in place before the cold weather arrives.
Your time matters, so we keep the wiring job moving, and both EV charger installation and whole-home surge protection are jobs that start with a panel review. A Level 2 EV charger runs on a 240-volt, 50-amp dedicated circuit, and the panel needs an open slot and sufficient capacity before the circuit can be added. If the panel is already at capacity, a panel upgrade and an EV charger circuit can often be scoped together in a single visit.
Whole-home surge protection installs at the panel and protects every circuit in the house from voltage spikes that come in through the utility line. A single surge event can damage appliances, electronics, and the wiring itself. With the number of sensitive devices in a modern home, a panel-mounted surge protector is a straightforward addition that covers the whole house at once.
Call for a quote and we'll confirm what the panel can support before anything is scheduled.
An electrical safety inspection goes through the panel, the branch circuits, the grounding and bonding, and the visible wiring to identify anything that does not meet current standards. We handle inspections for homeowners buying or selling a property, landlords preparing a rental unit, and property owners who want a clear picture of what the electrical system looks like before something goes wrong.
If a home inspection flagged electrical issues or a code inspection came back with violations, we review the findings, explain what the remediation involves, and complete the work so the re-inspection can move forward. Arc-fault and ground-fault breaker requirements have changed over the years, and older homes frequently need updates to meet current code when a sale or a permit triggers a review.
No matter what's going wrong with your wiring, the first question is usually what it is going to cost. We give you the rate on the phone before anything is scheduled. The price covers what we discussed, and if the scope changes once we are on-site, we explain why before the work continues. Ask what the quote covers and you get a straight answer.
Electrical work varies in complexity, and the cost of a panel upgrade is not the same as the cost of a ceiling fan installation. What stays consistent is that the pricing is explained up front, and you are not left guessing until the invoice arrives. We keep the communication clear from the first call to the final test so there are no questions about what was done or what it cost.
We serve Pontiac and the communities throughout Oakland County, including Auburn Hills, Waterford Township, Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Sylvan Lake, Orion Township, and Lake Orion. If you are not sure whether your address falls within our service area, call and we will confirm it on the spot.
Breakers that trip repeatedly without a clear cause, a panel that feels warm to the touch, a burning or plastic smell near the panel, and breakers that will not hold a reset are all signs the panel needs attention. Older panels with fuse boxes or known problem brands are worth having reviewed even without active symptoms.
Call (947) 999-8795 and we will talk through what you are seeing.
A breaker trips when a circuit draws more current than it is rated to carry, which can happen because of a faulty appliance, a short circuit, or a circuit that is simply overloaded by too many devices. A breaker that trips repeatedly on the same circuit, or that trips without an obvious load, usually points to a wiring fault or a failing breaker rather than a temporary overload. We trace the fault to its source rather than just resetting the breaker and moving on.
A transfer switch isolates your home from the utility line before the generator feeds power into the panel. Without it, generator power can back-feed into the utility line, which is a serious hazard for anyone working on the lines outside. We install the transfer switch, connect the generator feed, and confirm the configuration is set up so utility power and generator power cannot conflict.
The electrical side of a generator hookup includes the transfer switch or interlock kit, the dedicated circuit from the panel to the generator connection point, and a load review to confirm the panel can carry the configuration safely. We handle all of the wiring and transfer switch installation. We do not install or service the generator unit itself, but we handle everything from the panel out to the connection point.
A panel upgrade replaces the service entrance, the main breaker, and the panel itself with equipment rated for the higher load. We calculate the load the home needs to carry before sizing the upgrade, and we pull the required permit so the work is inspected. Many Pontiac homes still have 100-amp service or an older fuse box, and a 200-amp upgrade clears the way for EV chargers, electric appliances, and the additional circuits a modern household requires.
GFCI protection is required at outlets near water sources, including kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, and crawl spaces. AFCI protection is required in bedrooms and most living areas under current code, and it guards against arc faults in the wiring rather than ground faults at the outlet. Older homes in Pontiac frequently lack one or both, and we install the correct protection in the locations code requires.
An inspection covers the panel condition, branch circuit wiring, grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection, and the visible wiring throughout the home. We note what does not meet current standards and explain the findings before any work is discussed. Inspections come up most often before a home sale or purchase and for rental properties where the owner wants a clear picture of the system.
A pre-purchase inspection is worth scheduling any time a buyer is considering an older home in Pontiac or the surrounding Oakland County area, particularly if the wiring has not been updated. Landlords preparing a rental unit and homeowners who have not had the system reviewed in a long time are also common reasons to call. An inspection gives you a clear picture of what the system looks like before something goes wrong.
A burning smell near an outlet usually points to a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a failing device that is generating heat it should not be. Near the panel, it can indicate a failing breaker or wiring that is overheating under load. Both are conditions that should not be left until the next convenient appointment.
Call (947) 999-8795 and we will get it looked at.
An outlet that feels warm, sparks when a plug is inserted, or shows discoloration around the face is worth replacing. A switch that buzzes, feels warm, or does not operate cleanly often has a loose connection or a failing mechanism inside. These are not cosmetic issues. A loose connection generates heat, and heat at a connection point is a condition that gets worse over time without attention.
Pontiac Electrical Company is available every day from 8 AM to 11 PM. Whether you need a repair handled, a panel upgrade scoped, or a new circuit added for an EV charger or generator hookup, the next step is a phone call. We confirm the price before anything is scheduled and get the work on the calendar without the delay.
Call (947) 999-8795 for a quote.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle for homes and businesses in Pontiac and across Oakland County. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job on your list is not here, call and we will tell you exactly what it involves.
| Type of Work | Scope of Work | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-mounted surge protector installation, Protection for all circuits at once, Guards against utility line voltage spikes, Pairs with an EV charger or panel upgrade | Homeowners with sensitive electronics, smart devices, or a new EV charger who want panel-level protection | A single surge event can damage appliances, electronics, and wiring. A panel-mounted unit covers every circuit in the house at once. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Dead outlets and tripped breakers, Flickering or dimming lights, Burning smells and sparking devices, Systematic fault diagnosis | Any home or business with an electrical problem that needs a cause, not just a reset | A burning smell or a sparking outlet calls for immediate attention. We trace the fault to its source before anything is replaced. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed LED and pendant fixtures, Exterior and security lighting, Under-cabinet lighting, Motion-sensor and photocell wiring | Homeowners updating interior lighting or adding outdoor fixtures for safety and function | Outdoor fixtures tied to a timer or photocell need a properly rated circuit run from the panel. We handle the wiring from the panel out. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fans with and without existing wiring, New switch legs where needed, Box upgrades for fan-rated support, Remote and wall-control wiring | Homeowners adding a ceiling fan in a room that has no existing wiring or a light-only box | A standard light box is not rated to support a fan. We confirm the box and the wiring before the fan goes up. |
| Heat Tape Installation | Dedicated circuit for heat tape supply, GFCI-protected weatherproof outdoor outlet, Correct circuit sizing for the tape load, Code-compliant installation before cold weather | Pontiac homeowners with exposed pipes in unheated spaces who need a proper electrical supply for heat tape | Heat tape wired to a shared indoor outlet is both a code violation and a safety concern. A dedicated GFCI circuit is the correct setup. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade, Fuse box to breaker panel conversion, Load calculation before sizing, Permit and inspection coordination | Pontiac homeowners adding an EV charger, finishing a basement, or running out of breaker slots | Many Pontiac homes still have 100-amp service or a fuse box. A 200-amp upgrade clears the way for EV chargers, electric appliances, and modern circuit loads. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | 240-volt circuits for ranges and dryers, 20-amp circuits for dishwashers and microwaves, Correct outlet type for each appliance, Panel capacity check before the run | Homeowners adding a major appliance or replacing one that keeps tripping a shared breaker | Many appliances require a dedicated circuit by code. We confirm the panel has capacity before running the new circuit. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runs from the panel, Partial and full rewiring, Aluminum wiring remediation, Knob-and-tube replacement | Older Pontiac homes with wiring that has not been updated, or any property adding new circuits | Oakland County has a significant number of mid-century homes with knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring. Both affect insurability and safety. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Panel and branch circuit review, Grounding and bonding check, GFCI and AFCI coverage audit, Written findings after the visit | Buyers, sellers, landlords, and owners of older homes who want a clear picture of the system | A pre-purchase inspection on an older Pontiac home often surfaces wiring that has not been updated since the home was built. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch or interlock kit installation, Dedicated circuit to generator connection point, Load review before hookup, Panel work for safe configuration | Oakland County homeowners who lose power during winter storms and need a reliable generator hookup | We handle all wiring and transfer switch work. We do not install or service the generator unit itself, but we handle everything from the panel to the connection point. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlets, USB combination outlets, Dimmer and smart switches, Weatherproof outdoor outlets | Homeowners adding outlets, replacing failed devices, or bringing locations up to current code | Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations all require GFCI protection under current code. Bedrooms require AFCI. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breakers that trip repeatedly, Breakers that will not hold a reset, Fuse box evaluation, Failed breaker replacement | Homeowners with an older panel or a breaker that keeps shutting off a circuit | A breaker that trips without a clear load reason usually points to a wiring fault or a failing breaker, not a temporary overload. |
How do I know if my home is ready for an EV charger, and what does the installation involve?
A Level 2 EV charger runs on a 240-volt, 50-amp dedicated circuit. Before we run that circuit, we review the panel to confirm there is an open slot and enough available capacity. If the panel is already at capacity, a panel upgrade and the charger circuit can often be scoped together in one visit. We confirm what the panel can support before anything is scheduled, so you know exactly what the job involves before work begins.
What does flickering or dimming lights usually mean?
Occasional flickering tied to a large appliance starting up, like a refrigerator or an air handler, is usually a load issue on a shared circuit. Flickering that happens without a clear trigger, or that affects multiple rooms at once, often points to a loose connection at the panel, a failing breaker, or a problem at the service entrance. Dimming that gets worse over time is worth having looked at before it becomes a fault.
What is the risk of leaving aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring in place?
Knob-and-tube wiring was not designed for the electrical loads a modern household puts on a circuit, and it lacks a ground conductor. Aluminum branch wiring expands and contracts differently than the devices it connects to, which can loosen connections over time and generate heat at those points. Both affect homeowners insurance coverage in many cases. We handle remediation and replacement for both, and we scope the work on the call so you know what a full or partial update involves.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We run through the diagnostics before we recommend a fix. A dead outlet or a tripping breaker has a cause, and finding it correctly means the repair holds.
When should I call an electrician instead of trying a fix myself?
Swapping a light bulb or resetting a GFCI outlet is reasonable to try on your own. Anything that involves opening a panel, working inside a wall, replacing wiring, or diagnosing a fault that keeps coming back is worth a call. A burning smell, a warm outlet, a sparking switch, or a breaker that will not hold a reset are all situations where the underlying cause matters more than the symptom, and tracing it correctly takes the right tools and knowledge of how the circuit is configured.
How are emergency electrical faults handled?
We are available every day from 8 AM to 11 PM. If you are dealing with a burning smell, a sparking outlet, a panel that is warm to the touch, or a fault that has knocked out part of the house, call and we will talk through what you are seeing and get the work scheduled as quickly as the calendar allows. Clear communication from the first call to the final test means you understand what we found and what we did, not just that the lights came back on.
Does electrical work require a permit, and how does that process work?
Panel upgrades, service entrance work, new circuit runs, and rewiring projects typically require a permit and a follow-up inspection. We pull the required permits before the work starts and coordinate the inspection so the job closes out correctly. Work that is permitted and inspected gives you documentation that the system was brought up to code, which matters for insurance, for a future sale, and for your own peace of mind.
Permits and Inspection Handled Where Required
Panel upgrades, new circuit runs, and rewiring projects require a permit and a follow-up inspection in most cases. Permit filing and inspection coordination are handled before and after the work so the job closes out with proper documentation.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
A straightforward panel upgrade from 100-amp to 200-amp service usually takes most of a workday. The timeline depends on whether the service entrance also needs updating, how many circuits need to be transferred, and whether any remediation work is part of the same scope. We walk through the full picture on the call so you have a realistic sense of what the job involves before we schedule it.
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 trips rather than the fault finding another path, like through a person. Bonding ties metal components together so they stay at the same electrical potential. Older homes often have two-prong outlets with no ground conductor, or grounding that was added later and not done correctly. We check grounding and bonding as part of an electrical safety inspection and explain what, if anything, needs to be corrected.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
Oakland County's housing stock runs from mid-century homes with knob-and-tube wiring to newer construction with modern panels. We scope the job based on what is actually in the walls, not a one-size approach.
What is involved in adding circuits for a workshop or garage?
A workshop or garage with power tools, a compressor, or a welder puts a real load on the electrical system. We start with a panel review to confirm there is capacity for the circuits the space needs, then run the appropriate circuits, whether that is a 20-amp general circuit, a 240-volt circuit for larger equipment, or a subpanel if the distance or load warrants it. We install the correct outlet types and confirm the wiring is sized for the load before the work is done.
How does whole-home surge protection differ from a power strip surge protector?
A power strip protects only the devices plugged into it, and only from surges that come through the outlets it is connected to. A panel-mounted whole-home surge protector sits at the service entrance and intercepts voltage spikes before they reach any circuit in the house. That covers appliances, the HVAC electrical supply, the panel itself, and every outlet in the building. It is a single installation that protects everything at once rather than device by device.
Can a home's wiring handle added electrical load, and how do you determine that?
We start with a load calculation that accounts for the existing circuits and what the panel is currently carrying, then factor in what is being added. An EV charger, a finished basement, or a new electric appliance each adds load, and the panel needs available capacity and open slots to support it. If the home is close to its current limit, we explain the options, whether that is a panel upgrade, a subpanel, or a different approach to the circuit layout, before any work is scheduled.
Call (947) 999-8795 and we will go through the details of your job, confirm what the panel can support, and give you a price before anything is scheduled.
(947) 999-8795