Residential Electricians for Portland & SW Washington Homes
From panel upgrades and whole-house rewiring to EV chargers, lighting, and 24/7 repairs, our licensed electricians handle it all. We know Portland’s older homes inside and out, and we do the work clean, permitted, and to code the first time.
Full-service residential electrical, one trusted crew
Electric Avenue PNW is a home electrical company built for Portland metro and Southwest Washington homeowners. Whether you are updating a 1920s bungalow, adding a circuit for a new range, or dealing with breakers that will not stop tripping, our licensed electricians handle the whole job from load calculation to final inspection. No handing you off, no half-finished work, no surprises.
We work on homes of every era, and we pay special attention to the older housing stock that makes up so much of Portland, from Sellwood and St. Johns to Ladd’s Addition and beyond. Many of these homes still run on wiring and panels that were never meant to power a modern household, and that is exactly where we shine.
Residential electrical services we provide
Not sure what your home needs?
Tell us what is going on and we will give you a straight answer and a real estimate.
Built for Portland’s older homes
Portland and the surrounding metro are full of beautiful pre-1970 homes, and a lot of them are still running on original electrical systems. That charm comes with real risk. If your home was built before 1970, there is a good chance it has one or more of the issues below, and each one is worth taking seriously.
| What we find | Why it matters | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Pacific (FPE) or Zinsco panel | Breakers can fail to trip during a fault, a known fire risk that many insurers now flag. | Replace with a modern 200A panel and proper breakers. |
| Knob-and-tube wiring | No ground, brittle insulation, and unsafe under insulation. Often uninsurable. | Rewire affected circuits or the whole house. |
| Aluminum branch wiring | Loose connections that heat up over time at outlets and switches. | Remediate connections or rewire to copper. |
| Cloth-insulated wiring | Insulation dries out and cracks, exposing bare conductors. | Replace runs and update devices. |
| Ungrounded two-prong outlets | No safe path for a fault, unsafe for modern electronics. | Add grounding or GFCI protection to code. |
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are two of the most common fire hazards we find in older Portland homes. The breakers can look fine and still fail to trip on an overload. If you see either name on your panel, have it looked at soon. Our guide to FPE and Zinsco panel replacement walks through the warning signs and what a swap involves.
Panel upgrades and rewiring, explained
Two of the biggest jobs we do for homeowners are panel upgrades and rewiring, and they often go together. If your panel is outdated or your wiring is failing, upgrading one without addressing the other can leave money on the table. Here is roughly what to expect.
| Project | When you need it |
|---|---|
| Panel upgrade / replacement | Old, undersized, or hazardous panel, or adding heavy loads like an EV charger or heat pump. |
| Partial rewire (a few circuits) | Isolated knob-and-tube, a failing circuit, or a remodel touching part of the home. |
| Whole-house rewire | Widespread knob-and-tube, aluminum, or cloth wiring throughout the home. |
Pricing depends on your home’s size, access, and finishes, so we always confirm the scope on site before we quote. For a deeper look at the numbers, see our panel upgrade cost guide and our whole-house rewiring guide.
Something not working right? Start here
Electrical problems rarely fix themselves, and some are warning signs you should not ignore. If any of these sound familiar, give us a call. We will find the root cause instead of guessing.
If it feels like an emergency, it probably is. We offer 24/7 emergency electrical repairs across the metro, so you are never stuck waiting on a hazard.
Why homeowners choose Electric Avenue PNW
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my home needs a panel upgrade?
Common signs are a panel that is 100 amps or smaller, breakers that trip often, a fuse box, or a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel. You also need an upgrade when adding big loads like an EV charger, heat pump, or hot tub. We run a load calculation and tell you straight whether an upgrade is actually required, then quote it after we see your panel.
My home was built before 1970. Should I worry about the wiring?
It is worth having it inspected. Many pre-1970 Portland homes still have knob-and-tube, aluminum, or cloth-insulated wiring, along with Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels. These systems can be fire hazards and are often flagged by home insurers. We can assess your home and tell you what, if anything, needs attention and in what order.
Do you pull permits for residential electrical work?
Yes, on every job that requires one. Permitted and inspected work protects your homeowners insurance and keeps your records clean for resale. We confirm the correct jurisdiction for your address, whether that is Portland Permitting & Development, your county, the City of Vancouver, or Washington L&I, and we handle the permit and inspection for you.
What areas do you serve?
We serve the full Portland metro, including Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Tigard, and Gresham, plus Southwest Washington including Vancouver and Camas. You can see the full list on our service area page. We are licensed in both Oregon and Washington.
Do you offer emergency electrical service?
Yes. We provide 24/7 emergency electrical repairs throughout the Portland metro and Southwest Washington. If you have a burning smell, sparking, warm outlets, or a loss of power to part of your home, call (503) 383-9325 right away.
Can you handle wiring for a remodel or addition?
Absolutely. We do full rough-in and finish wiring for kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, ADUs, and whole-home renovations. We coordinate with your other trades and handle the permit and inspections so the electrical side stays on schedule and to code.
Let’s get your home’s electrical done right
One licensed crew for panel upgrades, rewiring, EV chargers, lighting, generators, and repairs across Portland and Southwest Washington. Licensed in Oregon (CCB# 248553) and Washington (ELECTAP741JB), with 250+ five-star reviews and 24/7 emergency service.