Commercial Electrical Contractor in Portland & SW Washington
Tenant build-outs, panel and service upgrades, lighting retrofits, and equipment hookups for offices, retail, and restaurants. We work around your business hours, handle the permits, and keep downtime to a minimum.
Commercial electrical work, done around your schedule
When the power is down or a build-out is behind schedule, every hour costs you money. Electric Avenue PNW works with property managers, business owners, and general contractors across the Portland metro and Southwest Washington to get commercial electrical done right, on time, and with as little disruption to your operation as possible. We schedule after hours and on weekends when a job would otherwise shut you down, and we pull the permits so you do not have to chase the jurisdiction. Our licensed electricians are qualified for commercial work in both Oregon and Washington, so a single call covers job sites on either side of the river.
Have a build-out or upgrade coming up?
We walk the site, scope it honestly, and give you a firm quote. No guesswork.
Who we work with
Commercial jobs have moving parts and more than one decision-maker. We are used to that. Whether you own the business, manage the building, or run the project, we fit into how you already work and keep you in the loop.
| You are a | What we handle | How we make it easy |
|---|---|---|
| Property manager | Panel upgrades, lighting, tenant turnovers, corrections, maintenance. | One licensed contractor for a whole portfolio, OR and WA. |
| Business owner | New equipment circuits, added capacity, lighting, EV stations. | After-hours work so your doors stay open during business hours. |
| General contractor | Rough-in, trim, and final on build-outs and new construction. | We hit your schedule and coordinate directly with your inspector. |
| Retail, office & restaurant | Kitchen and equipment hookups, lighting, dedicated circuits. | Clean, code-compliant work that passes the first inspection. |
Tenant improvements & build-outs
Moving into a new space or reconfiguring an existing one is where most commercial electrical happens. We handle the full scope: relocating and adding circuits, lighting layouts, panel changes, dedicated equipment power, and the low-voltage rough-in your data and security vendors need. We coordinate with your general contractor and the other trades so the electrical does not become the thing that holds up your certificate of occupancy. Permits and inspections are handled start to finish.
Panel & service upgrades, including 3-phase
Growing operations outgrow their electrical. When you add equipment, a kitchen line, EV charging, or a new tenant, the existing service may not have the capacity. We size and install larger panels, add subpanels, and upgrade service, including 3-phase power for buildings that run heavier machinery, HVAC, or commercial kitchen equipment. We run a real load calculation first and coordinate with the utility on any service or meter work, so the upgrade is right-sized and not oversold.
Lighting is often the single biggest slice of a commercial power bill. An LED retrofit with occupancy sensors and daylight controls can cut lighting energy use dramatically and pays for itself over time. If your building still runs fluorescent tubes or HID fixtures, ask us for a walk-through and we will show you what the conversion looks like.
Code compliance & corrections
Failed inspections, insurance requirements, and problems that surface during a building sale all trace back to electrical that is out of code. We diagnose the actual issue, explain what the code requires in plain language, and correct it so it passes. Because our electricians are licensed in both states, we know the difference between what Oregon and Washington inspectors are looking for and we correct to the right standard for your jurisdiction.
Minimal downtime, worked around your business
The single biggest concern we hear on commercial jobs is downtime. Here is how we protect your operation:
Permits and jurisdictions
Commercial electrical almost always requires a permit and inspection, and the office that issues it depends on the address. Inside the City of Portland it is Portland Permitting & Development. Elsewhere in the metro it is the county. In Washington, the City of Vancouver self-permits inside city limits, while Camas, Washougal, and unincorporated Clark County go through Washington L&I. We confirm the right jurisdiction for your site, pull the permit, and coordinate the inspection so you are not managing that yourself. See our service area to confirm we cover your location, and if a problem cannot wait, our 24/7 emergency repairs team is a phone call away.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the work after hours so we do not have to close?
Yes. After-hours and weekend scheduling is one of the main reasons commercial clients call us. For work that would otherwise shut down your operation, we schedule it outside your business hours and, on larger jobs, phase the shutdowns so only part of the building loses power at a time.
Do you handle the permits and inspections?
Yes, every time. We confirm the correct jurisdiction for your address, pull the permit, and coordinate the inspection. In Oregon that means the City of Portland or your county, and in Washington it is the City of Vancouver or Washington L&I, depending on where the site sits.
Are you licensed for commercial electrical in both Oregon and Washington?
Yes. Electric Avenue PNW holds Oregon CCB# 248553 and Washington ELECTAP741JB, so our licensed electricians can take on commercial work on either side of the Columbia. One call covers job sites in the Portland metro and Southwest Washington.
Can you install 3-phase service or upgrade our panel?
Yes. We install and upgrade single-phase and 3-phase service, add subpanels, and increase capacity for heavier loads. We run a load calculation first and coordinate with the utility on any service or meter work so the upgrade is sized to what you actually need.
Do you install commercial EV charging stations?
Yes. We install Level 2 and networked commercial stations for parking lots, fleets, and workplace charging. You can read more on our EV charger installation page, and we will scope the electrical capacity your site needs during the site walk.
How do you price a commercial job?
Every commercial job is quoted after a site walk. Commercial electrical has too many variables, existing conditions, capacity, run lengths, jurisdiction, to price sight unseen. We walk the space, scope it honestly, and give you a firm quote before any work starts.
Let’s scope your commercial project
Tenant build-out, panel upgrade, lighting retrofit, or a fast service call, we handle it with minimal downtime and permits included. Licensed in Oregon (CCB# 248553) and Washington (ELECTAP741JB), veteran, woman, and minority-owned, with 250+ five-star reviews.