Most Portland homes land between 18kW and 22kW, but the right size comes from a load calculation, not square footage. Here is how running watts, starting surge, and load management actually decide your generator size.
Flickering lights range from a harmless loose bulb to a fire-risk loose neutral. Here is how to tell which, what you can safely check yourself, and the older-home and utility causes specific to Portland.
New construction electrical in the Portland metro runs about $4 to $9 per square foot for a standard build, and up to $12 for high-end or smart homes. Here’s the 2026 breakdown: real cost scenarios, the code requirements driving the price (200A service, outdoor disconnects, surge protection, EV and solar readiness), how Portland-area permits and PGE timelines work, and why you order electrical gear during design, not at framing.
