Frequently Asked Questions

For planned work like a panel upgrade, an EV charger, a generator, or lighting, the estimate is free and there is no obligation to hire us. For a repair that needs diagnosis, we charge a service-call fee to come out and find the cause, and we tell you that fee up front. We would rather earn the work than pressure you into it.

Most significant work does. Panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and generators are permitted work, and that protects you. We pull the permit, do the job to code, and schedule the city inspection. A contractor who skips the permit to save a step is leaving you with work no inspector ever checked, which can become a problem when you sell the home.

Yes. Conduit Electric carries state contractor licensing, general liability insurance, a contractor's bond, and workers' compensation for the whole crew. Our license number is OR CCB #214785, and we are happy to show proof before any work begins. We encourage you to ask any electrician for the same. A company that hesitates is telling you something.

Common signs are breakers that trip under normal use, lights that dim when a large appliance starts, a panel with no room left for another circuit, or a 60 or 100 amp service in a home that runs modern loads. Adding an EV charger, a heat pump, or a hot tub often pushes a panel past its capacity. We run a load calculation and tell you plainly whether you need the upgrade or not.

Many can. Before we quote the install, we check whether your panel has the capacity for a dedicated 240 volt circuit. Plenty of homes do. Some need a panel upgrade first, and we will tell you that rather than overload a service that cannot take it. As a certified installer, we do the work to code, pull the permit, and keep the manufacturer warranty intact.

Two kinds. The equipment you install, like a charger or a generator, carries its manufacturer warranty, and as a certified installer we install in a way that keeps that warranty valid. Our own workmanship warranty covers the installation itself. We leave you with the documentation and the permit sign-off at the end of the job.

Yes, on qualifying projects. A panel upgrade or a whole-home generator is a real investment, and financing lets some homeowners do it right rather than putting it off. We will walk you through the options when we provide your estimate.

A typical residential panel upgrade is a one-day job, with a portion of that day spent with the power off while we make the change. We coordinate with the utility for the disconnect and reconnect, and we schedule the inspection promptly. We will give you a realistic schedule with your estimate, including how long you should expect to be without power.

We serve the west Portland metro, including Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro, Aloha, Tualatin, and Cedar Mill. See our service area for the full list. If you are just outside it, call us anyway. We often go a bit farther for a larger project.

Look for a local address, a state license number, proof of insurance and bonding, and real photos of real local jobs. A legitimate electrician pulls permits, gives you a written estimate, and stands behind the work. Be wary of cash-only quotes that skip the permit, prices that only hold if you sign today, and anyone who treats inspection as optional. Those are the patterns of a company that will be gone when you need them.