Overview:
A homeowner on Daguerre Avenue in Calabasas, CA, urgently contacted our team after their existing 100A electrical panel began sparking and showed visible signs of arcing and overheating. This posed a significant fire hazard and required immediate intervention. Additionally, the original panel placement no longer met clearance regulations, and the locked utility meter added complexity to the situation.
Problem Description:
The customer reported dangerous sparking and heat from their main electrical panel, raising serious concerns about fire risk and total power failure. Further inspection revealed the panel was outdated, lacked proper grounding and bonding, and had been installed in a non-compliant location. Compounding the urgency, the utility company had locked the meter socket, requiring coordination to proceed with any electrical work.
Diagnosis and Solution:
Our lead electrician responded the same day to perform an emergency shutdown and evaluate the situation. The scope of work included:
Emergency Safety Actions and Utility Coordination:
Our expert immediately performed a full power shutoff and confirmed panel arcing damage. He then contacted the utility company, scheduled an emergency meter unlock, and coordinated with both the utility and the city inspector.
Permit Pulling and Relocation Planning:
Working with the city, he updated the permit to include both a full panel upgrade and relocation to a code-compliant area of the property, as agreed upon with the inspector and homeowner.
Panel Upgrade and Installation:
The damaged 100A panel was removed, and a new 200A main service panel was installed. All circuits were carefully re-routed to the new panel location, with clean labeling and modern grounding and bonding applied throughout. A new breaker configuration ensured optimal safety and capacity for the homeowner’s current and future needs.
Final Inspection and Utility Reconnection:
The installation passed city inspection without issue. Our technician then oversaw utility reactivation and the resealing of the newly relocated meter.
Time Spent: 10 hours
The homeowner was grateful for the rapid response, clear communication, and expert handling of a potentially dangerous electrical issue. Their upgraded system now meets all current code requirements and offers peace of mind and increased capacity for years to come.
