Electrical Services in Santa Cruz & Santa Clara County

Power outages in the Santa Cruz Mountains and along the coast aren't rare. They're a reality. Whether it's a winter storm, a PSPS shutoff, or an aging grid, a backup generator keeps your home running when the power goes out.

MP Electric installs whole-house standby generators that come on automatically within seconds of an outage, as well as transfer switches for portable generators you already own. We handle the electrical side from start to finish: sizing the load, installing the transfer switch, running the circuits, and coordinating the permit.

We install generators from leading manufacturers and size each system to match your home's actual load, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

A Level 2 home charger (240V) charges most electric vehicles overnight, which is far better than the trickle of a standard 120V outlet. Whether you drive a Tesla, Rivian, Ford Lightning, or any other EV, we'll install the right charging setup for your vehicle, your home, and your panel.

For commercial properties and multi-unit buildings, we design and install networked charging stations that can be managed remotely, billed back to tenants, or offered as an amenity to customers and employees.

Every EV charger installation we do is permitted and inspected, which matters for your homeowner's insurance and future resale value. If your panel needs an upgrade first, we'll scope both in the same visit and give you one combined quote.

Most homes built before the 1990s were wired for a fraction of today's electrical demands. A 100-amp service that was fine in 1975 isn't equipped for a modern kitchen, home office, EV charger, and HVAC system all running at once. An overloaded panel is a safety hazard.

MP Electric upgrades electrical panels and service entrances throughout Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County. We handle everything: coordinating the service disconnect with PG&E, installing the new panel, updating the meter socket if needed, and scheduling the inspection.

A service upgrade is also one of the best things you can do before listing a home. Buyers and their inspectors notice outdated panels immediately.

Lutron RadioRA3 is the standard for professional whole-home lighting control: reliable, flexible, and built to last. As a certified RadioRA3 installer, MP Electric designs and installs systems that give you complete control over every light in your home, from a single app or keypad.

Unlike consumer smart switches, RadioRA3 uses a dedicated radio frequency that doesn't compete with your Wi-Fi, doesn't depend on the cloud, and works consistently room to room. Scenes, schedules, occupancy sensors, and integration with shade control and HVAC are all part of the platform.

We work with homeowners, interior designers, and general contractors to design systems that fit the architecture of the space, not just drop in switches wherever they fit.

Good lighting is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make to a home. It changes how a room feels, how it photographs, and how it functions day to day. We work with homeowners and designers to install lighting that's intentional and purposeful, not just functional.

We install recessed lighting layouts, architectural fixtures, landscape and pathway lighting, under-cabinet LED systems, and exterior accent lighting. We also handle the rough-in for pendant fixtures, chandeliers, and custom ceiling treatments that require dedicated circuits.

If you're working with an interior designer or doing a full remodel, we're comfortable following a lighting plan and coordinating trim-out timing with other trades.

A security camera system is only as reliable as the wiring behind it. Wireless cameras are convenient, but they have real limitations: battery life, range, compression quality, and network dependency. A professionally wired camera system gives you high-resolution footage, continuous recording, and zero reliance on a Wi-Fi signal.

MP Electric installs IP camera systems with PoE (Power over Ethernet) infrastructure, DVR/NVR recording units, and the low-voltage wiring to connect it all. We work with systems that allow remote monitoring from your phone and integrate with existing smart home platforms.

We handle both new construction rough-in and retrofits in finished homes, running cable through walls and attics for a clean, invisible installation.

Subpanels distribute power from the main panel to a specific area of your property: a detached garage, a workshop, an addition, or a backyard structure. An undersized or aging subpanel limits what you can run and can create code compliance issues.

MP Electric installs and replaces subpanels throughout Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County. We'll assess the load requirements for the space, size the panel correctly, run the feeder from your main, and make sure the grounding and bonding are up to current NEC standards.

Electrical problems are frustrating, especially the ones that don't have an obvious cause. A breaker that keeps tripping, outlets that stopped working, lights that flicker, or a circuit that's dead for no apparent reason. These issues can have half a dozen possible causes, and guessing at them wastes your time and money.

MP Electric uses systematic diagnostics to find the actual source of the problem, not just the most visible symptom. We've resolved issues that other electricians couldn't diagnose, and we explain what we find in plain language so you know exactly what you're dealing with.

We also identify when a repair is a sign of something larger, such as aging wiring, overloaded circuits, or a panel approaching the end of its safe service life, and we'll tell you honestly what we'd recommend.

A remodel is an opportunity to get the electrical right. Whether you're gutting a kitchen, adding a bathroom, converting a garage, or building out a finished basement, we handle the electrical from rough-in through final trim-out.

We work directly with general contractors and homeowners managing their own projects. We show up on schedule, coordinate with other trades, and do the work in the right sequence so your project doesn't stall waiting for the electrician.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels in older Santa Cruz County homes often require bringing the electrical up to current code. We'll identify what's required during the estimate so there are no surprises mid-project.

Older homes in Santa Cruz County, particularly those built before 1970, often have wiring that's reached the end of its safe service life. Knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuit wiring, and two-wire circuits without a ground are all situations that warrant a full rewire.

A full house rewire replaces every branch circuit in the home with modern NMB cable, adds GFCI and AFCI protection where required, and installs a new panel if needed. The result is a home that's safe, fully insured, and ready for modern electrical demands.

We've rewired homes of all sizes throughout Santa Cruz and the surrounding area. We work carefully in occupied homes and sequence the work to minimize disruption wherever possible.

Some electrical problems can't wait until Monday. A panel that's sparking, an outlet that's hot to the touch, a burning smell from the walls, or a complete loss of power aren't situations you should leave unaddressed overnight.

MP Electric offers emergency service calls for urgent electrical issues across Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County. We respond quickly, assess the situation safely, and either resolve it on the spot or make the system safe until a full repair can be scheduled.

For after-hours emergencies, call us directly. We'd rather talk you through whether something is truly urgent than have you sit with a potentially dangerous situation.