Altadena Rebuild & Panel Upgrade Wiring: SCE and LA County Permits

If you're rebuilding in Altadena after the Eaton Fire, the electrical work usually decides how fast the rest of the project moves. Temporary power has to be up before the trades can run tools. Southern California Edison has to accept the service design before the permanent meter goes in. And Los Angeles County won't finish the building package without an SCE Application Identification Number. We're a licensed C-10 electrical contractor based in Pasadena, and this guide covers the rebuild sequence, the solar-ready rules that still apply even when rooftop solar is waived, panel choices for SWITCH appliances and EV charging, and the County permit path. Starting a rebuild or panel upgrade now? Request a free estimate or call 747-255-8595.

Start With the SCE Application ID

LA County's rebuild permit page is clear: an SCE Application Identification Number is required for all rebuilds, new ADUs, new panels and temporary power. Start the SCE service request early, keep the Application ID with the plans, and hand it to whoever is submitting through EPIC-LA or the One-Stop counter.

For help during rebuilds, SCE lists disaster-recovery support at 1-800-250-7339 (weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). Confirm current steps on SCE's disaster-recovery pages before you lock a meter or panel location — especially if your street is on SCE's undergrounding plan. Moving a service after the walls are framed is expensive.

The Rebuild Electrical Sequence in Altadena

A typical Altadena rebuild electrical scope runs in this order:

1. Temporary power so the trades have safe, metered electricity on site — see our temporary power pole guide.
2. Service and meter coordination with SCE, including overhead vs. underground feed and where the permanent meter and panel will sit.
3. Rough-in wiring, boxes and grounding before insulation and drywall, then a County rough inspection.
4. Panel and subpanel installation, circuit layout, and dedicated circuits for kitchen, laundry, HVAC, EV and any SWITCH appliances.
5. Trim-out — devices, fixtures, smoke and CO alarms — then final inspection and SCE reconnect.

We handle that whole sequence as the electrical contractor: temp power, SCE paperwork, rough-in, panel, trim and final. We work to the GC's schedule; we don't pitch ourselves as the general contractor.

If the walls are open, spend the small extra now: a 200-amp service instead of 125, spare breaker spaces, a conduit stub to the garage for a future EV charger, and a spare run for a heat pump or backup battery. Adding those later costs multiples of what they cost at rough-in. See our electrical load calculation guide for how we size the service.

Solar-Ready Under Executive Order N-29-25

Executive Order N-29-25 suspends the requirement to install rooftop solar and battery storage on homes rebuilding after the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires. It does not remove solar-ready rules. LA County's implementation sheet still asks rebuilds to show, where solar-ready applies:

• At least 250 square feet of reserved roof area on a single-family home
• Wall space reserved for future inverter and metering equipment
• A conduit pathway between the electrical service and that roof area
• A minimum 200-amp electrical service with a two-pole breaker space reserved for a future solar connection

Qualifying rebuilds may also stay on the 2022 California Building Standards Code instead of the 2025 code (fire-safety and flood-elevation rules still apply). Confirm how the County is reading solar-ready for your lot before plans go in. 911 installs Tesla Powerwall and other battery backup systems and is Tesla Energy Certified; we do not install solar panels. We do plan the 200-amp service, reserved breaker space, conduit pathway and battery location so a future solar contractor can finish cleanly.

Plan the Panel for SWITCH, Heat Pumps and EV Charging

SCE's SWITCH program pays toward induction ranges, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers, ducted heat pump HVAC and smart thermostats for qualifying Eaton Fire homes — but it pays for the equipment, not for wiring that was never planned. Size those circuits at rough-in and keep the reserved solar breaker space free. Details are in our Altadena SWITCH rebates guide.

Before you order appliances or a Level 2 charger, have a licensed electrician run a load calculation rather than guessing. Many rebuilds land on 200 amps; some all-electric homes need more. Our team is EVITP-certified, and we're an SCE Charge Ready Home contractor for qualifying SCE customers adding EV infrastructure.

Panel Upgrades for Standing Homes

Not every Altadena call is a full rebuild. Signs a standing home needs a panel or rewire look:

• A fuse box, or a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel
• Two-prong outlets throughout (no equipment ground)
• Cloth-insulated wiring, knob-and-tube, or aluminum branch circuits
• Breakers that trip when the microwave and AC run together
• Warm cover plates, scorch marks, or a burning smell — not a wait-and-see item

A 200-amp panel upgrade is the usual fix, often with grounding and bonding corrections. The County still wants an SCE Application ID when you're adding a new panel or temporary power.

Permits, the One-Stop Center and Fee Relief

Altadena is unincorporated Los Angeles County, so electrical permits go through LA County Public Works, Building & Safety — not the City of LA or Pasadena. Submit through EPIC-LA or in person at the Eaton Fire Altadena One-Stop Permit Center, 464 W. Woodbury Rd., Suite 210, Altadena, CA 91001. Confirm hours on the One-Stop page.

A licensed contractor should pull the permit under their own license. The County says it's advantageous to have the construction permit issued to your licensed contractor so it can verify license and insurance. Keep the signed-off permit card for buyers, appraisers and insurance.

Fee deferrals and refunds: for qualifying owner-occupants rebuilding a single-family home (or qualifying accessory structures) destroyed or irreparably damaged in the Eaton or Palisades fires in unincorporated LA County, the County defers or refunds qualifying permit and inspection fees when the owner both owned and lived on the property before January 7, 2025. Commercial, rental, multifamily and temporary-housing projects don't qualify. Apply via the County's fee deferral/refund request (email recovery@planning.lacounty.gov or submit at the One-Stop). Confirm on the County fee-deferrals page before you budget.

What Altadena Electrical Work Typically Costs

Every house is different and prices move with materials and utility fees, so treat these as planning ranges, not quotes:

• Panel upgrade, 100A to 200A: roughly $3,000–$6,500, more if the meter or service entrance moves
• Temporary power pole for a rebuild: roughly $1,200–$3,000 including permit and utility coordination
• Level 2 EV charger install: roughly $800–$2,500 for a straightforward run
• Whole-home rewiring: commonly $12,000–$40,000+ depending on square footage and access
• New construction wiring: usually priced per square foot, fixture package separate

Permit fees, utility fees and rebates should be verified with LA County and SCE that day — we won't quote a rebate we can't confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an SCE Application ID before I pull the County permit?

For rebuilds, new ADUs, new panels and temporary power, yes. LA County lists the SCE Application Identification Number as required. Start it early so it isn't the last item holding the package.

Does EO N-29-25 mean I can skip the 200-amp service?

No. The order suspends installing rooftop solar and battery storage on qualifying Eaton/Palisades rebuilds, but solar-ready rules still apply. The County's sheet lists a minimum 200-amp service with a two-pole breaker space reserved for a future solar connection.

Are County permit fees waived for Altadena rebuilds?

For qualifying owner-occupants who owned and lived on the property before January 7, 2025 and are rebuilding a single-family home destroyed or irreparably damaged in the Eaton or Palisades fires in unincorporated LA County, the County offers fee deferrals and refunds. Confirm eligibility on the County site.

Do you handle rebuild electrical in Altadena?

Yes. We handle the whole electrical sequence — temporary power, SCE coordination, rough-in, panel and circuits, trim-out and final inspection — working alongside your general contractor's schedule. More on our Altadena electrician page.

What should I do if I smell burning or see sparks at an outlet?

Shut off the breaker feeding that circuit if you can do it safely, stop using the outlet, and call an electrician the same day. We answer emergency calls 24/7 at 747-255-8595.

Talk to an Altadena Electrician

911 Construction & Electric Inc. is a licensed, bonded and insured C-10 electrical contractor (CA Lic. #1027421) based in Pasadena, serving Altadena, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and the rest of the Los Angeles area. Panel upgrade, rewire, EV charger, battery backup or a full rebuild — we'll walk the job, explain the options and give you a written estimate. Request a free estimate or call 747-255-8595 — we answer 24/7 for electrical emergencies.

911 Construction & Electric Inc.

C-10 (CA Lic. #1027421)

1308 East Colorado Blvd Ste 141

Pasadena, CA 91106

747-255-8595

https://911electrics.com/