Start with the service, not the layout
An ADU adds appliances, heating, water heating and other loads to the property. We review the existing service and planned equipment before defining the supply. That assessment helps establish whether the unit can use existing capacity, needs suitable load management or requires wider service work. Resolve this early so the electrical budget and building layout follow the same plan.
Feeding the unit
The supply route depends on the unit and the property. A garage conversion may have different access from a detached ADU at the back of a lot. We review the feeder, panel location, installation route and related ground or surface work before pricing. If separate utility metering is proposed, raise it at this stage so the utility requirements can be considered.
Rough-in to final
The electrical scope can include kitchen and bathroom circuits, lighting and controls, heating and cooling connections, alarms, data wiring and final devices. We coordinate the work with the construction sequence and applicable inspections. For a conversion, existing garage wiring needs assessment before it is retained as part of the dwelling installation.
Common questions
Will my existing service handle an ADU?
That depends on the existing service and the electrical loads in both dwellings. We review the planned appliances, heating, water heating and charging needs before deciding whether the existing supply can serve the ADU or whether changes are needed. A larger service is not assumed from the ADU’s size alone.
Does the ADU need its own meter?
Separate utility metering, a feeder from the existing service and private submetering are different arrangements. The right option depends on the property, utility requirements and how the unit will be used. Discuss the goal before equipment is selected; adding a meter does not by itself settle tenant billing requirements.
Can you work from my ADU plans?
Yes. Share the available electrical drawings with the building plans and equipment information. We review the installation scope and identify missing details or questions for the project team. The proposal should make design responsibilities and any additional documentation clear before work begins.
Technical planning notes & references
BEFORE WE QUOTE THE WORK
An ADU affects more than its own circuits
Decide how it will be supplied
Appliances, heating, water heating and parking loads shape the supply plan. Separate utility metering is a distinct question from adding a feeder or subpanel and needs utility review where proposed.
Coordinate before walls close
Panel locations, routes, kitchen and laundry circuits, lighting and equipment connections should follow the approved layout. Schedule inspections before concealed work is covered. Make trenching and restoration responsibilities clear between trades.