Hear from Our Customers
You flip a switch and expect the lights to work. You plug in your phone and expect it to charge. When your electrical system fails, everything in your daily routine gets disrupted.
That’s where we come in. We fix electrical problems so you can get back to your normal life without worrying about safety hazards or recurring issues. No more circuit breakers tripping when you run the dishwasher and microwave at the same time. No more flickering lights or outlets that don’t work reliably.
Your home’s electrical system should work quietly in the background, powering everything from your home office setup to your electric vehicle charger. When it doesn’t, you need someone who can diagnose the real problem and fix it correctly the first time. Not someone who shows up, swaps a few parts, and leaves you with the same issues next month.
Sugar Bear Home Services has been serving Foster City homeowners for over 20 years. We’re a third-generation electrical company that understands what it takes to keep your home’s electrical system running safely and efficiently.
Foster City’s median home age of 1976 means many properties need electrical updates to handle today’s power demands. Your home was built when families owned one TV and a few small appliances. Now you’re running multiple computers, smart home devices, electric car chargers, and high-efficiency appliances that demand more power than those original electrical systems were designed to handle.
We specialize in panel upgrades, whole-house rewiring, and bringing older electrical systems up to current safety standards. We’re Better Business Bureau accredited and committed to professional service. That means shoe covers in your home, clean uniforms, organized work vehicles, and thorough cleanup when we’re done. We treat your $1.8 million Foster City home with the respect it deserves.
First, we take time to properly diagnose your electrical issue. Many companies rush this step, but we believe in understanding the root cause before proposing solutions. We test circuits, check connections, and evaluate your entire electrical system to identify not just what’s broken, but why it broke.
Next, we explain what we found and give you multiple repair options. You’ll understand exactly what needs to be done and why, along with the costs involved upfront. No surprises, no hidden fees, no pressure tactics. Just clear information so you can make the best decision for your home and budget.
Then we complete the work using quality materials and professional techniques. Our technicians are experienced with Foster City’s building codes and permit requirements. We pull permits when required, coordinate inspections, and make sure everything meets current electrical standards.
Finally, we test everything to make sure it’s working correctly and clean up our work area. You get electrical systems that work reliably and a home that’s left cleaner than when we arrived. We don’t consider the job done until you’re completely satisfied with the results.
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Foster City homes average $1.8 million in value, which means electrical work needs to be done right. We specialize in the services that matter most for homeowners here: panel upgrades, whole-house rewiring, electrical safety inspections, and EV charger installations.
Many Foster City homes were built in the 1970s with 100-amp electrical panels that can’t handle today’s power demands. We upgrade these systems to 200-amp service, replace outdated wiring, and ensure your electrical system meets current safety codes. This isn’t just about convenience – it’s about protecting your family from electrical fires and maintaining your home’s insurance coverage.
We also install EV charging stations for the growing number of Foster City residents driving electric vehicles. With Peninsula Clean Energy providing 50% renewable electricity at competitive rates, charging at home makes both environmental and financial sense. We handle everything from permit applications to final inspections.
Our electrical inspections are particularly valuable for Foster City homeowners. With average monthly electric bills of $343, inefficient electrical systems waste money every month. We identify opportunities to improve efficiency while ensuring safety and code compliance. Our work comes with proper permits and inspections to protect your home’s value and ensure insurance coverage remains intact.
Electrical panel upgrades in California typically cost between $2,000 and $10,000 depending on your current system and what needs to be upgraded. A straightforward 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade usually runs around $3,000 for most Foster City homes, but the final cost varies based on several factors.
If your panel needs to be relocated, additional wiring is required, or PG&E needs to upgrade your service line, costs increase. Homes with older knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring may need additional electrical work to bring everything up to code. We provide detailed upfront pricing after evaluating your specific situation, so you know exactly what to expect.
Many Foster City homeowners qualify for rebates through PG&E’s electrical upgrade programs and federal tax credits that can help offset upgrade costs. We’ll help you identify any rebates you might be eligible for and handle the paperwork to maximize your savings. The investment pays for itself through improved safety, increased home value, and the ability to handle modern electrical demands without constant circuit breaker trips.
Yes, electrical work in Foster City requires permits from the city building department. This includes panel upgrades, major wiring changes, circuit additions, and most electrical installations. Permit fees typically range from $100 to $300 depending on the scope of work, which is a small price to pay for legal compliance and safety assurance.
We handle the entire permit process for you, including applications, scheduling inspections, and ensuring all work meets Foster City’s building codes and California electrical standards. This protects you legally and ensures your homeowner’s insurance remains valid. Many insurance companies require proof of permitted electrical work for claims related to electrical issues.
Working without permits creates serious problems when you sell your home or file insurance claims. Unpermitted electrical work can delay home sales, reduce property values, and void insurance coverage. Professional electrical contractors always pull the required permits to protect your investment and ensure safety compliance. It’s not worth the risk to cut corners on something this important.
Panels over 25 years old often need replacement, especially if you have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, which are known fire hazards that should be replaced immediately. These panels have manufacturing defects that cause them to fail under electrical load, potentially starting house fires.
Other warning signs include frequent circuit breaker trips, flickering lights when appliances turn on, burning smells near the electrical panel, scorch marks around outlets, or the need to reset breakers regularly. If your panel can’t handle running your dishwasher and microwave simultaneously without tripping breakers, it’s undersized for modern electrical demands.
Many Foster City homes built in the 1970s have 100-amp service that’s inadequate for today’s electrical loads. If you’re adding major electrical equipment like EV chargers, hot tubs, or home additions, an upgrade is usually necessary. We provide free electrical safety assessments to evaluate your current system and recommend whether repairs or replacement make the most sense for your situation, budget, and long-term plans.
A comprehensive electrical inspection covers your main panel, all circuit breakers, wiring throughout the house, outlets, switches, and major electrical connections. We check for code violations, safety hazards, and components that may need updating to meet current electrical standards.
We also test GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens, verify proper grounding throughout your home, inspect outdoor electrical systems including landscape lighting and outlets, and evaluate your home’s overall electrical capacity. Our inspection includes checking for aluminum wiring, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated systems that pose safety risks.
You’ll receive a detailed report explaining any issues we find, prioritized by safety importance, along with cost estimates for addressing them. This is especially valuable for Foster City homes built in the 1970s, where electrical systems may not meet current safety standards or have the capacity to handle modern electrical loads. Many homeowners use our inspection reports for insurance purposes, home sales, or planning electrical upgrades.
Yes, we install Level 2 EV charging stations for Foster City homeowners. Most installations require a dedicated 240-volt circuit and may need panel upgrades if your current electrical system doesn’t have sufficient capacity to handle the additional 40-50 amp load.
We handle the entire process including electrical permits through Foster City, panel upgrades if needed, running new circuits to your garage or parking area, and installing the charging station. We work with all major EV charger brands including Tesla Wall Connectors, ChargePoint, and JuiceBox, and can recommend the best option for your vehicle and electrical setup.
Many Foster City residents qualify for rebates on EV charger installations through Peninsula Clean Energy’s programs and federal tax credits up to $1,000. With Foster City’s access to 50% renewable electricity through Peninsula Clean Energy, charging at home is both environmentally responsible and cost-effective compared to public charging stations. We’ll help you navigate available incentives and handle rebate paperwork to maximize your savings.
We prioritize electrical emergencies that pose immediate safety risks, such as sparking outlets, burning smells from electrical panels, or power outages affecting part of your home. Our goal is to respond to emergency calls within a few hours during business hours, and we provide 24/7 phone support for guidance on electrical safety issues.
For true electrical emergencies outside normal business hours, we can often provide immediate safety guidance over the phone and schedule first-available service the next day. We recommend shutting off power at the main breaker if you smell burning or see sparks, then calling us immediately for guidance.
Most electrical problems that seem like emergencies can be safely managed until we arrive by turning off the affected circuit breaker. We’ll walk you through safety steps, help you identify which breaker controls the problem area, and schedule service as quickly as possible to restore your electrical system. Our emergency service includes the same professional standards – shoe covers, clean uniforms, and thorough cleanup – even during urgent calls.
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