Fortunately, the panels were located in easily accessible areas, primarily on exterior garage walls attached to each unit. Some communities will have panels in garages or in the residence complicating access throughout the process. Conducting an audit served multiple purposes: it confirmed which hazardous panel brands were present, verified panel locations and service types, and provided the HOA with the detailed information needed to budget and plan the project accurately. Without this baseline, it would have been impossible to scope the project effectively, anticipate challenges, or move forward efficiently.
Phase 2: Design Phase 4: Execute
Once all panels were identified, the next step was designing a replacement solution that would work across the entire community. When selecting panels, communities and homeowners should consider if your property would benefit from using a panel of the same amperage rating (if permitted) or upgrading the panel to a higher amperage which may require additional utility work. Your panel should comply with the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction to enforce state electrical codes and issue building permits. The last step is confirming with the utility company whether panels can remain in their current locations or needed to be relocated according to their guidelines. Some older communities may find that the electric service provider must bring in new transformers and electrical supply lines to each residence. This may be an association expense depending on HOA CC&Rs. Other critical factors involve evaluating overhead versus underground service configurations, verifying existing grounding and bonding systems, identifying aluminum versus copper branch wiring, and installing breakers rated appropriately for the conductor material. Tie-handle breakers were also installed where shared neutrals existed. In our project, all panels were able to remain in their original locations, eliminating the need for structural modifications, but each panel still required a careful, individual evaluation to ensure both safety and full code compliance.
Phase 3: Coordination
The last step before any work is performed is coordinating closely with the utility provider. This phase is often underestimated in projects like these but can lead to major delays if not started early enough. Early in our project, we replaced the electrical service of a single home as a proof of concept and procedure test run to determine step-by-step processes and requirements by both the city and utility company staff before undertaking replacing any more panels that might have to be reworked.
A utility provider will work with the electrical contractor to determine if any utility-side upgrades will be necessary, establish acceptable methods for de-energization, and clarify meter identification and/or replacement requirements.
On our project, homeowner coordination was critical. We collected contact information in advance, clearly communicated when power would be shut off, and provided ample notice before any de-energization occurred. Throughout the project, we kept homeowners informed of schedules, expectations, and changes as they arose. By making certain that residents understood when and for how long power would be interrupted, we were able to significantly reduce complaints, avoid confusion, and build trust with the community, allowing the project to move forward smoothly and with minimal disruption.
The project also required a well-planned utility coordination strategy. Putting extra effort
permitting and into this
government agency and power company coordination cannot be overemphasized. Our team handled submitting required documents through both the utility company and city website in batches to ensure permits were pulled on time as our technicians were completing panels and ready to move to the next set.
Phase 5: Documentation
For a project of this size, thorough photographic and written records were essential. Our company created standardized documentation to capture the condition of each electrical panel before work began and after replacement was completed.
After each panel was installed, a full system check was performed to confirm proper operation of the home’s electrical system. This included verifying that breakers were correctly installed, grounding and bonding were intact, and circuits were functioning as intended. Circuit labels were recorded to ensure that the same standardized labeling carried over into the new panel. Any circuits that were non-functional, abandoned, or intentionally left off were clearly noted. This level of documentation proved invaluable once homeowners began powering up their homes and verifying everything was working correctly. If a resident later reported that something wasn’t working the same as before, the documentation allowed us to quickly verify the condition of the system prior to replacement. In many cases, it helped identify
14 May | June 2026
In our case, our technicians were allowed to de-energize the electrical services themselves, wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and, fortunately on this project, no utility side upgrades were required. One challenge we encountered was that several meters, powering HOA common area equipment such as irrigation controls, lake and fountain pumps, and walkway lighting, did not have officially assigned city addresses. These panels required additional coordination with the city to assign addresses before permits could be finalized. Addressing these utility and city requirements upfront is critical as discovering them later can cause significant delays.
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