Electrical Services | Oakland & Macomb County

The short answer

Start with the complete system and the evidence

Electrical service starts with the circuits, equipment, and conditions behind the power problem or planned upgrade. Sandison reviews demand, panel and conductor condition, protection, grounding, and bonding before defining the work.

What Sandison evaluates

A practical path from symptoms to the right scope

Clear diagnostic process
Licensed multi-trade coordination
Repair and replacement options
Residential and commercial support

Capacity and condition

Panel decisions start with the connected load and the existing service

A panel upgrade is not determined by the number printed on the main breaker alone. Sandison evaluates service capacity, conductor and equipment condition, grounding and bonding, available spaces, large appliance and mechanical loads, planned additions, circuit problems, working clearances, and the path for new wiring. A 100-to-200-amp project can also involve the service entrance, meter equipment, surge protection, water and gas bonding, and coordination with the utility and permitting authority.

Diagnostic discipline

Intermittent trips and partial outages require testing—not breaker swapping

Loose connections, damaged devices, overloaded circuits, failing equipment, shared conductors, grounding problems, and upstream service issues can produce symptoms that appear similar to a homeowner. The diagnostic sequence documents what loses power, when the failure occurs, the loads operating at that time, panel condition, thermal or visual warning signs, and the measurements appropriate to the circuit. Recommendations distinguish an immediate safety correction from modernization or optional future capacity.

Primary references

Verify the local and credential information.

Michigan LARA — electrical permits and inspections

Common questions

What property owners ask

Does an empty breaker space mean I can add another large appliance?

Available spaces and available electrical capacity are different considerations. The existing service, connected demand, conductors, and equipment requirements need evaluation before a new circuit or appliance is added.

Why do my lights flicker or some circuits lose power?

Connections, devices, circuit loading, equipment faults, and upstream service conditions can produce similar symptoms. Record what is affected and when it happens so testing can follow the relevant circuits and loads.

What else can be involved in a panel upgrade?

The scope may include the service entrance, meter equipment, conductors, grounding, bonding, surge protection, and utility coordination. Reviewing planned EV charging, HVAC, or other major loads helps define the capacity needed.

Evidence and review

Why this page can be trusted

Service information based on Sandison’s documented trade scope and the technical references below. Contact the office to discuss the conditions at your property.

Technical lead: James Sandison, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Oakland University. Michigan Mechanical License 7115733 · Michigan Master Plumber 8112263 · Michigan Plumbing Contractor 800-3618. Service information record: 2026-08-28.