Best Electrical in Irving, TX — 26 Vetted Contractors

Yes. The City of Irving Development Services Department requires a permit and inspection for panel replacements or upgrades — this isn't optional and isn't something a reputable electrician will skip. Confirm the permit is pulled before work starts, not after, and ask for the inspection result once it's done.

Go to TDLR's website (tdlr.texas.gov) and search their license lookup tool by name or license number. This shows whether the license is active, what type (Journeyman, Master, Residential Wireman, or Electrical Contractor), and any disciplinary actions. Per TDLR, all electrical work in Texas must be done by a licensed electrician working under a licensed contractor — there's no exception for small jobs.

It's worth having it checked. Homes from this era in North Texas commonly have aluminum branch circuit wiring, and depending on the panel brand, some also have Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels — both have documented reliability issues. Neither means your house is unsafe today, but both are worth a dedicated electrical inspection, especially before adding higher-load circuits like an EV charger or a hot tub.

Level 2 home charger installs typically run $750-$2,200 in the Irving area, with the range depending mostly on distance from your panel to the charger location and whether your panel has spare capacity. Homes with panels already near capacity may need an upgrade first, which adds $1,800-$4,000. Get quotes that separate the charger hardware cost from the labor and any panel work so you can compare apples to apples.

This is one of the most common July-August calls in Irving. High AC load on an aging panel or an undersized circuit is the usual culprit, especially in homes with original 1960s-80s electrical service. A licensed electrician can do a load calculation to see if your panel is actually sized for your current appliance load — this is a $100-$200 diagnostic that can save you from a bigger failure mid-summer.

Some Las Colinas townhome and condo HOAs have rules about exterior modifications or shared electrical infrastructure that affect charger placement, so check your HOA covenants before signing a contract. Texas Property Code Section 202.010 does limit HOAs from outright banning EV chargers on property you own, but they can impose reasonable aesthetic and safety conditions, so it's worth a quick call to your HOA management company first.

A single new outlet run from an existing nearby circuit typically runs $150-$350 in Irving, including the trip charge. If it requires running wire back to the panel (a dedicated circuit) or fishing wire through finished walls, expect $250-$600 per outlet. Get a firm quote before work starts since wall access difficulty varies a lot by house.

For meter-related work (panel replacement, service upgrades), your electrician has to schedule a disconnect and reconnect with Oncor, Irving's electric utility. This typically adds a few days to project timelines depending on Oncor's scheduling, especially during storm season when crews are stretched thin. Ask your electrician upfront how they handle this coordination — it affects your project timeline more than most homeowners expect.