Woodland Hills Single-Family Home – 200 A Underground Service Upgrade & EV Charger Install
Project Snapshot
- Location: Woodland Hills, CA (Los Angeles)
- Property Type: One-story single-family residence
- Scope: Replace aging 100 A underground service with new 200 A Siemens load center, upgrade grounding, add 60 A branch circuit to Level-2 EV charger in garage
- Utilities & AHJs: LADWP (service planning & meter set) · LADBS (inspection)
- Duration: Five streamlined steps from permit to meter set (see timeline)
Before
Client Goals & Challenges
The homeowners were renovating the entire house and adding high-demand appliances, including an electric vehicle. Their original 100 A panel was maxed out, lacked modern grounding, and tied into an existing underground lateral that needed a service-equipment upgrade. They required:- Additional amperage headroom for future HVAC, kitchen appliances, and EV charging
- Code-compliant grounding/bonding
- No disruption to the existing underground service conductors
Our Solution
- Site Assessment & Panel Selection ▶︎ Confirmed existing 100 A service inadequacy and specified a Siemens 40-space 200 A main-breaker panel compatible with the underground feed.
- Utility Coordination ▶︎ Submitted service-planning paperwork to LADWP; obtained approved meter spot referencing the existing lateral conduit.
- Permitting ▶︎ Pulled a single comprehensive electrical permit with LADBS covering the panel upgrade and EV branch circuit.
- Installation ▶︎
- Safely de-energized and removed the legacy 100 A meter/main.
- Mounted the Siemens 200 A panel, reconnecting to the existing underground conduit and conductors supplied by LADWP.
- Drove (2) 5⁄8″ × 8′ copper ground rods 6′ apart; bonded #4 AWG CU grounding electrode conductor (GEC) to rods and main cold-water pipe.
- Ran #6 AWG CU in ¾” EMT to garage; installed Level-2 EV charger on a dedicated breaker.
- Inspection & Meter Set ▶︎ Passed LADBS green-tag inspection; LADWP crew installed and energized the new smart meter the same afternoon.
Step-by-Step Timeline
| Phase | Key Tasks |
|---|---|
| 1 · Assessment | Site walk, utility records check |
| 2 · Planning | LADWP meter-spot approval (existing lateral) |
| 3 · Permitting | LADBS permit issuance & homeowner notice |
| 4 · Installation | Panel swap, grounding, EV circuit |
| 5 · Inspection + Energize | Pass LADBS, LADWP meter set |
Results & Benefits
- 100 A → 200 A Capacity: Doubled available amperage for future loads.
- Level-2 EV Ready: Homeowner now charges at 11 kW—full battery overnight.
- Code-Compliant Grounding: Dual electrodes + water-pipe bond lowered ground resistance to 18 Ω.
- Clean Aesthetics: New panel color-matched to stucco; no yard excavation needed.
Client Feedback
“Branover’s crew made the upgrade seamless—no digging, no hassle. We were back online and charging our EV the same day.” — Samantha L., Woodland Hills
