Multifamily Electrical Modernization & 400A Service Upgrade in San Francisco
Max Electric completed a full electrical modernization of a five-unit multifamily building on Gladys Street, upgrading the service from 60A to 400A and rebuilding the property’s electrical infrastructure for modern all-electric living.
A full electrical modernization for a five-unit San Francisco building
This Gladys Street project required a complete upgrade of the building’s electrical infrastructure, not just a single panel replacement or isolated repair. Max Electric modernized a five-unit multifamily property by replacing outdated electrical systems, increasing service capacity, and preparing the building for modern all-electric use.
The original service was upgraded from 60A to 400A with six meters: one for each of the five units plus a common area meter. The project also included knob-and-tube wiring replacement throughout all five units, construction of a new electrical room, EV charger installation, and electrical support for converting appliances and heating systems from gas to electric.
Because residents were still a major consideration during construction, the rewiring was completed in phases. This allowed tenants to move between completed units instead of requiring a full long-term displacement for the entire building.
What made this modernization different
This was a building-wide electrical upgrade involving service capacity, tenant coordination, utility coordination, and long-term electrification planning.
The building was upgraded from 60A to 400A to support modern electrical demand.
Five unit meters plus one common area meter were included in the new setup.
All five units received complete knob-and-tube rewiring as part of the modernization.
The project was completed in about six months, significantly faster than a typical timeline for this scale.
Electrical services completed by Max Electric
The scope combined service equipment, full-building rewiring, utility coordination, electrical room construction, and electrification upgrades.
400A Service Upgrade
The building service was upgraded from 60A to 400A to support the electrical needs of five units and shared areas.
Six-Meter Installation
The new service setup included five residential meters plus a common area meter for the multifamily property.
Knob & Tube Replacement
All five units were rewired to remove outdated knob-and-tube wiring and support safer everyday use.
Electrical Room Construction
A new electrical room was built to organize service equipment and support the upgraded system.
EV Charger Installation
The property was prepared for EV charging as part of the broader modernization and electrification plan.
PG&E Coordination
Our team coordinated the complex overhead service upgrade with PG&E and managed the field requirements.
Gas-to-Electric Conversion
Electrical infrastructure was upgraded to support appliance and heating system conversions from gas to electric.
Phased Tenant Planning
The rewiring was completed in phases so residents could move between completed units during construction.
Managing overhead service work on a hillside multifamily property
The building’s age, hillside location, narrow street conditions, and limited available space made this project more complex than a standard service upgrade. The new 400A service required careful planning, field coordination, and overhead service installation in a dense San Francisco residential setting.
The project also required coordination with PG&E, sequencing around tenant needs, and integration of new electrical capacity with a full-building rewiring plan. For a property of this size, this type of work can often stretch toward a year, but Max Electric completed the project in approximately six months.
Field conditions planned early
The service route, electrical room requirements, and site access limitations were reviewed before installation began.
PG&E coordination managed
The overhead service upgrade was coordinated with the utility provider to support the new 400A system.
Tenant disruption reduced
The work was phased so residents could move between completed units instead of being displaced all at once.
New meter bank and electrical room for modern building capacity
A major part of the modernization was building a new electrical room and installing the equipment needed to support the upgraded service. The new layout created a cleaner, more organized electrical infrastructure for the five-unit property and its common area.
The new meter bank and service equipment were planned around available space, access, utility requirements, and long-term usability. This helped create a more practical system for future maintenance and ongoing building operations.
What the new electrical room supports
The upgraded electrical room was designed to support the building’s long-term electrical needs, including higher service capacity, separate metering, EV charging, and future all-electric loads.
How the modernization was completed
The project required careful sequencing across service work, unit rewiring, tenant movement, utility coordination, and final system readiness.
System planning
We reviewed the existing 60A service, building layout, unit needs, and upgrade requirements before field work began.
Phased rewiring
All five units were rewired in phases so residents could move between completed units during construction.
Service upgrade
The building was upgraded to 400A service with six meters and a new electrical room to support the modernized system.
Final coordination
Our team coordinated overhead service work, PG&E requirements, and completion details to bring the project together.
The result: a modern electrical system completed in about six months
Max Electric completed the full electrical modernization in approximately six months, significantly faster than the typical timeline for a project of this size and complexity. The upgraded system gave the five-unit building the electrical capacity needed for modern living, EV charging, and gas-to-electric conversion.
The project improved safety, service capacity, tenant usability, and long-term building function while respecting the constraints of an older San Francisco multifamily property.
Service upgraded from 60A to 400A
The property received the capacity needed to support five units, common area loads, EV charging, and electrification.
All five units rewired
Knob-and-tube wiring was replaced throughout the building as part of the full modernization scope.
Tenant displacement reduced
Phased work helped residents move between completed units while the project continued.
Field work across the building and service area
The project required coordinated exterior access, overhead service work, equipment installation, and careful planning around the property’s hillside location.
Planning an electrical upgrade for a multifamily building?
Max Electric helps property owners, landlords, contractors, and building managers complete complex electrical upgrades in older San Francisco buildings. From service upgrades and rewiring to PG&E coordination and EV charger installation, our team plans the work around safety, access, code requirements, and real building conditions.
Tell us about your building project
Share the property type, current service size, number of units, and the upgrade goals. We’ll help determine the next practical step.