Shively Electrical Company handles residential and commercial electrical work throughout Shively and the surrounding Jefferson County area. Whether you need a tripped breaker traced, a panel upgraded, or new circuits run for a remodel, we cover the full range of electrical repair and installation. We're available every day from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM, so you don't have to wait until Monday to get a problem looked at. Residential wiring. Commercial wiring. One number for both.
We take pride in the electrical work we leave behind, and that starts with showing up to each job with a clear plan. The fault gets explained before the work starts, and the price is confirmed before anything is scheduled.
Dealing with a tripping breaker or a dead outlet? Those symptoms are worth taking seriously. A breaker that trips repeatedly is telling you something about the circuit it protects. An outlet that stopped working, a light that flickers, a cover plate that feels warm to the touch, or a burning smell near a switch are all signs that something in the wiring needs attention, not just a reset.
We handle the full range of electrical fault finding: dead outlets, sparking receptacles, partial power loss in one room, and situations where half the house has gone dark with no obvious cause. Part of that diagnostic work involves checking GFCI and AFCI protection, since a tripped ground-fault or arc-fault breaker is often behind a problem that looks more complicated than it is. We test, trace, and confirm the fix before we leave the property.
A diagnostic visit covers a look at the panel, the affected circuit, and the device or fixture causing the issue. We'll trace it, fix it, and test it before we leave.
Older homes in Shively and across Jefferson County were often built with 60-amp or 100-amp service, and that capacity runs short fast when you add a modern appliance load. A fuse box that keeps blowing, a panel with double-tapped breakers, or a service entrance that can't handle what the house demands are all situations where an upgrade makes practical sense.
We handle 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrades, fuse box replacement, subpanel installation, and commercial panel work for retail spaces, offices, and multi-unit buildings. Load calculations are part of the process, so the new panel is sized for what the property actually needs, including dedicated appliance circuits, EV charger circuits, and any future additions. Grounding and bonding are addressed as part of every panel job.
For property managers and landlords, a panel upgrade often comes up alongside a rental inspection or a renovation. Permit-required electrical work is handled as part of the job. Panel upgraded. Circuits balanced. Home powered safely.
Wiring is easier to deal with when somebody explains it plainly, so here is what these jobs typically involve. Installing a new outlet means running a circuit from the panel to the location, making the connections, and confirming the device is protected correctly. GFCI outlets are required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior locations. AFCI protection applies to bedroom circuits and, in newer construction, to most living areas. We install both as the job calls for it.
Dedicated circuits for major appliances are a common request: refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and ranges each draw enough current to warrant their own circuit. A 240-volt outlet for a dryer or range is a straightforward installation, but it has to be done to code. Dimmer switches, three-way switch replacements, and USB outlet upgrades are smaller jobs we handle alongside larger wiring work.
Renovation and remodel contexts come up often. Kitchen and bathroom projects regularly need new outlet placement, upgraded protection, or additional circuits. Garage conversions and home additions need wiring run from scratch. If the house has knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch wiring, we assess what remediation or replacement makes sense and explain the options before any work begins. Reach out and we'll start at the panel.
Interior and exterior lighting work covers a wide range of jobs. Recessed LED lighting installations, under-cabinet lighting, pendant and fixture replacements, and dimmer-compatible upgrades are all common requests for kitchens, living rooms, and home offices. Ceiling fan installation and replacement is one of the more frequent calls we get, whether the box needs reinforcing for the fan's weight or the circuit needs a dedicated switch added for the fan and the light separately.
Outside, we install weatherproof outlets, security lighting, motion sensor lights, and flood lights. Landscape lighting circuits, garage lighting, and shed or workshop wiring are natural additions when a customer is already having exterior work done. Code-compliant wiring runs through all of it, including proper box fill, correct wire gauge, and outdoor-rated materials where the installation is exposed to weather. Electrical service scheduled without the runaround is how we approach the booking side of these jobs. One call is enough to get the visit booked.
Jefferson County's four-season climate puts real demand on electrical systems. Hot, humid summers bring heavy cooling loads and severe thunderstorms. Winters bring ice storms that can knock out power for hours or longer. The combination makes panel capacity, backup power, and surge protection genuinely relevant here, not just upsell items. Work in this area gets done to the code inspectors here actually enforce.
Shively has a mix of housing stock, and older homes frequently carry panels that were adequate when they were installed but haven't kept pace with what a modern household draws. A 100-amp service that once ran a modest load now has to handle central air, an electric dryer, a dishwasher, and possibly an EV charger. When the panel can't keep up, breakers trip under normal use or circuits get overloaded. An upgrade visit starts with a load calculation, covers the new panel installation and meter connection, and addresses any grounding or bonding that needs to come up to current standards.
Ice storms and severe thunderstorms in Jefferson County can take out power for extended periods, and that's not a situation most households or businesses want to be unprepared for. We handle the electrical side of generator hookups: the transfer switch installation, the panel tie-in, and the dedicated circuit that feeds the generator connection. A properly wired transfer switch keeps the generator isolated from the utility line, which matters for safety and for utility compliance. We work with both portable generator hookups and standby generator wiring.
A power strip with a built-in surge suppressor handles small spikes, but it won't absorb the kind of voltage event that comes in through the service entrance after a nearby lightning strike. A whole-home surge protector is installed directly at the panel and intercepts surges before they reach the wiring and devices throughout the house. In the Louisville metro area, where summer storms arrive fast and hit hard, that layer of protection is worth having. The installation is straightforward and doesn't require rewiring the house.
Here's what most people get wrong about their wiring: commercial and rental property electrical problems don't fix themselves between tenants. A failed outlet in a retail space, a tripping breaker in an office, or a unit that didn't pass inspection all need the same attention as a residential call, just scoped for the building type.
We work with property managers, landlords, and business owners across Shively and Jefferson County on commercial electrical repair, office and retail wiring, multi-unit electrical troubleshooting, and apartment electrical work. Electrical safety inspections for rental properties, pre-sale inspections, and code violation repairs are all part of what we handle. If a property failed an inspection, we assess what needs to be corrected and handle it as a single job. Call now and we'll get the power back where it belongs.
If you've never hired an electrician before, the pricing question is usually the first one. The rate depends on what the job involves, and the only way to give you an accurate number is to understand the scope. When you call, we ask about the symptoms or the work you need, and we give you a price before anything is scheduled. That covers the visit and the work as described. If the scope changes once we're on site, we explain why before we proceed.
We're available every day from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and we take short-notice work when the schedule allows. Emergency calls about active electrical problems are answered within those hours. Book the visit. Know the scope. Know the price before it starts.
Breakers that trip under normal load, a panel with no room for additional circuits, double-tapped breakers, or a fuse box that keeps blowing are all signs the service needs a closer look. Homes in Shively running on 60-amp or 100-amp service often can't support a modern appliance load, an EV charger, or the arc-fault and ground-fault breakers that current code requires. A load calculation during the visit confirms whether an upgrade is the right call.
Flickering lights are usually caused by a loose connection at the fixture, the switch, or the circuit breaker, or by a circuit that is carrying more load than it was designed for. Dimming that happens when a large appliance starts up often points to a service capacity issue at the panel. We trace the symptom to the source and explain what is causing it before any work begins.
A quick repair addresses a single fault: a dead outlet, a tripped GFCI, a loose connection at a switch. A rewire replaces the branch circuit wiring from the panel outward, either in a specific area or throughout the whole home. The right scope depends on the age and condition of the existing wiring, what triggered the call, and whether the home has materials like knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring that need to be replaced rather than repaired.
A full rewire is typically triggered by an insurance requirement, a home sale inspection that flags the existing wiring, or a remodel that opens enough of the walls to make the work practical. A partial rewire addresses a specific area or problem section. Either way, the decision is based on an assessment of what is there, not a blanket recommendation.
Knob-and-tube wiring was not designed for the loads a modern household puts on it, and it was installed without a ground conductor. Whether it needs to be replaced depends on its condition, whether it has been modified, and what load it is being asked to carry. We assess it during the visit and explain the options before recommending any work.
Aluminum branch circuit wiring was used in many homes built during the 1960s and 1970s, and it requires specific devices and connection methods to stay safe. Standard outlets and switches are not rated for aluminum wiring. We assess the existing connections and recommend the correct remediation, which may involve replacing devices, adding approved connectors, or rewiring specific circuits.
An outlet that does not power a device, feels warm to the touch, or shows discoloration around the face plate is showing signs of a wiring fault or an overloaded circuit. These are not cosmetic issues. We check the outlet, the wiring behind it, and the circuit at the panel to find the cause before replacing any devices.
Every job ends with a functional test of the affected circuit or device. Outlets are tested under load. Breakers are cycled and confirmed. Lighting and fan circuits are run through their full range of operation. For panel work, grounding and bonding are verified before the cover goes back on. We do not leave until the work is confirmed.
Additional charges come up when the scope changes on site. If we open a wall and find wiring that is in worse condition than described, or if a panel upgrade requires a service entrance repair that was not visible before the work started, we stop and explain what we found before proceeding. The revised price is confirmed before any additional work begins.
Hidden wiring in finished walls, attics, and crawl spaces adds time to any job that requires tracing a circuit or running a new one. Older wiring may also require additional work to bring connections up to current standards. We factor that into the scope on the call when you describe the home, and we explain any changes if the actual conditions differ from what was expected.
We provide electrical service throughout Shively and the broader Jefferson County area, including Louisville, Pleasure Ridge Park, Valley Station, Fairdale, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews, Okolona, and Lyndon. Whether the property is in the city or farther out in the county, the work is handled the same way: code-compliant wiring on every job, with the scope and the price settled before we start.
Shively Electrical Company is ready to take your call.
Reach us at (502) 826-9879 for a quote on any residential or commercial electrical job.
We'll confirm what the work involves and what it costs before anything is scheduled.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle for homes and businesses in Shively and across Jefferson County. Each row covers what the service involves, who it fits best, and a practical note worth knowing before you call. If a job spans more than one category, we scope it as a single visit and confirm the price before anything starts.
| Electrical Service | What It Covers | Ideal For | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Dead outlets and partial power loss, Flickering or dimming lights, Sparking or warm receptacles, GFCI and AFCI fault tracing | Any home or business with an active electrical fault | A warm cover plate or burning smell near a switch is a reason to call right away, not something to put off. |
| Electrical Panel & Service UpgradesMost Popular | 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrades, Fuse box replacement, Subpanel installation, Load calculation and grounding | Homes adding major appliances, EV chargers, or running on outdated service | Panel upgrades are permit-required work. We handle the permit process as part of the job so the installation is inspected to current code. |
| Older-Home Rewiring | Knob-and-tube assessment and replacement, Aluminum branch circuit remediation, Partial or full rewire scoping, Grounding and bonding updates | Homes with pre-1970s wiring, insurance requirements, or a failed pre-sale inspection | Whether a full rewire or targeted remediation makes more sense depends on the condition of the existing wiring and how much of the home is accessible. We assess and explain before recommending any scope. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed LED and under-cabinet lighting, Pendant and fixture replacement, Dimmer-compatible upgrades, Security and motion sensor lighting | Homeowners remodeling a kitchen, living room, or home office | Dimmer switches require compatible fixtures and wiring. We confirm compatibility before installation so the finished result works as intended. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan and light kit installation, Box reinforcement for fan weight, Separate switch wiring for fan and light, Fan replacement on existing circuits | Any room where the existing box was not built to support a fan | A standard ceiling box is not rated to hold a ceiling fan. If the box needs to be replaced or reinforced, we handle that as part of the same visit. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch installation, Panel tie-in for generator feed, Portable and standby generator hookup, Utility isolation and safety wiring | Homes and businesses in Jefferson County that lose power during ice storms or severe weather | A transfer switch keeps the generator isolated from the utility line. That isolation is required for safety and for compliance with utility rules. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlet installation, Dedicated appliance outlets, Dimmer and three-way switch replacement, USB outlet upgrades | Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and any room needing additional or upgraded receptacles | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and all exterior locations. We install to what the current code requires, not just what was there before. |
| EV Charger Installation | Level 2 charger circuit installation, 240-volt outlet for EV charging, Panel capacity check before install, Garage wiring for charger placement | Homeowners adding an electric vehicle and needing a proper charging circuit | A Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit. We check panel capacity first so the installation does not overload existing service. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runs from the panel, Renovation and addition wiring, Garage, shed, and workshop circuits, Wire gauge and box fill to code | Remodels, additions, and any space that needs circuits run from scratch | Running new circuits through finished walls takes longer than open-stud work. We factor access into the scope on the call so the estimate reflects the actual job. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | 240-volt dryer and range outlets, Refrigerator and dishwasher circuits, Washer and HVAC supply circuits, Circuit sizing to appliance load | Any major appliance that draws enough current to warrant its own circuit | Sharing a circuit between a large appliance and other loads is a common cause of nuisance tripping. A dedicated circuit eliminates that problem at the source. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-mounted surge protector installation, Service entrance surge suppression, Protection for sensitive electronics and appliances, Single-visit installation, no rewiring needed | Any home in an area with frequent lightning or utility voltage events | A power strip suppressor handles small spikes but cannot absorb a surge that enters through the service entrance. A panel-mounted device intercepts it before it reaches the house wiring. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breaker that won't hold a reset, Fuse box assessment, Double-tapped breaker correction, Circuit continuity testing | Older homes still on fuse service or panels with repeated tripping | A breaker that trips under normal load is signaling an underlying fault. Resetting it repeatedly without tracing the cause can worsen the problem. |
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly?
A breaker trips when the circuit it protects is carrying more current than it was designed for, or when it detects a fault in the wiring or a connected device. If a breaker trips once after an unusual load, that is normal operation. If it trips repeatedly under ordinary use, the cause is worth tracing. Common sources include an overloaded circuit, a failing appliance drawing excess current, a loose or deteriorated connection, or a breaker that is worn and no longer holding its rating accurately. We trace the symptom to the source and explain what we find before any work begins.
How do I know if my home is ready for added electrical load?
The panel is the starting point. If the panel has open slots, is sized at 200 amps, and the existing circuits are not already running at capacity, there is often room to add load without an upgrade. If the panel is a 100-amp service, has no open breaker slots, or already has double-tapped breakers, adding a major appliance or an EV charger is likely to push it past its limits. A load calculation during the visit gives a clear answer based on what the property actually draws.
What does EV charger installation involve?
Installing a Level 2 EV charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit run from the panel to the charger location, typically in a garage. The first step is confirming that the panel has the capacity to support the added load. If the panel is already near its limit, a service upgrade may need to happen first. Once capacity is confirmed, we run the circuit, install the outlet or hardwired connection, and test the charger before we leave.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We identify the source of a fault before recommending any repair or replacement. That means you get an explanation of what caused the problem, not just a new part where the old one was.
How does backup generator hookup work on the electrical side?
The key component is the transfer switch, which connects the generator to the panel and isolates the home's wiring from the utility line when the generator is running. That isolation is not optional. Without it, power fed back through the meter can injure utility workers and damage the generator when utility power returns. We install the transfer switch, run the circuit that feeds the generator connection, and test the system through a full transfer cycle before the job is complete.
When should I call an electrician instead of handling something myself?
Replacing a light fixture or a switch cover is often within reach for a careful homeowner. Work that involves the panel, new circuit runs, outlet installation in kitchens or bathrooms, anything with a burning smell or a warm cover plate, or any job that requires opening the wall is worth a call. Electrical faults that are not traced to the source have a way of returning, and permit-required work that is done without a permit can create problems at resale. If there is any uncertainty about what the job involves, calling first costs nothing.
What is surge protection at the panel, and is it worth having?
A panel-mounted surge protector is installed directly at the service entrance and intercepts voltage spikes before they travel through the house wiring. A power strip with a built-in suppressor only catches surges that reach the outlet it is plugged into. In the Louisville metro area, where summer storms arrive quickly and can include nearby lightning strikes, a panel-level device adds a layer of protection that a strip cannot provide. The installation does not require rewiring the house and is completed in a single visit.
Permits and Inspection Handled Where Required
Panel upgrades, new circuit installations, and other permit-required work are handled with the permit as part of the job. The work is inspected to the code that applies in Jefferson County.
What are the risks of aluminum branch circuit wiring?
Aluminum wiring expands and contracts more than copper as it heats and cools, which can loosen connections at outlets, switches, and fixtures over time. A loose connection creates resistance, and resistance creates heat. Standard devices are not rated for aluminum wiring. Homes with aluminum branch circuits need devices that are either rated for aluminum or connected using approved methods. We assess the existing connections during the visit and explain what remediation makes sense before any work begins.
How is grounding and bonding handled in an older home?
Homes built before the mid-1960s were often wired without a ground conductor in the branch circuits. That means two-prong outlets throughout, no path for fault current to return safely to the panel, and no ground for sensitive electronics. Options include running new grounded wiring, installing GFCI outlets as a code-accepted alternative in specific locations, or a combination of both depending on the scope. Bonding connects metal components in the electrical system so they stay at the same potential. Both are addressed as part of any panel upgrade or rewire.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
Shively's housing stock runs from post-war construction to recent builds. We work with knob-and-tube, aluminum branch circuits, and modern wiring, and we assess what each situation actually needs before recommending a scope.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
Most panel upgrades are completed in a single day. The time depends on the size of the panel being installed, whether the service entrance needs work, how many circuits need to be transferred, and whether grounding or bonding corrections are part of the scope. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call based on what the job involves, and we confirm the scope before the work starts.
Why do outlets and switches stop working?
The most common cause is a tripped GFCI outlet on the same circuit. A GFCI that trips cuts power to every outlet downstream of it, which can make an outlet in a different room appear dead. Beyond that, a loose wire connection at the device or in the junction box, a failed outlet, a tripped breaker, or a wiring fault in the circuit can all cut power to a receptacle. We test the device, check the circuit, and trace the fault before replacing anything.
What does GFCI protection cover, and where is it required?
A ground-fault circuit interrupter monitors the current flowing through a circuit and trips within milliseconds if it detects a difference that suggests current is taking an unintended path, such as through a person. Code requires GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, outdoor locations, and near pools or hot tubs. We install GFCI outlets and breakers to what the current code requires for the location, not just what was originally installed.
Call us at (502) 826-9879 and we will go over what the job involves, what it costs, and when we can get it scheduled.
(502) 826-9879