Power from SCE
Electrician in Downey: ADU load check on the main panel
Downey issues panel change-outs up to 400 amps online through its Accela portal. With a median build year of 1959, the panel in the garage is the first thing to check before an ADU, charger or heat pump.
Electric utility
SCE
Southern California Edison (SCE); Clean Power Alliance supplies the power
Serves all of Downey. Utility site
Permit office
City of Downey Building and Safety Division (Community Development)
562-904-7142 · Permit page · Online portal
Permit fees in Downey
City of Downey Building and Safety Division (Community Development)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical permit issuance Downey Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective August 26, 2024 (Community Development, Building and Safety). | $56.35 |
| Electrical permit minimum fee Downey Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective August 26, 2024 (Community Development, Building and Safety). | $120.75 |
| Panels and switchboards, 1 to 200 amps | $85.10 each |
| Residential appliance, 3 HP or less (dryer, range, water heater and similar) Downey Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective August 26, 2024 (Community Development, Building and Safety). | $20.00 each |
| Temporary service pole Downey Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective August 26, 2024 (Community Development, Building and Safety). | $64.40 each |
| Electrical plan check, includes 3 reviews Downey Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective August 26, 2024 (Community Development, Building and Safety). Four or more reviews are $213.90 per hour. | 50% of electrical permit fee (minimum $103.50) |
Taken from the city's fee page. Fees change, and other charges such as plan check can apply. Confirm at the permit counter. Compare permit fees across cities.
EV charger permits. The city lists an Electric Vehicle Charging Checklist among its permit forms (the AB 1236 style checklist). The handouts page warns that not all handouts reflect the 2022 codes.
Inspections. Plans and applications go in electronically. The Building Division counter phone is 562-904-7142.
Rebates listed for Downey
From SCE and the city
| Program | Amount |
|---|---|
 SCE Charge Ready Home SCE residential customers installing a Level 2 charger with a licensed electrician | Up to $4,200 toward a panel upgrade |
Amounts as listed by each program, October 2026. Programs have limits and rules.
$2,500 to $4,500
A regional range from the sources on the cost page. Your electrician gives the actual quote after a look.
Get this quote
Ranch tracts and what the numbers say
A ranch house with its original panel is the typical Downey job. The median home dates to 1959, and 54 percent were built before 1960, 70 percent before 1970 and 83 percent before 1980. Most are flat-lot ranches, so the original panel and a room-by-room circuit layout are common. A panel upgrade brings a small service up to a modern size, and the cost page shows typical SoCal ranges.
Check the label first. Some panels from this era are Zinsco or Federal Pacific, covered on this page. If the attic has ceramic knobs on the wiring, read the knob-and-tube page.
ADUs and the old main panel
Lots here are large enough for detached ADUs, and the city offers pre-approved ADU plans under AB 1332. Those plans are only about 80 percent complete, so the electrical part is still on you. The submittal checklist asks for the existing panel’s location and size and a load calculation. The city also says solar is required on ADU structures, which affects panel and meter planning. Start with the ADU electrical requirements and subpanel installation.
Three questions before you call
What size is the main breaker? Is there a free slot for a 240 volt circuit? Does a second building on the lot, like a garage or an ADU, share that panel? An electrician can answer these in one visit with a load calculation. The answers decide between a small subpanel and a full service upgrade. A heat pump adds another large circuit to the same math.
Permits and fees
The Building and Safety Division takes plans and applications electronically. The fee schedule on the city site is dated August 26, 2024 and lists panels by size, so confirm the current figures with the counter before you hire. The city’s handouts page warns that not every handout reflects the 2022 codes. Read the permit guide for SoCal for how the process usually runs.
Supplier, rebates and outages
The supplier change in October 2025 only affects the generation line of your bill. SCE still handles outages and meter work. On the SCE side, Charge Ready Home can help with a panel upgrade, but only for income-qualified or disadvantaged-community households. The Charge Ready Home guide explains how to check your address and the current terms.
Downey is flat and urban, and no SCE shutoff has been reported for the city, so outages here are more often equipment failures than wildfire shutoffs. A battery still makes sense for some households, see backup power.
The housing, in numbers
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; QuickFacts for Downey. Climate zone 8.
What SCE handles on a panel or charger job
SCE sets and reconnects the meter. Its published targets cover only SCE steps, and city review time is extra. How the steps fit together.
SCE owns the wires, meters and billing. Downey is listed on Clean Power Alliance's August 2025 member slides with an October 2025 start. Downey customers moved from SCE supply to CPA supply by default, with the option to opt out to SCE.
Backup power for shutoff days
What the record shows on outages in Downey
Shutoff record: None on record
Worth knowing in Downey
Jobs Downey homeowners look up
Nearby cities
Questions about electrical work in Downey
Can I get a panel upgrade permit online in Downey?
Yes. The city issues panel change-outs up to 400 amps online through its Accela portal, and you must register to apply. The Building Division counter phone is 562-904-7142 if you get stuck. The city lists no turnaround time, so ask the counter how long your job will take.
Does my 1950s Downey home need a new panel for an ADU?
Possibly. For a detached ADU, the city's submittal checklist asks for the location and size of your existing main panel and a load calculation. That calculation shows whether the old panel can carry the ADU or whether a new panel is needed. A small original panel from the first build often cannot.
What changed on my electric bill in Downey in October 2025?
Downey joined Clean Power Alliance in October 2025. Customers moved from SCE power supply to CPA supply by default, with the option to opt out and return to SCE. SCE still owns the wires and the meter. Your bill shows which supplier you have and which generation tier you are on, so read it before comparing rates.
What is the minimum electrical permit fee in Downey?
The building fee schedule dated August 26, 2024 shows a $56.35 issuance charge and a $120.75 minimum electrical permit fee. Small jobs tend to land at the minimum. A newer schedule may apply and the panel line depends on the amp size, so confirm the total with the Building Division before you budget.
Do I need a permit for a 240V EV outlet in my Downey garage?
Yes, a 240 volt circuit is electrical work, and the city lists an Electric Vehicle Charging Checklist among its permit forms. That is the checklist state law calls for. Plugging into an existing 120 volt outlet is different. An electrician can tell you which category your charger falls into.
Send a photo, get a range.
Share your ZIP and a photo of your panel. Your request goes to a licensed partner electrician, who contacts you.
Get this quoteAurion Electric is a referral service operated by Roviq LLC. Electrical work is done by a licensed partner electrician.
