Power from SDG&E
Electrician in El Cajon: EV checklist counts a charger at full load
El Cajon was one of the two largest cities on SDG&E's October 2 to 5, 2026 shutoff list. Two in three homes were built before 1980, and more than half are not single-family houses.
Electric utility
SDG&E
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), bundled service
Serves all of El Cajon. Utility site
Permit office
City of El Cajon Community Development, Building Safety (Building & Fire Safety Division)
619-441-1726 (Building Safety) · Permit page · Online portal
Permit fees in El Cajon
City of El Cajon Community Development, Building Safety (Building & Fire Safety Division)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permit issuance fee, all permits | $45.00 |
| Electrical: meter upgrade / services to 200 amp Services 200 to 1000 A are $88.00. Added to the $45 issuance fee. | $43.00 |
| Electrical: miscellaneous circuit Fixed appliances $7.00 each. | $26.00 |
| Planning Division plan check, EV charging station (residential) | $60.00 |
| Self-certification fee for minor permits (SolarAPP+, water heaters, reroofs, A/C units) | $130.00 |
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.
Turnaround. Plan check typically takes about three to four weeks per the City FAQ. Rechecks typically one to two weeks. Simple permits that need no plan check are not given a day count.
EV charger permits. El Cajon publishes a residential EV Charging System Guidelines checklist. It requires a load calculation worksheet, a statement of whether a panel upgrade is needed, a single-line diagram for a Level 2 charger at 50 A or more, a site plan showing panel to charger, and a UL-listed unit. City code directs the Building Division to administratively approve EV station permits and keep an expedited-review checklist.
Inspections. Inspections are requested through the City's 'Sign up for a Building or Fire Inspection' page. Daily inspection times, results and corrections are posted online.
No city-run rebate is listed for El Cajon. See the rebate finder for programs from SDG&E and the state.
$2,500 to $4,500
A regional range from the sources on the cost page. Your electrician gives the actual quote after a look.
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What the October 2026 shutoff means for a panel
The October 2 to 5 shutoff put El Cajon among the two largest cities on the list, so backup power is a live question here, not a theory. The shutoff block on this page has the event details. What a homeowner decides is how to connect a generator or battery: a transfer switch or interlock needs a permit and spare room in the panel, and a battery needs a circuit and a load plan. Start with what a shutoff is and the prep checklist, then look at the transfer switch and home battery pages.
The checklist counts the charger fully
The city publishes a residential EV Charging System Guidelines checklist. Its key rule is that the load calculation counts the charger at 100 percent. If the existing service is smaller than the computed minimum, an upgraded panel is required, and the submittal must say whether an upgrade is needed. A Level 2 charger of 50 amps or more also needs a single-line diagram. The fee shown on the old checklist predates the current schedule, so use the fee table here and call the counter for the total. See load calculation explained and EV charger load calculation.
Plan check goes through PACO, the city’s online center, and the city FAQ quotes about three to four weeks for a typical one. Inspections are requested on the city’s inspection page, and results are posted online.
Dense, older and often rented
Two-thirds of El Cajon’s homes were built before 1980, and 23 percent before 1960. Only 46 percent of homes are single-family and 42 percent are owner-occupied, so many jobs involve a landlord, a shared panel or a complex with a meter bank. Service size should be confirmed on site for each job. About 44 percent of homes heat with electricity, so the panel is already carrying more than lighting and outlets. If you rent or live in a complex, read the HOA and condo charger page.
Getting SDG&E involved
The city asks for documentation of an SDG&E-approved location when a meter is new or upgraded, and your electrician files that before the city permit. SDG&E has a faster Express route for a simple upgrade with no added load, described in the utility block above. For a charger, SDG&E also lists meter socket adapters and load management as ways to avoid a full panel upgrade. Read EV charger load management and the SDG&E programs guide.
SDG&E has an EV rate for households with a registered EV, and its prices change at least yearly, so check the current rate table before choosing a plan. Climate zone 10 means hot summers, so air conditioning is the main load. Santee shares the utility, with different housing and permit fees.
Home age and heating, from Census data
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; QuickFacts for El Cajon. Climate zone 10.
SDG&E: meter, service and rate steps
SDG&E sets and reconnects the meter and issues a work order for service changes. How the steps fit together.
El Cajon is not on SDG&E's list of CCA member cities (neither San Diego Community Power nor Clean Energy Alliance), so households get generation and delivery from SDG&E.
EV rate. El Cajon households are on SDG&E bundled service, so these totals apply directly.
Backup power for shutoff days
Wildfire and outage notes for El Cajon
Shutoff record: Named on a possible-shutoff list only
Lakeside, adjacent to El Cajon, was named in the same event. Earlier lists (late 2024, January 2025) named nearby East County communities.
Local notes
- El Cajon's contractor-permit checklist requires documentation of an SDG&E-approved location for new meters or meter upgrades before the City permit. Source
- The City's updated Schedule of Miscellaneous Fees (Resolution adopted April 28, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) prices a service/meter upgrade up to 200 A at $43 plus a $45 issuance fee. Source
Where to start on a job
Cities next door
Questions about electrical work in El Cajon
Do I need an SDG&E location approval before El Cajon will issue a meter or panel upgrade permit?
Yes, for new meters and meter upgrades. The city's contractor permit requirements ask for documentation of an SDG&E-approved location. For a simple upgrade up to 400 amps with no added load, SDG&E's Express Program accepts a filing with photos of the panel. Your electrician handles this step before the city permit.
How should I read El Cajon's fee table before pricing a 200 amp panel?
The city's fee exhibit, adopted April 28, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, prices meter and service upgrades by amp range and adds a permit issuance fee. Which amount applies depends on the job, so call Building Safety at 619-441-1726 for the total before you budget, and ask about the separate plan check line for EV charging.
How do I submit a plan check for an EV charger or panel in El Cajon?
Register an account in the Project Assistance Center Online, called PACO, and submit there. The city requires the account, with a new log-in procedure as of April 15, 2024. The city FAQ quotes about three to four weeks for a typical plan check and one to two weeks for rechecks.
Should I add a transfer switch or battery given the October 2026 shutoffs?
It is worth pricing. About 35,000 customers across North, East and South County were on the October 2 to 5 shutoff list, and El Cajon and Poway were the two largest cities on it. A transfer switch or battery needs spare panel capacity, so the load calculation comes first.
Will the El Cajon EV charger checklist require a new panel for my older home?
It might. The city's checklist counts the EV charger at 100 percent in its load calculation and says an upgraded panel is required if the existing service is smaller than the computed minimum. The worksheet and a statement about whether an upgrade is needed go in the submittal.
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