Power from PWP
Electrician in Pasadena: PWP panel rebate tied to a charger circuit
Pasadena has its own electric utility, Pasadena Water and Power, not Edison. About half the homes predate 1960, and PWP's panel rebate only applies to a job planned around both a charger and a water heater.
Electric utility
PWP
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP)
City or district utility. SCE programs do not apply. Utility site
Permit office
City of Pasadena Planning & Community Development, Building and Safety Division (Permit Center)
(626) 744-4200 · Permit page · Online portal
Different from SCE: your meter and rebates come from PWP.
Pasadena is served by Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), not Southern California Edison. Service upgrades, meter work and rebates go through that utility, so SCE programs do not apply.
Permit fees in Pasadena
City of Pasadena Planning & Community Development, Building and Safety Division (Permit Center)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permit processing fee, electrical (MPE) City of Pasadena FY 2027 General Fee Schedule (adopted June 8, 2026). | $78.00 |
| New or upgraded service equipment or subpanel, 0 to 200 amps City of Pasadena FY 2027 General Fee Schedule (adopted June 8, 2026). | $73.00 |
| New or upgraded service equipment or subpanel, 201 to 400 amps City of Pasadena FY 2027 General Fee Schedule (adopted June 8, 2026). | $134.00 |
| EV charger, single-family residence City of Pasadena FY 2027 General Fee Schedule (adopted June 8, 2026). Listed under Electric Vehicle Chargers. | $43.00 |
| Fixtures, outlets or switches, first 10 City of Pasadena FY 2027 General Fee Schedule (adopted June 8, 2026). Each additional outlet after the first 10 is $8.00. | $28.00 |
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.
EV charger permits. PWP's rebate terms require a City of Pasadena electrical permit for a hard-wired charger or a new or modified 240 V socket. California AB 1236 requires an expedited, streamlined EV charger permit process, so expect a checklist-based over-the-counter or online review.
Inspections. Inspections are scheduled online through the permit portal. The Building and Safety page warns that after the January 2025 windstorm and fire the division is still handling emergency response and inspection delays may occur.
Rebates listed for Pasadena
From PWP and the city
| Program | Amount |
|---|---|
 PWP Electric Panel Upgrade Rebate PWP residential customers in existing homes; upgrade to 200 A or larger with dedicated 240 V, 30 A circuits for a Level 2 charger and an electric water heater, and a newly installed charger or electric water heater | $1,000, plus $500 more if enrolled in PWP income-qualified bill assistance; apply within 180 days of final permit approval |
PWP Residential EV Charger Incentive PWP customers with a hard-wired Level 2 charger or new 240 V outlet permitted by Pasadena Building and Safety; two chargers per address | $600 for a Wi-Fi connected Level 2, $200 for a standard Level 2 |
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.
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Your meter and your rebates come from PWP
Pasadena Water and Power serves the city with over 68,000 electric meters. Because PWP sets and reconnects the meter, service upgrade requests go to PWP and not to SCE. PWP does not publish lead times for the meter step, so ask when you request service.
The rebate table above shows PWP programs. The panel rebate asks you to apply within 180 days of final permit approval, so the inspection sign-off is the starting line for the claim. See panel upgrades for how the work itself goes.
Bungalow Heaven and the older house
Pasadena has a large stock of Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival houses. About a third of Pasadena homes predate 1950 and 6 in 10 predate 1970, with a 1961 median. Older houses can still have a small service or an original fuse panel, and that is the load problem when you add a charger and an electric water heater to the same panel. Check what you have before you plan.
Bungalow Heaven is a landmark district, roughly bounded by Orange Grove Blvd., Washington Blvd., Mentor Ave. and Chester/Holliston Ave. A new meter panel or exterior conduit on a front wall there may need design review first. Ask early, because the review can come before the electrical permit. If fuses or cloth wiring show up, read about knob-and-tube replacement.
Permit path and the post-Eaton backlog
The Building and Safety Division runs an Express Permit Portal for electrical permits, with online payment and inspection booking. Ask the Permit Center at (626) 744-4200 for the current panel fee.
After the January 2025 Eaton Fire and windstorm, the division said inspections may be delayed while it handles emergency work. Build that into your calendar. For a charger, California’s AB 1236 requires a streamlined permit process; the AB 1236 guide explains what to expect.
Heat and the foothill circuits
Pasadena sits in climate zone 9, with long hot summers and fall wind near the mountains. PWP has put covered wires on foothill circuits along Glen Oaks Blvd., Rosemont Ave. and near Sequoia Dr. and Anita Dr. No shutoff has been reported for the city. Still, read the PSPS explainer and compare the city utility rebates guide. Glendale has its own utility too, with its own rules.
What the homes in Pasadena look like
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; QuickFacts for Pasadena. Climate zone 9.
Working with PWP on a service change
PWP is the city's own electric and water utility, with over 68,000 electric meters (PWP 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan). SCE programs such as Charge Ready Home do not apply to PWP customers.
Backup power for shutoff days
Shutoffs and fire weather in Pasadena
Shutoff record: None on record
No PSPS shutoff is documented for Pasadena. PWP's 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan says PWP does not currently intend to pre-emptively de-energize the city, retains the right to. Planned to seek a vendor in FY2026 for a PSPS feasibility study. The Eaton Fire began January 7, 2025 and burned about 14,000 acres across Altadena and Pasadena (CAL FIRE and press reports).
Pasadena specifics
- Pasadena runs its own utility. PWP pays $1,000 toward a 200 A panel upgrade, but only if the job also adds dedicated 240 V, 30 A circuits for both an EV charger and an electric water heater. The panel has to be designed around both from the start. The charger rebate ($600 networked, $200 standard) is paid separately. SCE rebates do not apply. Source
- PWP's 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan records covered-conductor and pole work on foothill circuits: 17,000 ft on Glen Oaks Blvd. (completed 2024), 9,000 ft on Rosemont Ave. (2023) and 7,500 ft around Sequoia Dr. and Anita Dr. (2020). Source
- Unlike SCE, PWP does not currently use pre-emptive Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The plan says PWP keeps the right to and budgeted a FY2026 vendor study of a PSPS program, so this could change. Source
Common electrical jobs in Pasadena
Other cities close by
Questions about electrical work in Pasadena
Do I deal with Pasadena Water and Power or Edison when I upgrade my panel in Pasadena?
You deal with Pasadena Water and Power. PWP is the city's own electric utility, so the meter, the service upgrade request, the rates and the rebates all come from PWP. SCE programs such as Charge Ready Home do not apply to PWP customers.
Why does the PWP panel rebate want a water heater circuit as well as an EV charger circuit?
PWP pays the panel rebate only when the new panel is 200 amp or larger and the job adds dedicated 240 volt, 30 amp circuits for both a Level 2 charger and an electric water heater. The panel has to be designed for both from the start, so tell your electrician before the plan is drawn.
Can I get both the PWP panel rebate and the charger rebate on one job?
They are separate PWP programs with separate rules. The charger incentive needs a Pasadena electrical permit and is limited to two chargers per address. Read both sets of terms before you buy equipment, and confirm the current amounts with PWP.
Does a new meter panel on the front of my Bungalow Heaven house need design review?
It may. Bungalow Heaven is a city landmark district, and changes visible from the street can need review before the electrical permit. Amendments proposed in 2025 may change the rules, so ask the city before you pick a panel location.
Will a wildfire or high wind shut off my power in Pasadena like it does in Edison towns?
PWP says it does not currently use pre-emptive shutoffs. It keeps the right to, and its 2025 plan budgeted a study of such a program. So today the risk is lower than in Edison areas, but it could change. A battery is still worth pricing if you work from home.
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