Who is Palomino Valley Electric?
Palomino Valley Electric is a fully licensed, insured electrical contractor who serves Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, Dayton, and the surrounding Northern Nevada area. We do it all: residential service calls and panel upgrades to commercial projects, generators, EV chargers, and luxury home systems.
Does Palomino Valley Electric offer free estimates?
Most project estimates are free. Work like service calls for troubleshooting, diagnostics, or site investigations may include a call fee. Either way, we’ll let you know about any costs before we schedule something with you.
How do I know if I need a panel upgrade?
If you’re making more trips out to the breaker, your lights are flickering, you’re running out of breaker space, or you’re adding a new appliance or electrical load (especially from EV chargers), a new panel’s in your best interest. Your existing panel might be too undersized for your home and its needs.
Are Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels dangerous?
Yes, and they’re a big problem in Nevada homes. These panels have a long history of malfunctioning and millions of these units have been flagged across the country. In fact, most major home insurance providers will refuse to issue or renew a policy on a home containing an FPE or Zinsco panel until a licensed electrician removes and replaces them.
Why did my breaker trip?
There could be a few reasons. The main ones are overloaded circuits, short circuits, ground faults, failing components, or even just defective equipment. The Palomino spots the problem and walks you through any circuit breaker repairs
Why do my lights flicker?
Any regular flickering usually means there’s a loose connection somewhere down the line, a failing breaker or switch, an overloaded circuit, or a problem right at your panel. Seeing LED-specific flickering? It might be an incompatible dimmer or a failing driver. Either way, we’ll find the reason and let you know.
Why do some outlets work and others don’t?
A tripped GFCI is usually the first reason we see. Check any nearby bathrooms, kitchens, or garages for a GFCI outlet with a tripped reset button. Press the Reset button firmly and see if that brings the dead outlets back. If you’ve checked the GFCI outlets and the breaker panel and still can’t find the source, that’s when it’s worth having a Nevada electrician from Palomino take a look.
Can I install an EV charger at my home?
Yes, and most homes can accommodate a Level 2 EV charger. The Palomino team will evaluate your panel’s capacity and let you know the right circuit size (mostly 40A, 50A, or 60A depending on your charger).
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger in Washoe County?
Yes, you do. Any Level 2 EV charger installations need a permit from Washoe County. They also need an inspection. Don’t worry; we’ll pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and handle any utility notification as part of the EV charger installation.
Do I need a permit to install a standby generator in Washoe County?
Yes. You need a Washoe County building permit for any permanent, non-portable generator. When a natural gas or propane line is involved, both electrical and gas permits are a must. We coordinate all of it, though. That way you’re not chasing after permits.
What electrical codes are required in Reno and Washoe County?
Washoe County adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) and 2024 ICC building codes, which became mandatory for all submittals as of January 1, 2026. All work we perform is fully code-compliant under the current Northern Nevada standards.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to run during an outage. A generator carrying the weight of a whole business is a bit different than keeping the lights on in a ranch home. We can do a load analysis for you to see what it’ll cover and recommend the right generator size for your home or business.
Do you install Generac generators?
Yes, and the Palomino crew has been installing those for years. We can perform a load analysis, too, to nail the right size for your property and make sure the installation meets the current NEC and Washoe County code requirements.
Can you install recessed lighting or LED retrofits?
Yes! We install recessed lighting, canless LEDs, under-cabinet lighting, accent lighting, and landscape lighting. We’ll also replace fluorescent fixtures with LED for both homes and commercial spaces that are looking to go all-in on energy efficiency.
Do you provide commercial electrical services?
Yes, we help businesses as well as residential customers with any and all electrical needs. We work on tenant improvements, lighting upgrades, equipment circuits, service upgrades, electrical maintenance, and new commercial construction. We also regularly work with property managers and apartment communities.
Can you install or upgrade 3-phase electrical service for my business?
Yes. We install, upgrade, and modify 3-phase electrical systems for commercial and industrial applications throughout Northern Nevada. We can check out your current service and create a system for your specific road requirements.
How much does electrical work cost?
It really depends on what needs doing and the extent of it. A quick fix for your lighting is much cheaper than a full electrical panel replacement or whole-home rewire. The final costs will also hinge partly on labor, materials, and equipment. We quote most of our projects at a fixed price. That way we’ll let you know what it costs and why before we begin any work.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept checks, ACH, and all major credit cards. We also have financing available, depending on the project and if you qualify. We can talk it over with you; it’s easy to get started.
Why should I hire Palomino Valley Electric?
Most electrical contractors in Northern Nevada focus on one lane. Maybe it’s residential service calls, commercial construction, or industrial work. But the Palomino team handles the whole thing, and we have the experience to do it right.