Middleton Electrical Company handles the full range of residential and commercial electrical work in Middleton and across Dane County. Whether the job is a single tripped breaker or a complete panel replacement, we scope it on the call, confirm the price before anything is scheduled, and explain what the work involves before we start. Homeowners, landlords, property managers, and small businesses all reach us the same way: one call, and the job gets moving.
We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Straight scheduling. Upfront pricing. Code-compliant wiring.
Electrical problems rarely announce themselves clearly. A light that flickers, an outlet that stopped working, a breaker that trips every time the microwave runs - each one points somewhere, and finding that somewhere is what a diagnostic visit is for. We trace the symptom back to the source, test what needs testing, and tell you plainly what we found before any repair begins. Honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell.
Flickering lights usually point to a loose connection, a failing fixture, or a circuit that is being asked to carry more than it was designed for. Tripping breakers are similar: the breaker is doing its job, but something upstream is wrong. A breaker that trips repeatedly, or one that will not reset at all, may be a sign of a failing breaker, an overloaded circuit, or a wiring fault that needs attention. We test the circuit, check the breaker, and identify whether the fix is at the device, the wiring, or the panel.
A dead outlet is often a GFCI that tripped somewhere else on the circuit - pressing the reset button on the right outlet brings it back. When that does not work, or when the outlet has simply never had power, the cause is usually a wiring fault or a failed device. A warm outlet is a different matter. Heat at a receptacle means resistance in the connection, and that is a fire risk worth addressing promptly. We check the wiring, the device, and the box, and we replace what needs replacing.
When half the house loses power but the other half is fine, the fault is usually a tripped double-pole breaker or a failed breaker leg at the panel. Less commonly, it points to a problem at the service entrance or the meter. We work through the panel first, identify whether the breaker has tripped, failed, or is showing signs of a larger panel problem, and explain what the next step is. We'll trace it, fix it, and test it before we leave.
An electrical panel has a capacity limit, and when the demand on a home or building pushes against that limit, problems follow. Breakers that trip under normal loads, a panel full of tandem breakers, or a box that is simply too old to be reliable are all reasons to look at an upgrade. A 200-amp service upgrade gives a home the capacity to run modern appliances, an EV charger, and additional circuits without constantly bumping into the ceiling. We handle the load calculation, the service-entrance work, and the panel swap, and permitting is confirmed and covered before the work begins.
For additions, outbuildings, or finished basements that need their own circuits, a subpanel is often the cleaner solution. We can size and install one off the main panel and wire it to serve whatever the new space needs. Electrical service scheduled without the runaround - call to talk through what your panel is doing and we will tell you what the options are. Let us handle the panel and the permits.
Whether it's a single outlet or a full panel upgrade, the process starts the same way: we find out what you need, confirm the price, and schedule the work. New outlet installation covers indoor and outdoor locations, garage receptacles, USB outlets, and GFCI and AFCI protection where code requires it. Dimmer switches, three-way switches, and smart switch wiring all fall in the same category. If the box is there and the wiring is good, the swap is straightforward. If the wiring needs to be run, we run it.
Older homes in Dane County sometimes still have knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch-circuit wiring. Both present real concerns for modern electrical loads. Knob-and-tube replacement and aluminum-wiring remediation are jobs we handle regularly, and we can tell you on the call what the scope of that work typically involves. Dedicated appliance circuits for dryers, electric ovens, and refrigerators are a related category. These circuits need to be sized correctly for the load, and adding one is a common request when a new appliance goes in.
Doing electrical work right matters, and we'll help you get it right, whether the job is a single ceiling fan or a full exterior lighting overhaul. Interior lighting work includes recessed and LED lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and fixture replacement. Exterior jobs cover security lighting, motion-sensor lights, and landscape lighting runs. Each one involves different wiring considerations, and we confirm what is involved before we schedule.
We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own. Ceiling fan installation is a common request, including jobs where no existing wiring or box is in place. Running a new circuit to a fan location is a clean job when done properly, and we make sure the box, the wiring, and the switch are all matched to what the fan needs. If you are upgrading from a light fixture to a fan, we check that the existing box is rated for the load before anything goes up.
A Level 2 EV charger installation starts with the panel. Before the charger goes in, we check whether the panel has the capacity to support a dedicated 240-volt circuit and whether any other planned loads need to be factored into that calculation. If the panel needs an upgrade first, we handle both. The charger circuit itself is straightforward once the capacity question is answered.
Whole-home surge protection works at the panel level, catching voltage spikes before they reach the devices and appliances on the circuits. A single surge event can damage electronics, appliances, and HVAC equipment. A panel-mounted suppressor is a one-time installation that covers everything connected to the service. Reach out and describe what the breaker is doing, or ask about adding surge protection when you call about any other job.
Your time matters, so we keep the wiring job moving, whether you are a homeowner dealing with a frustrating fault or a property manager trying to get a unit back in service. We handle electrical repairs and installations for single-family homes, rental properties, multi-unit buildings, retail spaces, and small offices. The work is the same across all of them: find the fault, explain it, fix it.
Electrical safety inspections are a regular part of what we do. Pre-purchase inspections, rental-compliance checks, and code-violation repairs all follow the same pattern: we go through the panel and the wiring, document what we find, and tell you what needs attention. We pick up the phone and get it handled. If you are managing a property that failed an inspection or needs to meet a code requirement before a tenant moves in, call and describe the situation. We tell you if a permit is needed. We name the fault plainly. You decide the fix.
Dane County winters are long, cold, and hard on electrical systems. Multi-day power outages from ice storms and high winds are a regular occurrence. Heating loads push panels to their limits. Frozen pipes and roof ice dams create demand for electrical solutions that most regions never need. The three services below come up every fall and winter in Middleton, and we handle all of them.
When an ice storm takes out power for two or three days, a generator transfer switch is what keeps the heat, the refrigerator, and the lights running. We wire the transfer switch, connect it to the panel, and set up the circuit the generator feeds. Whether the setup is for a standby generator or a portable unit with a manual transfer switch, the critical part is making sure the generator cannot back-feed into the utility line. We handle that connection correctly and confirm the load it is designed to carry.
Wisconsin winters put real demand on electrical panels. Space heaters, electric baseboards, and other cold-weather loads stack up fast, and an older panel that was sized for a different era of electrical use may not be able to carry them reliably. When a panel is running out of breaker slots, tripping under winter loads, or simply too old to be dependable, an upgrade is the right move. The work covers a load calculation, permit filing, and installation of a panel sized for what the home actually needs.
Heat tape keeps pipes from freezing and prevents ice dams from forming along roof edges and in gutters. It is a straightforward product, but the installation matters. Heat tape requires a dedicated circuit and GFCI protection at the outlet. Running that circuit correctly, and making sure the outlet is in the right location for the tape layout, is where we come in. This is a common call in Middleton each fall, and we can usually scope it quickly on the phone.
Seeing flickering lights or a warm outlet? Call and describe what you are seeing. We go through the job on the phone, confirm what the visit covers, and give you the price before anything is scheduled. You know what you are agreeing to before we show up. No-pressure estimates, priced up front.
If you are asking about a panel upgrade, an EV charger circuit, or a heat tape installation, the same process applies. We tell you what the job typically involves, what factors affect the price, and what to expect from the visit. We tell you if a permit is needed. We name the fault plainly. You decide the fix.
Ready to get the power back on? We work throughout Middleton and the communities around it, available every day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM. The areas we serve include:
If you are in Dane County and not sure whether we cover your address, call and ask. We will tell you straight.
Permit requirements depend on the job and the jurisdiction. Panel replacements and rewires typically require a permit in Dane County, and we handle that side of it. We tell you if a permit is needed, pull it where required, and schedule the inspection as part of the job.
Breakers that trip under normal loads, a panel full of tandem breakers with no open slots, breakers that feel warm or will not reset, and a panel that is more than a few decades old are all signs worth looking at. A fuse box that has never been converted to breakers is another. Call and describe what the panel is doing and we can tell you what the visit would cover.
A burning smell at an outlet or panel usually means heat is building at a connection, which points to resistance in the wiring. That is a fire risk and worth treating as urgent.
Turn off the circuit at the breaker if you can and call us at (608) 593-5149 to describe what you are smelling and where.
A burning smell near an outlet or panel, sparking at a receptacle, a breaker that will not reset after a trip, partial power loss in the home, or any sign of heat or discoloration at a device or wiring point are all situations to treat as urgent. Call and describe what you are seeing. We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM.
A quick repair addresses a specific fault: a failed outlet, a bad breaker, a loose connection. A rewire replaces the wiring itself, either in a section of the home or throughout. Rewiring comes up when the existing wiring is knob-and-tube, aluminum branch circuit, or simply too deteriorated to carry modern loads safely. The call is the right place to describe what the wiring looks like and get a sense of which applies.
Older homes were wired for a smaller electrical load than modern households typically demand. A home with 100-amp service and circuits designed for a few lights and a refrigerator was not built to handle a modern kitchen, a home office, and an EV charger. Running out of breaker slots and tripping under normal loads are both signs that the panel and the wiring have reached their limit.
A patch is fine when the fault is isolated and the wiring around it is in good shape. When the wiring behind the repair is deteriorated, undersized, or the wrong type for the load, patching the visible problem leaves the underlying issue in place. We tell you which situation you are in before any work starts, and we do not recommend a repair that will not hold.
We look at the breaker that corresponds to the fault, check for signs of heat or corrosion at the connections, verify that the breaker is the correct size for the circuit, and assess whether the panel has capacity for the load it is carrying. If the panel itself is the problem, we say so and explain what the options are.
Generator sizing depends on what circuits you need to run during an outage. We go through that on the call: heat, refrigeration, lights, and well pumps are the common priorities in a Wisconsin winter. The installation covers the transfer switch, the connection to the panel, and the generator circuit. The transfer switch is what prevents the generator from back-feeding into the utility line, and getting that connection right is the critical part of the job.
A panel that trips under the combined load of heating equipment, an EV charger, a well pump, and standard appliances is the clearest sign. No open breaker slots, a service entrance that is visibly deteriorated, or a utility upgrade requirement when adding a large circuit are others. We do the load calculation on the visit and tell you whether an upgrade is warranted before any work is proposed.
A panel replacement usually takes most of a day. A partial rewire depends on how many circuits are involved and how accessible the wiring is. A whole-home rewire is a multi-day job. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call when we scope the work, so you can plan around the visit.
When something is wrong with the wiring, or when a new circuit, panel, or charger is on the list, the next step is a call.
Middleton Electrical Company is available every day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM at (608) 593-5149.
We scope the job on the call, confirm the price, and explain the work before anything is scheduled. Electrical troubleshooting, panel upgrades, EV charger circuits, backup generator hookups - whatever the job is, we will tell you what it involves and what it costs before we start.
Straight scheduling. Upfront pricing. Code-compliant wiring. We'll trace it, fix it, and test it before we leave.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical services we handle in Middleton and across Dane County. Each row covers what the work involves, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job on your list is not here, call and describe it. We scope the work on the phone and confirm the price before anything is scheduled.
| Service | Scope of Work | When You Need It | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breaker testing and replacementPanel-level fault diagnosisFuse box assessment | Homes where a breaker trips repeatedly or will not reset | A breaker that trips under normal load may point to a wiring fault or an undersized circuit, not just a bad breaker. We check both before replacing anything. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlet installationUSB and specialty receptaclesDimmer and three-way switch wiring | Homeowners adding outlets, upgrading devices, or addressing code-required protection | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. We confirm what applies before we start. |
| Heat Tape Installation | Dedicated circuit for heat tapeGFCI outlet installationCircuit placement for tape layout | Middleton homeowners preventing frozen pipes or roof ice dams each winter | Heat tape requires a dedicated circuit and GFCI protection at the outlet. Running that circuit correctly is where the electrical work comes in, and we can scope it quickly on the phone. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | Dryer and oven circuitsRefrigerator and dishwasher circuitsWorkshop and garage circuits | Homeowners installing a new major appliance or adding a workshop space | Each dedicated circuit needs to be sized for the specific appliance load. We confirm the correct breaker size and wire gauge before running the circuit. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Fault tracing and diagnosticsDead outlets and failed devicesFlickering lights and partial power loss | Any homeowner or property manager dealing with an unexplained electrical fault | We identify the source before recommending a fix. Honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-mounted surge suppressor installationProtection for all connected circuitsSingle-visit installation | Homeowners with sensitive electronics, appliances, or HVAC equipment on the circuits | A single voltage spike can damage appliances and electronics across the home. A panel-level suppressor covers every circuit in one installation. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch wiringGenerator circuit connectionLoad planning for outage priorities | Dane County homeowners preparing for winter ice storms and multi-day power outages | The transfer switch prevents the generator from back-feeding into the utility line. Getting that connection right is the critical part of the installation. |
| Electrical Panel & Service UpgradesMost Popular | Load calculation and panel sizing200-amp service upgradesSubpanel installationPermit handling | Homes adding major appliances, EV chargers, or running out of breaker slots | Panel replacements typically require a permit in Dane County. We pull it, schedule the inspection, and handle that side of the job. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed and LED fixture installationExterior and security lightingMotion-sensor and landscape lighting | Homeowners upgrading interior lighting or adding outdoor security and accent lighting | Exterior lighting runs in Wisconsin need weatherproof boxes and correct conduit or burial depth. We confirm the right approach for each location. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Pre-purchase and rental-compliance inspectionsPanel and wiring assessmentCode-violation identification | Buyers, landlords, and property managers preparing for a sale, rental, or code inspection | We document what we find and explain what needs attention, so you know exactly what the follow-up work involves before committing to it. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runsKnob-and-tube and aluminum wiring remediationWhole-room and whole-home rewiring | Older homes with outdated wiring or any space that needs new circuits added | Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch-circuit wiring both present real concerns under modern electrical loads. We can describe the scope of remediation on the call. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan-rated box installationNew circuit runs where neededSwitch and wiring matching | Rooms without existing fan wiring or homes upgrading from a light fixture to a fan | Not every existing ceiling box is rated to hold a fan. We check the box before anything goes up and replace it if needed. |
What causes an outlet or switch to stop working suddenly?
The most common cause is a GFCI outlet elsewhere on the same circuit that tripped and cut power downstream. Pressing the reset button on the right outlet often brings it back. If that does not work, the fault is usually a failed device, a loose connection at the box, or a wiring problem on that circuit. We trace the circuit, test the device and the wiring, and tell you what we found before any repair starts.
What does it mean when lights dim when an appliance turns on?
Dimming at startup usually means a large appliance is drawing a surge of current that the circuit or the panel is struggling to deliver cleanly. It is common when a refrigerator compressor or a well pump kicks on. Occasional dimming is often harmless, but if it is happening frequently or the lights dim noticeably, it is worth having the panel and the circuit capacity looked at. We can describe what a diagnostic visit covers when you call.
Is aluminum wiring in an older home a problem?
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring was common in homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, and it does present real concerns. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, which can loosen connections over time and create heat at outlets and switches. The fix is not always a full rewire. In many cases, approved remediation at each device is enough to address the risk. We can walk through what the options look like when you call and describe the home.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We identify the source of the problem before recommending a repair. If the fault is at the device, the wiring, or the panel, we tell you which one and why before any work begins.
How does GFCI protection work, and where is it required?
A GFCI outlet monitors the current flowing through a circuit and trips almost instantly if it detects an imbalance, which is what happens when current finds a path to ground through a person. Code requires GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, and near any water source. If your home was built before those requirements were in place, the outlets in those areas may not be protected. We check what is in place and install GFCI protection where it is needed.
What is involved in adding a circuit for a workshop or garage?
A dedicated circuit for a workshop or garage starts with the panel. We check whether there is capacity for the new circuit, size the breaker and wire for the load you plan to run, and run the circuit from the panel to the new location. If the panel is full or the service capacity is already near its limit, we talk through whether a subpanel or a service upgrade makes more sense before we start. You get that assessment on the call before anything is scheduled.
What should I know about EV charger installation before I call?
A Level 2 EV charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and the first question is whether the panel has the capacity to support it alongside everything else the home is running. We do that load calculation before the charger circuit is sized. If the panel needs an upgrade first, we handle both. The charger circuit itself is straightforward once the capacity side is settled. Call and describe the panel and the charger you are planning to install, and we will tell you what the visit would cover.
Permits and Inspection Handled Where Required
Panel replacements, service upgrades, and certain circuit installations require a permit in Dane County. We pull it, schedule the inspection, and handle that process as part of the job.
Why does surge protection matter for a Wisconsin home?
Dane County winters bring ice storms, high winds, and utility fluctuations that can send voltage spikes through the service entrance. A single event can damage appliances, electronics, and HVAC equipment across the home. A panel-mounted surge suppressor catches those spikes before they reach the circuits. It is a one-time installation that covers everything connected to the service, and it is worth adding whenever the panel is open for another job.
How do I know if my home is ready for added electrical load?
The clearest signs that a home is at or near its capacity limit are breakers that trip under combined loads, no open slots in the panel, and lights that dim when large appliances start. A 100-amp service that was sized for a smaller household may not be able to carry a modern kitchen, a home office, and an EV charger without problems. We do a load calculation on the visit and tell you whether the existing service can support what you are planning before any work is proposed.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
Whether the home has knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, or a modern panel that needs more capacity, we work through the details on the call and explain what the job involves before we schedule.
What is a transfer switch, and why does a generator need one?
A transfer switch disconnects the home from the utility line before the generator is connected to the panel. Without it, power from the generator can feed back into the utility line, which is a serious hazard for utility workers restoring power. It is also required by code. We wire the transfer switch, connect it to the panel, and confirm the load it is designed to carry. Whether the setup is for a standby unit or a portable generator with a manual switch, the transfer switch is the part that has to be done correctly.
How does grounding and bonding affect safety in an older home?
Grounding gives fault current a safe path back to the panel so a breaker can trip and clear the fault. Bonding ties metal components together so they stay at the same electrical potential, which prevents a shock hazard if something faults. Older homes were sometimes wired without a ground conductor in the branch circuits, which affects both safety and the ability to use three-prong outlets correctly. We check what is in place during a safety inspection and explain what the options are for addressing any gaps.
How do I get a price before committing to the work?
Call and describe what you are seeing or what you want added. We go through the job on the phone, explain what the visit covers, and give you the price before anything is scheduled. No-pressure estimates, priced up front. If the job turns out to involve more than what was described on the call, we tell you before we proceed, not after.
Call (608) 593-5149 any day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM to describe the job, get a straight answer on what the visit covers, and confirm the price before anything is scheduled.
(608) 593-5149