Tehachapi isn’t the desert floor. Winters are colder, snow falls some years, and the wind that turns the turbines on the pass also knocks out power. Around the city are the mountain communities of Golden Hills, Bear Valley Springs and Stallion Springs, many on larger lots with a shop, a barn or a well.
That makes backup power and outbuilding power common jobs up here. A standby generator with a proper transfer switch, a subpanel in the shop, lighting along a long driveway. Our job photos include a standby generator with its transfer switch wired in.
Common jobs in Tehachapi
- Standby generators and transfer switches
- Shop, barn and shed subpanels
- Outdoor and driveway lighting
- Panel upgrades
- Troubleshooting after storms
Tehachapi questions
Can I plug my portable generator into a wall outlet during an outage?
No. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or the dryer receptacle. It can send power back onto the utility lines and injure line workers, and it can damage your home. The safe ways are extension cords to individual appliances or a transfer switch or interlock installed by an electrician.
Do you install standby generators in Tehachapi?
Yes. Our job photos include a standby generator on a pad with an automatic transfer switch. We’ll talk through which circuits you want backed up and what that means for the generator size.
Who handles permits in Golden Hills or Bear Valley Springs?
Those communities are unincorporated, so Kern County handles electrical permits and inspections. Inside Tehachapi city limits, it’s the city.
Safety
If something’s wrong right now.
Sparks, smoke, a burning smell or a hot panel? Turn off the breaker or the main if you can do it safely, then call (323) 942-2199. If there’s fire or smoke, get everyone out and call 911. Stay clear of downed lines and call Southern California Edison.