Olde Town to the foothills
Arvada is really three or four cities in one. Around Olde Town and along Ralston Road are the oldest homes, some of them from the early 1900s, with wiring that has been added onto by every owner since. The big middle of the city, between Wadsworth and Kipling, is ranch and split-level homes from the 1950s through the 1970s. Out west toward the foothills, Ralston Valley, Leyden Rock and Candelas are much newer.
Each era brings its own work. Older homes need outlets grounded or GFCI-protected and circuits added for a modern kitchen. The mid-century homes are where we most often meet tired panels, overloaded circuits and the occasional run of aluminum branch wiring from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The newer homes call for lighting upgrades, ceiling fans and a 240-volt circuit for an EV in the garage.
Utility, permits and weather
Xcel Energy serves almost all of Arvada. An outage on the street, the meter or the service drop is Xcel’s to fix; everything from the meter base inward is ours. Arvada runs its own building division, so permitted electrical work here is permitted and inspected through the City of Arvada.
The weather is part of the job. Summer storms bring hail and lightning, and a surge that takes out a furnace board or a garage door opener is common after a strong cell rolls through. West Arvada also catches the strong downslope winds off the foothills, which is hard on service masts and outdoor fixtures.
Arvada questions
Asked in Arvada.
Straight answers for Arvada homeowners. More in our full electrical Q&A.
Is Sonshine Electric actually based in Arvada?
Yes. Sonshine Electric, LLC was founded in Arvada in 2004 by Arlyn Mund and is registered in Arvada (80004). Arvada is our home area, and we work across the rest of the northwest Denver metro.
Who issues electrical permits in Arvada?
The City of Arvada’s building division handles building and electrical permits and inspections for addresses inside city limits. If your address is in unincorporated Jefferson or Adams County, the county handles it instead. A licensed electrical contractor normally pulls the permit for you.
My Arvada house was built in the 1960s or ’70s. What should I have checked?
Have the panel, the branch wiring and the outlets in wet areas looked at. Homes from that era can have panel brands with a poor safety record, a few runs of aluminum branch wiring, two-prong outlets and kitchens with too few circuits for today’s appliances.
None of that means the house is unsafe, but it is worth knowing. An inspection tells you what you have and what, if anything, needs attention first.
The power is out on my Arvada street. Should I call you?
Call Xcel Energy first; the outage line is on your bill and on Xcel’s website. If the neighbors have power and part or all of your house is dark, the problem is likely inside your system, and that is when you call us.
If you smell burning, see sparks or the panel feels hot, turn off the main breaker if you can do it safely and stay away from it. For fire or smoke, get out and call 911.