Licensed Electrician Serving Roseland, Chicago
Roseland is one of Chicago's older neighborhoods, with a housing stock heavy on classic two- and three-flats. Older multi-unit buildings often need separate metering, panel upgrades, or rewiring between units — work that has to be done carefully to keep every unit's power live and safe.
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Wiring in Roseland's two- and three-flats
Many Roseland two- and three-flats were built with one small service feeding the whole building, and later owners split things up as best they could. We often find units sharing circuits, hallway and basement lights tied into one tenant's panel, and meters crowded onto an old service. Untangling that means tracing every circuit back to where it really starts, then giving each unit its own panel and meter and putting the common-area lighting on a separate house circuit.
Most of the calls we get from Roseland building owners are about keeping tenants happy and the building safe at the same time. Before we pull a meter or shut off a feeder, we plan the shutdown, tell you how long each unit will be without power, and schedule it so nobody comes home to a dark apartment. Service and meter changes are coordinated with ComEd, and Peter is on site for every step, from the first walk-through to the inspection.
Popular projects in Roseland
The jobs we're called for most often here.
Separate panels and meters
Giving each unit in a two- or three-flat its own panel and meter, so tenants pay for their own use and an overload in one unit can't knock out power to the others.
Tracing shared circuits
Finding out why a breaker in one apartment shuts off the lights in another, then separating the circuits so each unit's wiring stays inside its own panel.
Rewiring between units
Replacing worn original wiring in the walls and floors between units, often done one apartment at a time so the rest of the building keeps running normally.
Services
From quick fixes to full remodel wiring — here’s what EMT Electric handles.
Troubleshooting
- Troubleshoot & repair partial power
- Identify shorts, overloads, & failures
Fans & Ventilation
- Ceiling fans
- Attic fans & bathroom exhaust fans
Switches & Outlets
- Dimmers, 3-way, 4-way, timers
- Receptacles / GFCI replacements
Dedicated Circuits
- Dryer, AC unit, furnace, baseboard heaters
- Washer, microwave, oven, etc.
- Dishwasher & disposal power
Outdoor & Low Voltage
- Security/pole/landscape lights
- Photocells, motion sensors
- Doorbells & cable
Permits and inspections in Roseland
Roseland is inside the City of Chicago, so every job follows the Chicago Electrical Code, which is stricter than what most suburbs use. Wiring is run in metal conduit (EMT) instead of plastic-sheathed cable, and permits go through the Chicago Department of Buildings. On multi-unit buildings, EMT Electric pulls the permit, coordinates any service or meter change with ComEd, and meets the city inspector so the work is signed off properly.
Roseland electrical questions
Can each apartment in my two-flat get its own electric meter?
In most cases, yes. It usually means a new meter stack or separate meter sockets, a panel for each unit, and rerouting circuits so each unit's wiring feeds only from its own panel. The work needs a Chicago permit and has to be coordinated with ComEd. We look at the building first and give you a firm quote before anything starts.
Will my tenants lose power while you do the work?
Some shutdown is unavoidable when meters or the main service are changed, but we keep it as short as we can. We plan the work ahead of time, tell you how long each unit will be off, and schedule the cutover so you can give tenants notice. Most circuit and panel work can be done one unit at a time.
Why are the hallway lights on one tenant's meter?
It's common in older Roseland buildings. At some point the common-area lights, basement outlets, or a boiler circuit got tied into whichever panel was closest, so one tenant ends up paying for the building's power. We can trace those circuits and move them to a separate house panel on the owner's meter, so the bills make sense.
Why Roseland Homeowners Choose EMT Electric
EMT Electric is owner-operated, and Peter is on every Roseland job himself, with no subcontractors. Building owners get a free, firm quote, a same-day call back, and someone who knows how to work in an occupied two- or three-flat.
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Nearby areas we serve
We work across the neighborhoods and towns around Roseland, out of our base in Oak Lawn.