Frontline Electrical Services

I received a call to set up an appointment quickly after I emailed the company for an estimate. Meeting with Gary was fine and we discussed what I wanted to have done, which was to add an extra plug on a separate breaker, which he said wasn't any trouble. The main job was to replace a very old main breaker for the house, which he said was too old and had to be replaced with a completely new panel. The estimate came in quite a bit higher than expected, but we knew it was going to be higher because a permit was required. On the day of the job I cleared a space for the new panel and the new switch. The main worker came and was great to work with. He said they could run the new plug off the main panel and not the sub panel, which was closer and fine, whatever was easier. There was an existing plug in that position, and I said why don't you move it up and put the new one underneath it and there will be two plugs on two circuits. I wasn't too happy that they had to run a ground wire through the garage, through the side of the house, mounting this ugly copper wire to the front of my house to the water main. I wish Gary had mentioned this on the estimate and not on the day of installation. I understand it is an older house, and having the new panel being grounded is important, but they didn't explain any requirements. They also hammered two rods into the ground right where we store our trash cans. These grounding rods stick up about an inch and we trip over them and can't easily store our cans there anymore. After they removed the old panel, they pointed out that the wire from the street that PG&E provides is old and cracked and needs to be replaced. They said it is an easy fix and told us to just call PG&E to have them come out and replace it. Later that afternoon the second employee had the plug with multiple wires into one socket. I asked what are you doing, there should be two plugs on two circuits. I noticed he wasn't wearing his face mask any longer, and I had to ask him to wear a mask working in the garage with me during COVID. After he went to his van for his mask, he then had to move the original plug and rewire the new plug. Near the end of the job I noticed they were filling in with stucco around the new panel. I thought they would have a metal trim plate to cover the joint on the new panel, but no they were filling and shaping the stucco, which looks terrible. I didn't realize I would have to repaint the side of my house and paint over the ugly ground wire. Their contract SPECIFICALLY says they do no stucco repair and give names and numbers of repair people. I tried talking to him about this stucco patch, but he said they always stucco around new panels on a stucco house. The following day I called PG&E to replace the wire from the house to the telephone pole as they recommended. This opened a HUGE cans of worms. According to PG&E, the electrical contractor company is supposed to coordinate with PG&E so that PG&E is on site to remove and replace the wires from the house to the street. I had to answer many, many questions and was asked for details about the installation which of course I didn’t know the answers to. PG&E had to call the electrical company to get details about the panel they installed. PG&E, while still on the phone, told me they informed the company they are not allowed to cut and reattach the power from the house, that PG&E must do this. The company stated they have never heard of this policy and out of convenience they will remove the power and reattach temporary connectors. Later the owner stated that they have no knowledge of this policy and they always do it, and that PG&E has never called their company. I also had to submit five photos of the completed work to PG&E before they would even CONSIDER coming out to possibly replacing the wire. Even when PG&E came back a month later, they would not at first install permanent connections. I had to convince them that the panel had passed inspection, and the inspector was returning for a final inspection after they (PG&E) did their work. PG&E begrudgingly made the connections. All of this would have not been an issue if they had contracted through PG&E to remove and reattach the main power. The city inspector had to come out twice to approve the issues with the installation. I had to spend multiple hours trying to get this job finished, and when I questioned the company about the final bill, they threatened multiple times to put a lien on our house. I know this company has lots of 5-star reviews, but unfortunately, I did not have that experience. The owner kept saying over and over, in his 28 years of experience, I am the only customer that has had these issues. I find it hard to believe that I am just that unlucky.

After we were scared into thinking we needed to fully upgrade our main electrical panel, we contacted Frontline for a second opinion and estimate. Gary came to our house and was knowledgeable, honest and extremely helpful. He gave us pointers on how to easily fix our issue and reassured us that there was nothing wrong with our panel (despite the scare tactics we had from our first electrician - see my review for VC Electrics). I appreciated that he explained everything to me in such a way that he wanted to make sure I understood what was really going on. On top of that, he didn't have a problem saying it all again when my husband arrived a few minutes later. Gary also offered to quote us on some upgrades that we might want to look in to but I liked that he was not a pushy salesman about it. If we do later need those upgrades or have another electrical issue,?Frontline is at the top of my list for go to electricians!

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