A commercial space can look ready to move into and still be thousands of dollars away from powering your business. Twenty minutes with the electrical room before you sign can change the negotiation.
1. Service size and type
Find the main disconnect. What is its amperage? Is the service single-phase or three-phase? Restaurants, shops with machinery and anything with large HVAC equipment often need three-phase power. Bringing in a new service is slow and expensive.
2. Panel space and condition
Open spaces in the panel, clear labeling and no signs of heat are good news. Full panels, mystery circuits and obsolete equipment are items for the landlord's to-do list. See electrical panel upgrades.
3. Power where you need it
Walk your layout. Where will workstations, registers, kitchen equipment or machines sit? Count existing outlets and dedicated circuits against what you need.
4. Lighting
Old fluorescent or metal-halide fixtures cost more to run and maintain. California's energy code also triggers lighting control requirements when lighting is altered. An LED retrofit is often worth negotiating up front. See lighting installation.
5. Life safety
Exit signs and emergency lights should work on battery. Test them. Ask when they were last inspected.
6. Evidence of amateur work
Extension cords used as permanent wiring, open junction boxes above the ceiling tiles and unlabeled disconnects suggest corrections ahead.
7. Who pays for what
Get clarity in the lease on who is responsible for service upgrades, panel replacement and code corrections found during your build-out.
Get it looked at
An electrical inspection before signing costs little compared with a surprise upgrade. Once the lease is settled, a commercial electrician can plan the tenant improvement, permits and schedule around your opening date, including EV charging for staff or customers if you need it.