LED Lighting Retrofit in Pilsen, Chicago

Residential retrofits start with a straight-talk assessment. We walk the building, map the existing fixtures and panel, and identify the scope that actually makes sense for the budget. For two-flats with 60A fuse service we often recommend the panel upgrade first, then the lighting work — doing lighting on undersized service is a bandaid that leaves the bigger problem.

Design for two-flats is practical. Kitchens get ELV-dimmed LED recessed cans, usually 4-6 per unit. Bathrooms get sealed LED vanity fixtures. Living areas keep their ceiling fixtures but pick up LED bulbs and matched dimmers. Bedrooms typically just need LED-compatible ceiling fans or simple semi-flush LED fixtures. We don't over-specify — Pilsen homeowners don't need $400 pendants from a design showroom.

Metering separation is a frequent side project. Many Pilsen two-flats have been running on a single meter for decades, which means owner-occupants are paying for their tenant's electricity. We can separate the service, add a second meter socket, and run new sub-feeders to each unit's panel — often bundled with a larger lighting and panel upgrade project.

Commercial corridor work follows commercial permit rules. Restaurants need tenant improvement permits; retail spaces need commercial electrical permits regardless of scope. We coordinate with building owners and tenants and schedule trim-out around operating hours.

• Knob-and-tube on original lighting circuits — Pre-1930 two-flats and three-flats almost all have K&T on the ceiling lighting. Chicago code and insurance require replacement during any fixture change.
• 60A fuse service that can't support modern loads — Standard Pilsen residential service is undersized for any comprehensive retrofit. Panel and service upgrades often come first.
• Shared metering between two-flat units — Common in Pilsen. Separating service involves ComEd coordination, a new meter socket, and often trenching or rerouting the service entrance.
• 18th Street commercial fluorescent troffers — Old 2x4 fluorescent troffers in retail and restaurant spaces are inefficient and expensive to maintain. LED troffer retrofits are quick and qualify for ComEd prescriptive rebates.
• Flood zone considerations near the river — Properties along the southern edge of Pilsen near the Chicago River have flood-zone requirements affecting electrical equipment placement.

Pilsen homeowners and landlords want straight talk, fair pricing, and work that passes inspection the first time. E&P Electric is a Chicago-licensed electrical contractor with a Supervising Electrician on every project, fully insured, and experienced with the neighborhood's specific mix of older residential and busy commercial work. Our written estimates are clear about what's included, what isn't, and what might surface once we open a wall.

We handle all the paperwork homeowners and business owners don't want to deal with: Chicago electrical permits, ComEd residential and commercial rebate applications, and metering separation paperwork through ComEd when service needs to be split.