Panel Upgrades in Logan Square, Chicago
The greystones along Logan, Kedzie, and Palmer boulevards were built between 1900 and 1930, and most still carry their original electrical configuration: a single undersized main (60A to 100A) feeding three flats stacked vertically, with knob-and-tube circuits behind the plaster and a meter room that might house one, two, or three ComEd meters depending on what a 1960s landlord paid to install. Modern buyers of these buildings face a multi-layered electrical problem: the main service is too small for a single modern household, let alone three; each flat needs its own properly metered panel; and the branch wiring throughout is a mix of cloth-insulated, knob-and-tube, and aluminum.
The ADU boom adds a second pressure. Chicago's 2020 ordinance legalized additional dwelling units in coach houses and basements, and Logan Square is one of the top ADU-conversion neighborhoods in the city. A legal ADU needs its own independent electrical service — a new sub-panel at minimum, often a new meter from ComEd, and sometimes a full service upgrade to the primary building just to free up capacity.
Our Panel Upgrade Process in Logan Square
For a typical greystone two-flat we start with a load calc for each unit plus common areas, then determine whether the ComEd drop needs to be upgraded (usually yes if going from 100A to 200A per unit). We separate the metering so each unit has its own panel and meter, which often means expanding or relocating the meter bank on the alley-facing wall. For buildings in the Logan Square Boulevards District — a Chicago landmark district — we submit any visible exterior changes for landmark review.
For ADU conversions we coordinate closely with the general contractor. A coach house conversion off the alley behind Richmond or Spaulding usually requires a separate service drop from ComEd, a new meter, and a panel sized for the ADU load (typically 100A). Basement ADU conversions often add a sub-panel fed from a newly upgraded building main. We handle the permit through the Chicago Department of Buildings and the ADU inspection.
Common Panel Issues in Logan Square
- Single undersized main serving three-flat buildings — One 100A panel feeding three units with modern appliances.
- Unmetered or mis-metered units — Common in conversions where the metering configuration was never updated after a unit split.
- Original knob-and-tube in greystones — Still active in many buildings along Palmer Square and the Kedzie boulevard.
- ADU sub-panel and separate service requirements — Coach houses and basement ADUs need independent service to be legal.
- Landmark district exterior-work review — Meter bank placement on greystone facades often requires Landmarks approval.
Why Logan Square Residents Choose E&P Electric
We hold a Supervising Electrician License and have worked greystones on every major Logan Square boulevard. We know how to fish wire through the thick masonry common walls that separate greystone units, how to relocate a meter bank without damaging the limestone facade, and how to navigate ADU permitting with the Chicago Department of Buildings. Our crews are comfortable on multi-unit buildings — we communicate with tenants, stage work to minimize outages, and leave the building in move-in condition.
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