From older homes to new commercial builds, we have worked on just about every type of property this area has to offer. Regan Electric was founded in 1949 by a Portsmouth tradesman who believed that honest work and fair dealing were the foundation of any lasting business. That philosophy has carried through every decade since. What started as a small local operation has grown into one of the most recognized names for electrical work along the Seacoast, serving homeowners in Portsmouth's oldest neighborhoods, property managers overseeing multi-unit buildings, business owners renovating commercial spaces, and contractors who need a reliable electrical crew on new construction.
The work is performed by licensed electricians who take their trade seriously and treat every home and building with care. We serve Portsmouth directly and reach throughout Rockingham County, including the towns and communities that make up the broader Seacoast region. If you are looking to find an electrician you can trust for hire, one who knows this area and stands behind the work, you have found the right crew. Experienced electricians who respect your home show up on time, explain what they find, and leave the job site clean.
Most homeowners can't tell a minor wiring issue from a serious one, and that uncertainty is exactly why having a dependable electrician matters. We handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical work, from straightforward repairs to complete rewiring projects and service upgrades. Whether the call comes in for a single dead outlet or a panel that has been throwing breakers for months, we diagnose the problem accurately and fix it correctly. The wiring done right the first time saves you money and keeps your home safe. We'll sort the wiring and clean up after.
Dead outlets, flickering lights, and a circuit breaker that keeps tripping are among the most common calls we receive. Each of those symptoms can point to different underlying causes, and getting the diagnosis right is the first step. On a service visit, we walk through the affected area, test circuits, and use proper troubleshooting and diagnostics to identify the root issue rather than just treating the symptom. We also inspect for arc-fault and ground-fault breaker conditions that can create fire or shock hazards. If your outlet stopped working or your lights dim every time the refrigerator kicks on, those are signs worth having checked out.
Portsmouth has a significant amount of older housing stock, and many of those homes are running on panels that were sized for a fraction of today's electrical load. If your breaker box is original to the house, if you are adding a major appliance or an EV charger, or if your panel is a brand that has known reliability issues, a panel upgrade is worth discussing. We handle full breaker box replacements, 200-amp service upgrades, service-entrance and meter upgrades, and subpanel installation where a second panel makes more sense than running long circuits from the main. Load calculations are part of the process so the new panel is sized correctly for your actual needs.
Adding outlets, replacing worn receptacles, or upgrading to GFCI and AFCI protection are jobs we handle regularly. GFCI outlets are required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations under current code, and many older Portsmouth homes still have standard outlets in those spots. We also install dimmer switches, USB outlets, and smart-switch wiring for homeowners who want more control and convenience. Every installation is done to code so you are not left with a problem during a future home inspection.
Knob-and-tube wiring and aluminum wiring are common in the older homes throughout Portsmouth and the surrounding Seacoast communities. Both present real safety concerns and can create problems with insurance coverage. We perform whole-home rewiring projects, knob-and-tube replacement, and aluminum-wiring remediation to bring older homes up to current standards. Proper grounding and bonding are part of every rewiring job. If you have been told your home has old wiring and you are not sure what to do next, a conversation with our team is a good starting point.
New lighting changes how a home feels and functions. We install recessed and LED lighting throughout living spaces, kitchens, and hallways, and we handle under-cabinet lighting for homeowners who want better task lighting in the kitchen. Outdoors, we wire security lighting, motion-sensor fixtures, and landscape lighting that extends how you use your yard after dark. Ceiling fan installation is one of our most requested jobs, whether you are replacing an old fixture or adding a fan to a room that has never had one. We run the wiring, mount the fixture, and make sure everything is properly connected and controlled. We'll make the fix and leave it tidy.
Portsmouth winters are serious. Ice storms knock out power for hours at a time, older homes were never built with today's electrical demands in mind, and EV adoption along the Seacoast has grown faster than many homeowners expected. The two services below come up constantly for Portsmouth residents, and we have handled enough of them to do the work efficiently and correctly.
A Level 2 home EV charging station cuts charging time dramatically compared to a standard outlet, but it requires a dedicated circuit and, in many cases, a panel assessment before the install. Older Portsmouth homes often do not have the available capacity without some panel work first. We evaluate your current setup, handle the load calculations, run the dedicated circuit, and install the charger so it is ready to use. Whether you have one vehicle or two, we can design the right solution for your garage or driveway.
New Hampshire winters bring ice storms and extended outages that leave families without heat, light, or refrigeration for days at a time. A properly wired backup generator changes that. We install transfer switches, wire standby generators, and set up whole-home hookups that bring power back automatically when the grid goes down. We offer prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls, so if you need a generator wired before the next storm moves in, call us and we will get it scheduled.
Property managers, business owners, and contractors rely on us for commercial electrical work that gets done on schedule and without surprises. We handle commercial repair calls, electrical rough-in for new construction, renovation wiring, and projects like basement finishing, garage wiring, and dedicated circuit installation for commercial equipment. If you are a contractor who needs a consistent electrical crew, or a property manager dealing with an urgent repair across multiple units, we are set up to handle that volume. We also wire dedicated appliance circuits, install whole-home surge protection, and perform electrical safety inspections for property owners who want a clear picture of where their building stands. We'll have your outlets working again in no time.
Scheduling a service call is simple, and we work to make availability as easy as possible. We offer same-day scheduling for repairs and urgent work, and we are available for weekend and after-hours calls when the situation does not allow for waiting. Electrical problems rarely arrive at a convenient time, and we do not think you should have to leave a tripping breaker or a dead circuit unaddressed until Monday. Call us, describe what you are seeing, and we will get someone out as quickly as we can.
Schedule it. We wire it. You're powered.
Electrical pricing varies based on the scope of the job, the materials involved, and what we find once we are on site. What does not vary is our commitment to explaining costs clearly before work begins. We walk you through what the job involves, what it will cost, and whether there are any variables that could affect the final number. There are no surprise charges added after the fact. Call us for a quote on any job, whether it is a simple outlet repair, a panel upgrade, or an EV charger installation. An electrical safety inspection is also worth scheduling if you have moved into an older home and want to know exactly what you are working with. We'll have your outlets working again in no time.
We are based in Portsmouth and serve the full Seacoast region of Rockingham County. Our service area includes the communities that surround Portsmouth, and we regularly work in:
If you are in Portsmouth or a nearby town and need an electrician, give us a call and we will confirm we can get to you.
We have been handling electrical work in Portsmouth and the surrounding Rockingham County communities since 1949. That is 77 years of showing up for homeowners, landlords, property managers, and commercial clients across the Seacoast.
Yes. Portsmouth and the surrounding area have a significant amount of older and historic housing stock, including homes with knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, and undersized fuse panels. Our electricians have worked on these homes for decades and understand the specific challenges of updating an older structure safely and correctly.
We serve customers throughout Rockingham County. Our regular service area includes Newington, Greenland, Rye, New Castle, Stratham, Exeter, Hampton, and North Hampton. If you are in the Seacoast area and are not sure whether we cover your location, give us a call.
If something is not right after we have finished a job, call us and we will come back and look at it. We stand behind the work our electricians perform, and we do not consider a job done until it is working correctly.
When a permit is required, we pull it and schedule the inspection. Code-compliant wiring, grounding, and bonding are part of every job we do, and we handle the permit process so the work is on record and inspected properly.
We aim to respond to every call the same day. For urgent repairs and safety concerns, we work to get someone out as quickly as possible, including same-day and after-hours response when the situation calls for it.
The work is performed by licensed electricians who take the trade seriously, treat every home and building with care, and explain what they find before starting. We have been doing this work in Portsmouth since 1949, and the experience that comes with that history shows in how we approach every job.
We stand behind the work our electricians perform on every job. If a problem arises with work we completed, call us and we will make it right. Honest work and fair dealing have been the foundation of how we operate since we started.
Scheduling a service call is simple. Regan Electric has been wiring Portsmouth homes and businesses since 1949, and 77 years of local experience means we have seen just about every electrical situation this area presents. Residential or commercial, routine or urgent, we are ready to help. Call (603) 556-8248 to get a quote or schedule a visit.
Good workmanship. Good pricing. Good electricians.
We handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical work in Portsmouth and across Rockingham County. From a single dead outlet to a whole-home rewiring or panel upgrade, our licensed electricians diagnose the problem, do the work to code, and leave the space clean. The table below covers every service we offer so you can find what you need and give us a call.
| Service Type | What It Covers | Common Situations | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | 240-volt outlet installationdryer and range circuitsrefrigerator and dishwasher circuits | anyone adding a major appliance or moving one to a new location | Sharing a circuit for a high-draw appliance causes nuisance trips and can create a hazard over time. |
| Well-Pump Circuits | dedicated pump circuit installation240-volt well circuit wiringpanel capacity check | properties on private wells that need a new or upgraded circuit for the pump | Well pumps draw significant startup current. We size the circuit and breaker correctly for the pump's load. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | breaker replacementfuse box assessmentrepeated trip diagnosis | homes where a breaker keeps tripping or a fuse box has never been updated | A breaker that trips repeatedly often signals an overloaded or faulted circuit, not just a weak breaker. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | whole-panel surge device installationgrounding and bonding checkprotection for appliances and electronics | any home with sensitive electronics, smart appliances, or equipment worth protecting from utility voltage spikes | Surge protection installed at the panel guards every circuit in the home, not just the outlets with plug-in strips. |
| Lighting Installation | recessed lightingpendant and chandelier fixturesoutdoor and security lightingunder-cabinet lighting | homeowners upgrading interior lighting or adding exterior security and landscape lights | Outdoor fixtures in coastal climates need proper weatherproofing. We select and install fixtures rated for the exposure. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | panel and wiring assessmentoutlet and grounding checkGFCI and AFCI verificationsmoke and CO detector review | buyers of older homes, landlords, and anyone who has not had their system assessed in years | We report what we find without padding the list. If something needs attention, we tell you what it is and what it will take to fix it. |
| Backup Generator Installation | transfer switch installationdedicated generator circuitstandby and portable hookups | Portsmouth homeowners who want power during nor'easters and winter outages | A transfer switch is required by code and keeps the generator from back-feeding the utility line. We install every system to that standard. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outletsUSB outletsweatherproof exterior outletsswitch replacement | kitchens, bathrooms, garages, decks, and any room needing updated or added receptacles | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor locations. We install to current standards. |
| Heat Tape Installation | dedicated circuit for heat tapecorrect outlet or connection pointpanel load assessment | homes with exposed pipes, roof edges, or exterior surfaces prone to ice damage in New Hampshire winters | Heat tape draws a steady load. We confirm your panel can handle it before we wire the circuit. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | fan and fixture replacementnew wiring runsbox and brace installation | any room where no existing fan box is in place or an old fan needs replacing | Installing a fan where no wiring exists requires a new circuit run. We handle that as part of the same visit when possible. |
| Wiring & Rewiring | whole-home rewiringknob-and-tube remediationaluminum wiring correctionrenovation wiring | older Portsmouth homes with outdated wiring or homeowners adding square footage | Portsmouth has a lot of pre-1960 housing stock. Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch wiring are common and worth a professional assessment. |
| Electrical Panel & Service UpgradesMost Popular | 200-amp service upgradessubpanel installationload calculationsservice-entrance work | homes running out of capacity for modern appliances, EV chargers, or heating loads | A 100-amp panel is often undersized for today's demands. A 200-amp upgrade gives you room to add circuits without overloading the system. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | flickering lightsdead outletstripping breakerswiring diagnostics | any home or business with an electrical problem that needs a fast, accurate fix | We diagnose the root cause, not just the symptom, so the same problem does not come back. |
How do I know if my home needs a panel or service upgrade?
Common signs include breakers that trip regularly under normal use, a panel that feels warm or makes buzzing sounds, a 100-amp service with a full house of modern appliances, or no room to add circuits for an EV charger or new appliance. We perform a load calculation during the estimate visit so you get a clear answer before any work begins.
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly?
Repeated tripping usually points to one of three things: a circuit that is carrying more load than it was sized for, a failing breaker that no longer holds its rated current, or a fault in the wiring or a connected device. We trace the cause before recommending a fix, because replacing a breaker without finding the underlying issue often just delays the problem.
Is the electrical work permitted and inspected?
Work that requires a permit under the New Hampshire electrical code is pulled and inspected. Our electricians work to current code requirements on every job, including GFCI and AFCI protection where required. If you have questions about whether a specific job needs a permit, ask us when you call and we will walk you through it.
Same-Day and Emergency Availability
We offer same-day scheduling for repairs and urgent electrical work, and we take calls for after-hours and weekend service when the situation calls for it. Prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls, is something we take seriously.
Is the wiring in my older Portsmouth home safe?
It depends on what is there and what condition it is in. Homes built before the 1970s may have knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, or panels that were never updated. These are not automatic emergencies, but they do warrant a professional look. We assess what is present, explain the risks honestly, and tell you what needs attention versus what can wait.
What does a home EV charger installation involve?
A Level 2 home charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, typically a 50-amp run from your panel to the garage or driveway location. We assess your panel capacity first. If the panel is already near its limit, we discuss an upgrade as part of the same project. We handle the circuit, the outlet or hardwired connection, and any panel work needed to support the added load.
How does backup generator hookup work, and what do I need?
A proper generator installation includes a transfer switch, which is the device that safely connects the generator to your home's circuits and prevents back-feeding the utility line. We size the transfer switch and wiring to match your generator and the circuits you want protected. Whether you are installing a standby unit that starts automatically or a hookup for a portable generator, we handle the full electrical scope.
Experienced With Older and Newer Homes
Portsmouth's housing stock spans more than a century, and we work in all of it. Whether the home has knob-and-tube wiring or a modern panel with room to grow, our electricians know what they are looking at and how to bring the work up to current standards.
Do I need to be home when the electrician arrives?
For most jobs, yes. We need access to the panel, the affected circuits, and the work areas, and we will walk through what we find with you before starting. If your situation makes that difficult, call us and we will talk through what is workable for your specific job.
How do estimates and pricing work?
Call us and describe the job. We will talk through what is involved and give you a clear estimate before any work begins. Scope and materials drive the cost more than square footage alone. If we open a wall or a panel and find something unexpected, we tell you what it is and what it will cost to address before we proceed.
Code-Compliant Work on Every Job
Every job our electricians perform follows current New Hampshire electrical code requirements, including GFCI and AFCI protection where required and proper permitting for work that demands it. We do not cut corners on code, because the inspection is there to protect you.
What do flickering or dimming lights usually mean?
Occasional flicker when a large appliance kicks on is often a normal load response, but persistent flickering, dimming across multiple rooms, or lights that flicker without any obvious cause can point to a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a problem at the panel. These are worth having looked at rather than ignored, because loose connections in particular can become a fire risk over time.
Should I be concerned about warm or buzzing outlets?
Yes. A warm outlet or one that buzzes or crackles is not normal. It can indicate a loose or deteriorated connection, a circuit that is overloaded, or wiring that needs attention. Do not continue using an outlet that feels warm to the touch or makes noise. Call us and we will get someone out to take a look.
What is whole-home surge protection, and is it worth it?
A whole-home surge protector installs at the main panel and guards every circuit in the house against voltage spikes that come through the utility line. Spikes from grid switching and nearby lightning strikes can damage appliances, electronics, and even wiring over time. For a home with smart appliances, a home office, or any equipment worth protecting, it is a practical investment. We include proper grounding and bonding checks as part of every surge protection installation.
Every electrical job is different, and the best way to get an accurate answer for yours is to call us directly. We will talk through what you need, explain what the work involves, and give you a clear estimate before anything starts.
(603) 556-8248