ASL
Your local electrician in Lake Forest
Lake Forest is home for ASL Electric. Our shop is on Lake Forest Drive, so when you call from Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch or Portola Hills, the electrician and the parts are usually just minutes away. That matters most in an emergency, but it also means easy scheduling for everyday jobs like a tripping breaker, a dead outlet or a new light fixture.
The city has a layered history. It was known as El Toro until it incorporated on December 20, 1991, and its first tracts date to the late 1960s. Most neighborhoods were built during the growth of the 1980s and 1990s, and Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills were annexed in 2000. Each era brings its own electrical needs, from older panels and breakers in El Toro era homes to EV chargers and smart lighting in newer tracts. Today about 86,000 people live in Lake Forest, and we have been serving them since 2002.
Lake Forest at a glance
- Electric utility
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Permits issued by
- City of Lake Forest Building Division
- Homes and buildings
- Homes from the late 1960s El Toro era, major growth in the 1980s and 1990s, and newer homes in Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills
- Neighborhoods we serve
- Lake Forest Lake 1 and Lake 2 communities, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Heritage Hill area, neighborhoods near Whiting Ranch and the Lake Forest Sports Park
Common electrical issues in Lake Forest
Breaker and service upgrades are the most searched electrical job in Lake Forest, and for good reason. Many homes still run on their original panels and electrical services, sized for the appliances of their time. Add an EV charger, a heat pump, an induction range or a remodeled kitchen and an older panel can run out of capacity or spaces. We also handle AFCI breakers that trip without an obvious cause, outlets that stop working, doorbell transformers, and kitchen lighting renovations alongside local remodelers.
- Breakers that trip often or will not reset
- Older panels that are full or near capacity
- AFCI breakers tripping without an obvious cause
- Dead outlets or a whole room without power
- No capacity for an EV charger or heat pump
- Flickering or dimming lights
- Doorbell transformers and chimes that stopped working
- Dated kitchen and living room lighting
Electrical services Lake Forest homeowners ask for
Panel and breaker upgrades›
Replacing older panels and breakers and upgrading services for EVs, heat pumps and remodels, with the City permit and SCE coordination.
Electrical repair›
Tripping breakers, AFCI troubleshooting, dead outlets and flickering lights, diagnosed and fixed by a licensed electrician.
EV charger installation›
Level 2 chargers in Lake Forest garages, with a load calculation first so the charger fits your panel.
24/7 emergency electrician›
Burning smells, sparking outlets and outages, answered day and night from our Lake Forest shop.
Recessed and kitchen lighting›
LED recessed lighting, pendants and under-cabinet lights for remodels and lighting refreshes.
Commercial electrical›
Tenant improvements, LED retrofits and repairs for Lake Forest offices, retail and light industrial spaces.
From our Google reviews
“Upon a quick inquiry I received a response within minutes with a quick estimate but with a caveat to changes if, after inspection additional work might be needed. Appt made to my convenience and "Walter" arrived ready to work. Walter was courteous, clean, friendly and knowledgeable. Work completed with care and expertise that only a qualified electrician would do.”
“Walter was prompt and able to check our breaker that we wanted him to look at. Upon returning with the new information I gave him he was able to find the root of a different problem that needed to be fixed.”
Breaker and service upgrades in Lake Forest
A breaker upgrade and a service upgrade are different jobs. Replacing a worn or failing breaker, or adding AFCI or GFCI protection, is usually a quick repair. A panel replacement swaps the whole panel, often because it is old, full or a brand with a history of problems. A service upgrade increases the amperage coming into the home, commonly from 100 amps to 200 amps, so the house can support EV charging, heat pumps and modern kitchens.
Service upgrades in Lake Forest require a permit from the City and coordination with SCE, which must disconnect and reconnect power. After the City inspection releases the work, SCE restores service. We handle the permit, the inspection and the utility coordination, and we plan the work so you are without power for as short a time as possible.
Before recommending an upgrade, we run a load calculation. Sometimes the right answer is a full service upgrade; sometimes a new panel, a subpanel or a load management device solves the problem for less. We will explain the options and give you an upfront price for each.
EV charging in Lake Forest homes
Many Lake Forest garages were wired long before anyone thought about charging a car at home. A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240V circuit, and that circuit has to fit within the home's electrical service. We start with a load calculation, then recommend a direct install, a load managed charger or a panel upgrade, depending on what your home can support.
SCE offers EV rate plans such as TOU-D-PRIME. We can help you set your charger's schedule to match the plan you choose.
Also serving near Lake Forest
How a service call works in Lake Forest
- 1
Call or request an estimate
Call (949) 337-3177 or send a request. Our office is open Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the emergency line is answered day and night.
- 2
Diagnosis and upfront price
A licensed electrician arrives, finds the cause or reviews your project, and gives you a price before any work starts. Estimates are free.
- 3
Work done right, permits handled
We complete the work to code, pull the Lake Forest permit when one is required, schedule the inspection and clean up before we leave.
Why choose ASL Electric in Lake Forest
We are not driving in from another county. ASL Electric has been part of Lake Forest since 2002, with a shop on Lake Forest Drive, a team of licensed electricians and a fleet of 13 service vans. You get fast response, upfront pricing, permits pulled and handled, and a company that will still be around the next time you need an electrician.