Micah Electric Company provides a wide range of electrical repair, installation, and maintenance services for residential and commercial clients in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The company has the training and equipment to take on projects of every size, from basic electrical panel upgrades to complete home rewires, and it also installs lighting systems in a variety of interior and exterior applications.
Owner and second-generation electrician Micah Jackson-Sattler says much of Micah Electric Company’s success can be attributed to three factors: experience, communication and quality. “We really enjoy being in the field and communicating with our clients because that’s the best way to guarantee the quality of our work. By giving them our honest opinions, staying fair with our billing practices and keeping our promises, we’re able to ensure they have great experiences.”
Micah Electric Company stays current with the electrical industry’s latest technological advancements, which Mr. Jackson-Sattler says is crucial for achieving positive results. “We also pride ourselves on keeping up with the National Electrical Code and following those guidelines to the letter on every job. In fact, we often do things above code because it allows for better systemic designs.”
“Our clients are very important to us, so we treat their projects with the same care and thoughtfulness that we would show on our own homes. Ultimately, our job is to educate them about their electrical systems and provide them with reliable solutions that improve their lives.”
Even if you live in a home without a garage, you can still have an electric vehicle charging station.
Car manufacturers sold more than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) last year, meaning 10 million car owners needed a place to charge those vehicles. While charging stations are typically anchored to garage walls, many people don’t park in garages. Thankfully, many electricians who install EV chargers are now embracing the challenge of finding alternative charging locations.
“We know that not everyone with an electric vehicle has a garage, but EV charging stations don’t even need to be in garages,” affirms Micah Jackson-Sattler, owner of Micah Electric Company in Oakland. “They can be outside, in driveways or on the sides of houses. Some people even install them in front of their homes with a pedestal charging station.”
The commercial EV charging stations that are popping up all over the United States are predominantly located outdoors, so why should home charging be any different? According to Mr. Jackson-Sattler, weather isn’t a problem for most EV chargers. “The chargers themselves are typically weather-protected and rated for outdoor use,” he says. “Depending on how you want yours hooked up, your installer can find solutions to protect it from the weather and place it where you need it, even if it isn’t in a garage.”
Most experts recommend having your electrician install a hardwired charging station, also called an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) charger. Usually located on external walls or freestanding poles, they’re safe to use in all types of weather when installed correctly.
Here are some tips for getting the best results when charging an electric vehicle outside:
- Always hire a licensed, insured electrician who has experience installing EV charging stations.
- Choose the type of EV charging station that fits your needs. Most vehicles come with a Level 1 charger, which lets you plug into any standard 120-volt outlet. These stations are the slowest, taking up to 24 hours to fully charge a vehicle battery, but they’re convenient and they don’t require new installations. Level 2 chargers, which require a 240-volt outlet, must be installed by licensed electricians, but they can fully charge a vehicle in about four hours.
- Decide whether to install your charging station on an external wall, a freestanding pole or a pedestal near your dedicated parking space.
Maintaining customer satisfaction is a vital part of any business, but for electrical contractors that have earned Diamond Certified, it’s even more of a necessity. For Micah Electric Company, keeping clients happy comes down to three key factors: quality, experience and trust. “We don’t upsell people, we give honest opinions on what they should and shouldn’t do, and we always work in a professional manner,” says owner and second-generation electrician Micah Jackson-Sattler. “Our clients get a great value because we show up on time, we’re clean and we do what we say we’re going to do.”
Micah Electric Company has been providing electrical repair, installation, and maintenance services for residential and commercial clients in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 2012. The company has the in-house capabilities to take on everything from electrical panel upgrades to complete home rewiring projects, and it’s also qualified to install interior and exterior lighting systems.
Unlike less experienced electrical contractors that offer rock-bottom prices and then leave customers without recourse if they need follow-up services, Micah Electric Company makes sure its clients know that its technicians are always available to help them after their projects are complete. “We’re rooted in Oakland and we have strong ties to our community, so we’ll be right here if our clients need us,” says Mr. Jackson-Sattler. “We have many long-term, repeat customers who know they can trust us to provide quality work and customer service, so we work hard to protect that reputation.”
Another distinguishing feature of Micah Electric Company is its ability to transform the electrical systems in older homes and bring them up to current standards. “We do a lot of knob-and-tube electrical system replacements, panel upgrades, and electrification in older houses,” affirms Mr. Jackson-Sattler. “We love showing our clients all the newest ways they can update their homes. For example, people are getting away from gas appliances and moving toward electric appliances, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging stations. We know how to get our customers’ homes in good shape so they’re ready for those upgrades in the future.”
