Two kinds of Camas houses
Camas grew up as a paper mill town, and the streets close to downtown still have plenty of older homes with smaller panels and wiring that has been added to bit by bit. Up on Prune Hill, around Lacamas Lake, and out toward Grass Valley and Fern Prairie, most houses are newer, often with big garages, finished basements, and backyards built for a hot tub. The electrical questions are different in each.
- Newer houses on the hill and by the lake. The panel usually has decent capacity, but a lot of it is already spoken for by a heat pump, a range, a dryer, and a second fridge. Adding an EV charger and a hot tub can fill the last open slots, so we look at what is already on the panel before recommending a circuit or a panel upgrade.
- Two EVs in the garage. More households here are charging two cars. Chargers with load sharing, or a charger set to a lower current, can sometimes avoid a bigger service. We’ll lay out the options.
- Older homes near downtown. Expect a smaller or older panel and some ungrounded circuits. A panel upgrade is often the first step before a new tub or charger goes in.
- Sloped lots and long runs. Hillside yards and decks mean hot tub and outbuilding circuits can run farther than you’d guess, often underground in conduit. We walk the route before we give you a number.
Power and permits in Camas
Electric service in Camas comes from Clark Public Utilities, the customer-owned utility that serves all of Clark County. When a job needs the power shut off at the meter or a change to the service, we coordinate with them.
Camas isn’t on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries list of cities that issue their own electrical permits, so electrical permits and inspections for a charger, a hot tub circuit, or a panel change go through Washington L&I. We purchase the permit for our work and schedule the inspection. If it’s part of a bigger project like an addition or basement finish, the City of Camas handles the building permit for that part.
Our rebates guide covers the details and the other Clark Public Utilities rebates.
Hot tubs, chargers, and surge protection
Our guides explain what a hot tub hookup involves and how to prepare for a home EV charger. Newer Camas homes are full of electronics and variable-speed HVAC equipment that don’t like surges. A whole-home surge protector mounted at the panel adds protection for the whole house when storms knock the power out and it comes back on. Plug-in surge strips still help for computers and TVs, and nothing stops a direct lightning strike, but it’s an easy addition, especially during a panel upgrade.
We also troubleshoot breakers that trip and outlets that stop working, and install recessed, under-cabinet, and outdoor lighting. Adding a heat pump? Your HVAC contractor installs the unit, and we handle the dedicated circuit and outdoor disconnect.
Nearby
We also work in Washougal and across east Clark County, and in Vancouver, Battle Ground, and our home base of Ridgefield. See the full Southwest Washington and Oregon service area.
Planning electrical work in Camas?
Tell us what you want done and where. We’ll come out, look it over, and give you an estimate you can depend on.
Have a question first? Contact us.