Commercial power distribution work in Northern Colorado typically runs $5,000–$50,000+ depending on scope — small sub-panel adds, transformer upgrades, switchgear replacement, bus duct runs, dedicated machine circuits. We handle switchgear up through 800A, transformers (pad-mount and dry-type), bus duct, distribution panels, and feeder runs for plant expansions, multi-tenant metering, and aging-switchgear replacements. Above 800A we partner with switchgear specialists. Phased after-hours and weekend cutovers are standard so the facility keeps running.
When a facility grows — new production line, new tenant, new piece of equipment pulling 200 amps — the existing electrical distribution usually can’t take it. A new transformer, a bigger main, a distribution panel positioned correctly on the production floor, and the problem is solved. Done wrong and the whole facility trips every time the new compressor starts up.
We work with general contractors, property managers, and facility managers across Northern Colorado on commercial power distribution work — switchgear, transformers, bus duct, distribution panels, and feeder runs. About 25% of our commercial revenue is power distribution; it’s the most technically demanding side of commercial electrical work and the side where reliable schedule execution matters most.
What scope of distribution work do you handle?
Switchgear up through 800A, distribution panels, sub-panels, transformers, bus duct, feeder runs, and dedicated machine circuits. The full scope:
| System | What we do |
|---|---|
| Main switchgear | Replacement, upgrades, repair — up to 800A in-house |
| Distribution panels | Floor-level distribution from main switchgear out to end-use circuits |
| Sub-panels | Tenant-specific or department-specific distribution |
| Transformers | Pad-mount (utility-side), dry-type (interior step-down), and isolation transformers |
| Bus duct | Industrial-grade cable management for high-amp distribution runs |
| Feeder runs | Conduit + cable from main switchgear to remote panels or equipment |
| Dedicated machine circuits | 3-phase circuits sized to motor inrush + running current |
| Multi-tenant metering | Separate metering for each tenant in shared facilities |
Above 800A or for specialty industrial switchgear (medium-voltage, paralleling switchgear, complex coordination studies), we partner with a switchgear specialist we’ve worked with for years. The hand-off is clean and we stay on as the prime electrical contractor.
Can you handle utility coordination for a new transformer?
Yes. New transformers almost always involve four steps:
- Utility application with Xcel (or your local provider — Poudre Valley REA, United Power, Highline Electric)
- Load study — engineering analysis of facility’s planned demand, motor inrush, and harmonic load profile
- Service review — utility engineer reviews the application and approves the transformer size
- Scheduled disconnect — utility schedules the meter pull and transformer set/swap
Lead times vary by utility and time of year. Xcel commercial transformer upgrades typically run 6–14 weeks from application submission to install. We file the paperwork and schedule the install to align with your project timeline.
For larger services (600A+) or facilities with sensitive equipment, the utility may also require:
- Power quality analysis — measurement of voltage stability, harmonics, power factor
- Coordination study — engineering analysis (P.E. signed) of breaker tripping coordination
- Arc-flash study — labeling and PPE requirements for every panel level
We coordinate all of this. The GC owns the master timeline; we own keeping the utility and the engineering studies from being the reason it slips.
Do you work directly with general contractors and property managers?
Yes — most of our commercial distribution work runs through GCs, property managers, and facility managers. We treat the relationship as a peer-level technical contractor, not a sub-on-call.
What that means in practice:
- Pre-construction meetings — we attend with the GC, plumbing, HVAC, fire, and the architect to scope coordination
- Submittals — we provide product data, shop drawings, and one-line diagrams in the format the GC’s project manager expects
- RFIs — we respond to RFIs in writing, not in hallway conversations
- Pay applications — we submit AIA-format pay apps when required, with proper line-item breakdown
- Close-out documentation — written O&M manuals, panel schedules, as-built one-line diagrams, warranty docs
- Post-construction support — we stay available for the year after commissioning for any punch-list items or warranty work
For property managers running ongoing operations, we sign maintenance service agreements that cover routine work — annual switchgear inspections, transformer monitoring, panel labeling updates, code compliance verification.
How much does a commercial power distribution upgrade cost?
The range is wide because the scope is wide. Some reference points:
| Project scope | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Add a new sub-panel from existing main | $4,000–$8,000 |
| New 3-phase machine circuit (200A from main to floor location) | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Replace failing 200A switchgear | $12,000–$20,000 |
| New 400A 3-phase service + main switchgear | $18,000–$32,000 |
| Pad-mount transformer upgrade (utility coordination) | $25,000–$60,000+ |
| 800A switchgear with full distribution | $35,000–$80,000+ |
| Multi-tenant metering retrofit (per tenant) | $4,000–$8,000 per tenant |
We walk the facility, read your existing one-line diagram (or build you one if it’s missing), and quote the specific work itemized. No mystery numbers, no “we’ll figure it out as we go” billing — every line item shown before any work starts.
Can you do the work in phases to keep the facility running?
Yes. This is usually how commercial distribution upgrades have to happen. Most facilities can’t shut down for a full week while we replace switchgear — they need to keep operating, even at reduced capacity, while we work.
Common phased approaches:
- After-hours cutovers — we do disconnect/reconnect work nights or weekends, building stays operational during business hours
- Weekend shutdowns — full distribution work over a long weekend, building running by Monday morning
- Temporary feeds — install a temporary feeder bypassing the work area, keep critical loads running while main work proceeds
- Staged panel swaps — move circuits to a new sub-panel one at a time, never down more than a single circuit at once
- Hot work — when the facility absolutely cannot shut down, we do energized work with proper PPE and arc-flash protocols (rare but available)
We plan the sequence with you before work starts, identify which circuits are critical (you tell us), and design the phasing so no critical circuit is down longer than it has to be. Customers tell us this is the part that separates the good commercial electrical contractors from the ones who try to treat commercial like residential — we plan the schedule, you keep operating.
For commercial panels specifically, see our commercial panels page. For commercial generators that handle outage scenarios beyond just power-distribution work, see our commercial generators page.
Last reviewed by a Master Electrician: April 29, 2026.
Have a commercial power distribution project — plant expansion, new equipment, switchgear replacement, multi-tenant metering? Call (970) 645-3114 for a job-walk and quote. We’ll meet you on site, read your one-line, scope the work, and put a written quote on paper before any cutover happens.
