Newman Electric · Kelso, WA
Dependable Electrician
in Kelso, WA
Kelso sits right across the Cowlitz River from Longview, and Newman Electric has been taking care of both cities for years. We work the Kelso area regularly.
Ryan and the crew know Kelso's housing stock well. Older homes downtown and in West Kelso, newer builds toward the edges, commercial properties along the main corridors. Whatever the job, we can handle it.
Need an electrician in Kelso, WA?
Newman Electric is a locally owned, family-run electrician serving Kelso, WA, and works the area regularly with no trip charge. The county seat has a mix of pre-1940 timber-era homes still on knob-and-tube wiring, mid-century 60-to-100-amp service that needs upgrading, and newer subdivisions adding EV chargers. Cowlitz River storm exposure makes generators a steady install. Permits filed with L&I Kelso (360-575-6900). Free estimates.
4.9 on Google (115 reviews) A+ BBB Licensed & insured in WA (NEWMAEL798DR)
“They were prompt, thorough, thoughtful & professional. They made a special trip back to install some extra screws. Anthony & Michael did an excellent job putting in 2 new electrical panels. Thank you”
- Since 2020
- Serving Kelso
- No trip charge
- Cowlitz County
- Pre-1940
- Timber-era homes
- 24/7
- Emergency response
Cowlitz County Seat
Electrical Work
in Kelso
Kelso is the county seat and the smaller half of the Longview-Kelso twin cities. The homes downtown and in West Kelso are some of the oldest in Cowlitz County, built in the early 1900s when the timber industry was booming. A lot of that original wiring is still in service. Newman Electric works in every Kelso neighborhood, from the older streets near the courthouse to the newer development along S Pacific.
Kelso Homes
The most common residential jobs in Kelso are panel upgrades and rewiring. Older homes with 60 or 100-amp panels can't keep up with modern loads. Add air conditioning, a home office, and a kitchen full of appliances and the panel runs out of room fast.
Other popular Kelso jobs: outlet upgrades (replacing ungrounded 2-prong), smoke detectors, and lighting updates in kitchens and bathrooms.
Kelso Businesses
Kelso's commercial corridor along Pacific Ave and the Three Rivers Mall area keep us busy. Tenant improvements, restaurant wiring, retail electrical, and security lighting are the most common commercial jobs.
For larger properties needing three-phase power or generators, Newman Electric handles the full scope from design to final inspection.
Twin city coverage. We serve both Kelso and Longview on the same trips. If you need work at your Kelso home and your Longview business, we can usually handle both in one visit.
Rewiring
Rewiring & Knob and Tube Replacement in Kelso, WA
Downtown Kelso and West Kelso have some of the oldest houses in Cowlitz County, many built in the early 1900s when the timber mills were running full tilt. Plenty of them still have knob and tube or cloth-insulated wiring in the walls, along with two-prong outlets that leave surge protectors with nothing to work with.
We rewire in stages when that suits the budget, starting with the kitchen, bathrooms and anything in the attic, and bring each new circuit up to the 2023 NEC, including AFCI protection in living areas. Full rewires take a few days, scheduled so you aren't without power overnight.
"Ryan and the team were very helpful. They were punctual and got after the work quickly. I purchased an older home that needed to be updated and rewired. Ryan and Garrett worked out a schedule and were able to get all the work done in a few days time. They were open and answered all questions throughout the process. They also worked with my schedule."
Panel Upgrades
Electrical Panel Upgrade in Kelso, WA
Older Kelso homes with 60- or 100-amp service run out of room fast once air conditioning, a home office and a modern kitchen are on the same panel. A 200-amp upgrade is the fix, and on these houses it usually includes a new mast and meter base too.
Kelso is convenient for permits: the Cowlitz County L&I office is in town on Vine Street. We file, schedule the inspection, coordinate with Cowlitz PUD, and add the outdoor emergency disconnect the 2023 NEC requires on a new service.
"This guy! Newman Electric I cannot even tell you how much Ryan rocks. Called him Thanksgiving Eve because my range caused my whole breaker box (from the 80's) to go out. I was pretty bummed.. what an awful feeling having 20+ people coming over the next day i was freaking out. Not only did Ryan and his co worker come over and make it work. They were also awesome about it. I do not have enough gratitude to ever thank them enough. I highly recommend Newman Electric to everyone they are great and awesome."
Repair & Troubleshooting
Electrical Repair & Troubleshooting in Kelso, WA
A service call is $225 for the first hour, covering the diagnosis and whatever repair fits inside it, and there's no trip charge for the drive up from Vancouver. We group Longview and Kelso work onto the same days, so routine calls go on the next Cowlitz County day. A burning smell, a hot outlet or a breaker that won't stay reset gets a same-day response.
"PNW did a fantastic job installing a breaker bypass to enable industrial equipment to be running in our home during flood restoration. In and out quickly, genuine, nice, and easy to work with."
Heat Pumps & AC
Heat Pump & AC Wiring in Kelso, WA
Kelso summers get warm enough that more older homes are adding heat pumps and ductless mini splits. Each one needs a 240-volt circuit sized to the outdoor unit's nameplate and a disconnect within sight of it, and in an older Kelso home the first question is whether the panel has the capacity. We answer that with a load calculation before the HVAC equipment gets ordered.
"I have to shout out Ryan for going out of his way to come save us tonight. After having an HVAC tech out two days in a row, I was really hoping to have AC restored in my home. What we thought was an HVAC issue turned out to be a breaker issue and we thought we were going to be sweating through the night once again. Newman Electric was the first place I called and I’m super glad I did. Ryan was probably on his way home for the day but diverted over to our house to help us out. He charged a fair rate for emergency service and was in and out in less than 15 minutes. Best part is.. I might actually sleep through the night tonight now that my house is finally cooling down. We’ll be hiring Newman Electric again in the future, as it sounds like we’re due for a panel swap and their pricing is good. As a dispatcher for a local plumbing company, I know good service when I see it. Thanks again Ryan for helping us out tonight! We really owe you one. 10/10 will recommend to friends and family."
Generators
Generator Installation in Kelso, WA
Winter storms take down lines across Cowlitz County, and the hillside streets above downtown Kelso, with their mature trees, lose power first. A portable generator with an inlet box and a panel interlock keeps the essentials running. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch does it without anyone stepping outside. We handle the electrical and the L&I permit on either.
"We decided to bite the bullet and get a whole-home generator. Ryan came out as scheduled and we went for it. James did the installation, and was terrific: he worked fast, clean, and efficiently."
Commercial
Commercial Electrician in Kelso, WA
Most of our Kelso work so far has been commercial: businesses along Pacific Avenue and around the Three Rivers Mall area. Tenant improvements, restaurant and retail circuits, and security lighting are the common requests, permitted through the L&I office right here in Kelso.
"Newman Electric is top notch. We use them for our personal projects and have used them for 10+ remodeling projects for our business and they have always showed up on time and been honest with pricing. Ryan and his crew are professional and friendly! I highly recommend."
Real Reviews
What Our Customers Say
About Newman Electric
4.9 on Google · 115 reviews
"Love working with everyone at newman"
Nathan Ruegg
"Ryan and his apprentice,were professional, honest and timely. If you need an election look no further! Thanks guys!!!"
Linda O. · Vancouver, WA
"Great company. All their employees do wonderful professional work. Would highly recommend them for future work."
Robert Y. · Vancouver, WA
L&I Office Is Right Here in Kelso
Kelso electrical permits go through Washington State L&I, and the Cowlitz County office is at 711 Vine Street in Kelso. That means inspections get scheduled fast. Newman Electric files all permits and handles the inspection process for you.
Kelso L&I: 360-575-6900
License: NEWMAEL798DR
2023 NEC Requirements
Washington adopted the 2023 NEC (WAC 296-46B) in April 2024. Panel upgrades require an outdoor emergency disconnect (NEC 230.85). Modified circuits need AFCI protection (NEC 210.12). We build every Kelso job to current code so your inspection passes the first time.
Newman Electric · A+ BBB · Licensed & Insured
FAQ
Questions About Electrical
Work in Kelso
How much does an electrician charge in Kelso?
A service call is $225 for the first hour, which covers diagnosis and the repair done in that hour. Panel upgrades run $2,000 to $4,000+. We give free estimates on every Kelso job with no trip charge.
What EV charger brands do you install?
Tesla Wall Connector, ChargePoint Home Flex, Grizzl-E, Emporia, JuiceBox, and NEMA 14-50 outlets. Older Kelso homes may need a panel upgrade first.
Who handles permits in Kelso?
Cowlitz County L&I at 711 Vine Street in Kelso (360-575-6900). Newman Electric files all permits and schedules inspections for you.
What issues are common in older Kelso homes?
Panel upgrades, knob-and-tube replacement, ungrounded outlets, and cloth wiring deterioration. The downtown and West Kelso homes see the most of this work.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?
Yes. Call 360-828-7143 anytime. We respond to Cowlitz County emergencies and prioritize them for same-day response.
Can you handle commercial work?
Yes. Restaurants, retail, offices, and industrial. See all commercial services.
Service Areas
Beyond Kelso
Newman Electric serves all of Cowlitz County and Clark County. From Kelso and Longview south to Vancouver and east to Camas.
Newman Electric
Need an Electrician
in Kelso?
Your electrician in Kelso, WA is just a phone call away. Free estimates with no trip charge, licensed and insured, 24/7 emergency service across Cowlitz County.
Newman Electric LLC · WA License NEWMAEL798DR · Available 24/7