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Frequently Asked Questions
My smart lights and TV keep resetting during storms. Does Pedernales Electric have bad power?
Pedernales Electric Cooperative serves a large, rural area where long distribution lines are susceptible to lightning strikes and tree contact. This creates the voltage surges and 'dirty power' you're experiencing. Modern electronics are particularly sensitive. Installing a whole-house surge protector at your main panel is a critical defense against these frequent Hill Country lightning events.
How can I prepare my home's electrical system for a Texas ice storm or a summer brownout?
For winter, ensure your emergency heat strips or backup heating source is on a properly sized, dedicated circuit. In summer, brownouts from AC demand cause low voltage that can damage compressor motors. A licensed electrician can install a generator transfer switch or a hardwired battery backup system to maintain power to critical circuits during either extreme.
My Falconhead home was built in 2011. Why are my lights dimming when I run the dishwasher and microwave together?
Your electrical system is now 15 years old, and the original NM-B Romex wiring and 200A panel were designed for a different era. Modern kitchens now host high-draw appliances like air fryers and induction cooktops that can overload circuits from 2011. We often upgrade subpanels and add dedicated circuits in Falconhead homes to safely distribute today's increased electrical demand.
My Bee Cave home has a Challenger electrical panel. Should I be worried about adding a Level 2 EV charger or a new heat pump?
Yes, caution is required. Challenger panels have a known history of faulty components and are often flagged for replacement due to fire risk. Even with a 200A service, the panel's internal bus bars may not handle the continuous 40-50 amp load of an EV charger safely. A full panel replacement to a modern, UL-listed brand is the recommended first step before adding such large appliances.
I want to add a circuit. Do I need a permit from the City of Bee Cave, and what code do you follow?
Yes, most electrical work beyond a simple repair requires a permit from the Bee Cave Building Department. As a Master Electrician licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, I pull these permits for you. All our work complies with the legally adopted 2023 National Electrical Code, which governs safety standards for circuit capacity, AFCI protection, and equipment installation.
We live on a rocky hillside near the Galleria. Could that be causing our grounding issues?
Absolutely. Rocky, shallow soil common in Falconhead makes it difficult to achieve a low-resistance connection for your grounding electrode system. This can lead to erratic breaker operation and poor surge protection. We often need to drive multiple ground rods or use specialized grounding techniques to meet NEC requirements and ensure your system's safety in this terrain.
The breaker keeps tripping and I smell something burning. How fast can an electrician get here?
For an urgent safety issue like a burning smell, we treat it as a priority dispatch. From our shop near the Hill Country Galleria, we can typically be en route via SH 71 within minutes for a Falconhead address, aiming for a 5-8 minute response. Please turn off the main breaker if safe to do so and meet us outside.
My power comes from an underground line. What should I know about that type of service?
Underground lateral service, common in newer Bee Cave subdivisions, offers reliability from weather but has unique considerations. The service cable from the Pedernales transformer to your meter is buried, so any fault requires excavation. Your main panel disconnect and whole-house surge protector should be readily accessible for utility workers or emergency responders during an outage.
