If your building is still relying on outdated electrical systems, it may be costing you more than you think: higher utility bills, increased maintenance, and even safety risks. An electrical retrofit is one of the smartest upgrades a business can make, improving energy efficiency, reliability, and long-term value.
At Tesdell Electric, we’ve helped Iowa businesses of all sizes modernize their systems. Here’s how to prepare your business for a successful retrofit.
1. Assess Your Current Electrical System
Why it matters: You can’t plan a retrofit until you understand what you’re working with.
How to do it: Have a licensed electrical contractor conduct a full assessment of your current panel, wiring, lighting, and load demands. Tesdell Electric offers detailed evaluations that highlight risks and opportunities for improvement.
2. Define Your Goals
Why it matters: Every business has different needs. Are you looking to reduce energy costs? Accommodate new equipment? Prepare for expansion?
How to do it: Outline your priorities, whether it’s LED retrofits, updated panels, smart controls, or a complete system overhaul. We help tailor retrofits around your goals and your budget.
3. Understand What a Retrofit Includes
Why it matters: Retrofitting doesn’t always mean starting from scratch; it often means updating or reconfiguring parts of your existing system.
Common upgrades include:
- LED lighting and lighting controls
- Updated circuit panels and breakers
- Energy-efficient wiring and transformers
- Smart building systems (motion sensors, daylight harvesting, etc.)
- Emergency power systems and surge protection
4. Plan for Timing & Downtime
Why it matters: Even the best electrical work takes time. Planning for it means less disruption to your business.
How to do it: Work with your contractor to schedule work during off-hours or weekends if needed. At Tesdell, we offer flexible scheduling and can phase work to minimize interruptions.
5. Budget for the Project (And the Payoff)
Why it matters: While retrofits require an upfront investment, they usually pay off through energy savings, tax incentives, and reduced maintenance.
How to do it: We’ll help you estimate costs and ROI. Some upgrades may also qualify for rebates through local utilities or government programs.
6. Think Long-Term
Why it matters: Electrical retrofits are about more than fixing today’s problems; they’re about powering your business for the future.
How to do it: Tesdell designs systems with scalability in mind. Whether you plan to grow your team, add equipment, or go green with EV chargers or solar, we ensure your infrastructure can handle it.
Let Tesdell Electric Power Your Upgrade
We know what it takes to modernize a commercial electrical system, and we make the process easy, efficient, and tailored to your business. From design to installation, Tesdell Electric is your Iowa-based partner for dependable retrofits that deliver long-term results.
Ready to start your electrical upgrade? Contact Tesdell Electric today to schedule a consultation.