Power Distribution
Size It Right Before You Build It.
A load calculation adds up the total electrical demand of a building — lighting, HVAC, equipment, receptacles, and any planned additions — and compares it against the capacity of the service and panels feeding it. The NEC requires this calculation before sizing a new service entrance, feeder, or panel, and utilities require it before approving a service upgrade.
Loch Monster Electric performs NEC-compliant load calculations for commercial new construction, tenant fit-outs, equipment additions, and service upgrades across the Twin Cities Metro — producing the documentation your permit submittal and utility application require.
Sizing a service entrance, feeder, or distribution panel without a load calculation is not code-compliant — and it is how buildings end up with electrical infrastructure that cannot support what the space actually needs. The NEC requires a formal calculation before a permit can be issued, and inspectors will check that the panel and service are sized to match it. We produce stamped, NEC-compliant load calculations in the format your permit submittal requires, coordinated with your building plans so the electrical system is sized correctly from the start — not adjusted after the walls are closed.
Adding large HVAC equipment, EV charging stations, commercial kitchen equipment, or production machinery introduces new electrical demand that your existing service may or may not be able to absorb. Operating near or above panel capacity causes nuisance tripping, voltage sags, and accelerated wear on breakers and wiring — problems that compound until something fails. A load calculation before the addition tells you exactly where your current service stands and whether an upgrade is needed before installation begins — not after the equipment is already on-site and the contractor is waiting.
Utilities do not approve service upgrades on request — they require formal documentation that justifies the new service size and confirms the installation meets code. Without it, the application stalls and your project timeline is affected. We provide load calculations in the format that Twin Cities area utilities require, with the supporting documentation needed to keep the approval process moving. If the calculation is part of a larger panel upgrade or three-phase installation we are also managing, we coordinate both so there are no gaps between the paperwork and the work.
Want A Commercial Load Calculation?
Who We Are
Time And Materials Pricing—So You Only Pay For What Your Job Actually Needs.
Licensed And Insured Electricians Who Treat Your Home Or Building With Respect
Clear Communication—We'll Walk You Through What We're Doing And Why
Local Folks Who Care About Doing Things The Right Way—Not Just The Fast Way
A load calculation is a formal engineering analysis that totals the electrical demand of a building — general lighting, receptacles, HVAC, motors, kitchen equipment, and any other connected loads — and determines the minimum service and panel capacity required to supply them safely and to code. The NEC provides specific methodologies for different building types, and the result is a stamped document that supports permit submittals and utility applications.
Any time you are sizing a new service entrance, feeder, or distribution panel, the NEC requires a load calculation to justify the size. Practically speaking, this means new commercial construction, tenant fit-outs, panel replacements, and service upgrades all require one. Utilities also require them before approving an increase in service capacity. If a permit is being pulled for electrical work, a load calculation is almost certainly part of what the inspector will want to see.
Yes. An existing service load calculation compares your building's current electrical demand against the rated capacity of your service entrance and panels. It tells you whether you have headroom for additional load, whether you are operating close to capacity, and whether a specific addition — new HVAC, EV chargers, production equipment — can be absorbed without an upgrade. It is the right starting point before committing to any significant electrical addition.
For new construction or a tenant fit-out, we work from your building plans and equipment schedules. For an existing building, we review the current panel configuration, conduct a site walkthrough, and document the connected loads. If you are adding specific equipment, the manufacturer's nameplate data and spec sheets are helpful. We gather what we need during an initial consultation and let you know upfront if anything is missing before we start the calculation.
Yes. Our load calculations are produced by licensed electricians and formatted to meet the documentation requirements of Twin Cities area jurisdictions and utilities. If your project also involves a panel upgrade, service entrance replacement, or three-phase conversion that we are managing, the load calculation is coordinated as part of that scope — so the documentation and the physical work move forward together without delays between them.
Why Choose Us
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GOOGLEOur Electrical Services
From panel upgrades and rewiring to EV chargers and modern lighting, we help homeowners keep their electrical systems safe, reliable, and ready for their unique life inside.
From office buildouts and lighting retrofits to panel upgrades and code compliance, we keep your business powered and protected.
We work with HOAs and property managers to keep common areas, amenities, and residential units safe and up to code.
Where We Work
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