""We kept seeing the same issue come up," Soepa said. "Homeowners were ready to move forward with upgrades, but the electrical infrastructure was often the limiting factor.""
""A lot of people didn't know who to trust," he said. "Especially when it came to older homes that need careful, thoughtful work.""
""We found that of the $40,000 that we were quoted for electrical work, $20,000 was going toward ripping out and replacing drywall," Soepa recalled. "So the electrician was paying $"
Oakland historic homes often retain knob-and-tube wiring that cannot support modern high-load appliances, significantly increasing HVAC and appliance upgrade costs. Berkeley graduates Tenzin Soepa and Andrei Smith founded Mr. Poppy Electric in November to provide affordable, customer-focused electrical services for older homes. The founders previously cofounded 1-888-Heat-Pumps and encountered steep electrical upgrade quotes that threatened project viability. Common modern loads include heat pumps, EV chargers, and induction stoves. Significant savings were found by eliminating inefficiencies such as unnecessary drywall replacement, enabling upgrades to proceed at lower total project costs while preserving careful workmanship.
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