Why was My Electric Home chosen as a Local Home Hero?
My Electric Home was chosen based on its customer reviews and testimonials, and on a story Jason Altshuler told Jim about standing in a ditch in the early morning hours. Just there to keep a job on schedule – it’s what he does. In the interview, Jim said those earlier conversations “made it clear to me you truly are a local home hero.” (1:26:38)
In the interview, Jim and Dan learned quite a bit more about Jason Altshuler and My Electric Home:
About the company
What is My Electric Home?
A one-stop, full-service home electrification company. It handles insulation and air sealing, solar, batteries and microgrids, heat pumps for heating, cooling and water, EV chargers, smart panels, and circuits for induction ranges, all with one call. (19:19, 1:25:38)
How long has My Electric Home been in business, and why was it started?
Coming up on five years in April. The founder wanted to electrify his own home and found that no one company did all of it. (28:04)
Who founded My Electric Home?
Jason Altshuler. He started as a plumber’s apprentice in Houston and later was a senior manager at a $1.7B credit union, overseeing about 110 employees. (25:36)
How experienced is My Electric Home?
They’ve done hundreds of electrification projects, they know which subcontractors are best, and they’re the Denver Metro local expert that truly does everything, insulation included. (29:52, 30:48)
What area does My Electric Home serve?
Denver Metro, including Denver, Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Boulder County, Golden, Longmont and Parker. (30:48, 1:02:01)
Process and consultation
Does My Electric Home do in-person visits or remote quotes?
They strongly prefer on-site visits. In person they catch things that photo-based quotes miss, such as long wire runs and concrete walls, and they see how you actually live in the home. (33:25)
What happens during a My Electric Home consultation, and does it cost anything?
It’s free and takes up to an hour. They take photos and measurements and answer your questions. It’s education first and “low key sales.” (1:25:44)
What tools does My Electric Home use to assess a home?
Thermal cameras, Manual J load calculations from scanners, and attic inspections. (42:04)
Electrical panels
Will My Electric Home say I need a panel upgrade?
Only if you really need one. Often a subpanel works at a fraction of the cost (one customer saved about $3,000). An upgrade is necessary when the panel is so old that replacement breakers are no longer made. (34:49)
What is the SPAN smart panel that My Electric Home installs?
It manages energy use and sheds loads, so an older 100-amp home can add an EV charger, a hot tub or a heat pump water heater without a full upgrade. It also tracks how much power each appliance uses, which helps with sizing solar. (31:08)
Does My Electric Home do smart-home setup?
Only to a degree. Their focus is the electrical panel as the home’s “central brain,” not smart lighting or appliance apps. (31:08)
Water heaters
Does My Electric Home recommend heat pump or tankless water heaters?
It depends on the space:
Tankless: compact and wall-mounted, but it holds only about 2.5 gallons and won’t work during a power outage.
Heat pump: needs about 700 cubic feet of air, produces no fumes, stores 50–65 gallons, and is the most efficient. One model costs about $117 a year to run. (44:05)
Can My Electric Home mount a tankless water heater on an interior wall?
Yes. It goes in a mechanical area, braced on 2x4s, with two 2-inch PVC vents. (46:35)
Do the heat pump water heaters My Electric Home installs make noise?
They make some fan noise, which is normal. If you hear loud or jarring noise, call My Electric Home right away. (1:10:14)
Heating and cooling
Why does My Electric Home recommend ductless mini-splits?
They both heat and cool, and they don’t lose energy pushing air through long duct runs. (15:28)
Should I keep a high-efficiency gas furnace alongside the heat pump My Electric Home installs?
A 96–97% efficient furnace still saves something over an 80% unit, but it requires PVC venting. (17:11)
Older and historic homes
Can My Electric Home work on older or historic Denver homes?
Yes. They deal with uninsulated double-brick walls and low crawl spaces, for example by adding insulation or digging out space. Homes from the 1980s and 1990s usually have more room to work with. (40:49)
Will My Electric Home work in cluttered or hoarder homes?
Yes. Clutter adds difficulty, which is one more reason they do in-person visits. (36:10)
Solar, EV and batteries
Why does My Electric Home pair solar with electrification?
Electrifying your home raises your electric bill, and solar offsets that. The goal is to size the system for net zero. (32:26, 47:27)
How much solar can My Electric Home install on a Colorado home?
Up to 200% of your usage and 25 kW, under the 2019 state law. My Electric Home can also add panels to an existing system. (49:10)
How much does EV charging save with My Electric Home?
About $12 to charge an electric truck for roughly 300 miles, compared with $40–60 or more in gas. (28:43)
How long does a My Electric Home solar and battery install take?
The installation takes one day. The 2–6 week wait comes from Xcel interconnection and permit approvals. (1:04:48)
Costs, rebates and financing
What rebates can My Electric Home help me get?
Federal tax credits have ended. Colorado state, Xcel Energy, Denver and Power Ahead Colorado incentives are still available for heat pumps. (1:08:18, 1:12:43)
Does My Electric Home handle rebate paperwork?
Yes. They manage the process and can sometimes get approvals expedited. (36:50)
Does My Electric Home offer financing?
Yes, through the RENU loan program. In one example, a customer’s $3,200 gap came to about $83 a month, and her rebates covered more than a year of payments. (37:32)
Does My Electric Home serve low-income households?
Yes. (36:48)
Is electrifying with My Electric Home worth it with cheap Colorado gas?
Jason calls the belief that it isn’t the number-one piece of misinformation he hears, and he says the on-site consultation is where they answer it. (50:50)
Permits and licensing
Does My Electric Home pull permits?
Always, on every job. They turn down customers who want to skip permits. (1:06:22)
How long do permits take for a My Electric Home project?
It depends on the jurisdiction:
Denver: same day.
Douglas County: 2–4 weeks.
Unincorporated Arapahoe County: can take months.
My Electric Home proposals spell out the expected timeline. (1:02:01)
Why won’t My Electric Home do unpermitted work?
Unpermitted work can lead to denied insurance claims and forced removal at your expense, and contractors can lose their license with DORA. (1:05:49)
Are My Electric Home installers licensed?
Yes. Their leads hold credentials such as NABCEP certification and a Residential Wireman license. (58:17)
Warranty and service
What warranty does My Electric Home offer?
My Electric Home gives an 18-month materials and labor warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranties. One of its HVAC installers also gives a 5-year warranty on installs. (1:14:45)
What does My Electric Home do if something goes wrong?
They fix it, keep you informed, and absorb the cost if needed. (1:11:40)
Will My Electric Home fix another contractor’s bad install?
They get those calls but prioritize existing customers first. They hope to take on that work when things slow down. (1:12:43)
Other
Can I see My Electric Home equipment before buying?
Yes. The My Electric Home Mini Home is a fully electrified, off-grid showcase that visits community events. (53:33, 1:16:50)
Does My Electric Home train new tradespeople?
Yes. They run paid apprenticeships and partner with Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, Pickens Tech, Red Rocks Community College and others. (55:19)
