Authentic Electrical

I recently needed an electrician to replace two old receptacles in my mom's basement with new GFCI receptacles. Most of the electricians that I found and contacted through Yelp either didn't respond or claimed they weren't available, which probably meant that the job was too small for them. Fortunately, one of the companies I contacted was Authentic Electric.

After I reached out, they contacted me right away, gave me a fair estimate based solely on the picture of the existing outlet I posted, and provided very flexible scheduling options to complete the work. I was very impressed that they showed up right on time, did a great job, finished quickly, and even went a little above and beyond the original scope of work at no additional cost!!!

And while this initial job may have been small, my mom's house will definitely need some major electrical work in the future, and when it does, there's no doubt that I'm only calling one company: Authentic Electrical.

I had a could of new outlets I wanted installed as well as some buzzing in my light fixtures I wanted checked out. These guys did a great job assessing what needed to be done and were able to address everything that day. They close up any holes in your wall as a result of running wires etc. so it was easy enough to repaint once the mud was dry and sanded. I'd recommend then for your household electrical needs.

I didn't use them but they gave me valuable advice to fix a doorbell myself. Saved me money. Good to see there are honest companies not trying to take your money for easy fixes most people can do with a little instruction. I would definitely reach out again if it's a more complicated job I cannot do myself.

We hired Don and John for rewiring an entire in-law unit and bringing it up to code. They delivered as promised though there was a slight delay to the final date. Based on the work they did, we expanded their scope to install new recessed lighting and replacing every single outlet in our main home.

They were also open to any fixtures we wanted to custom order and were very insightful in fixing some of the messier work from previous owners.

Would definitely recommend them .

If I could, I would give John and Don 10 stars, as they are stars in my book! Waited 40 years finally decided to update our electrical panel in our house as the fuse in our microwave kept on blowing and my husband got concerned about the safety of the wires and outlets he installed in our kitchen himself 30 years ago. As usual, I went on Yelp looking for help. I requested and met with four electrical companies received 4 quotes. And the end, we decided to hire John and Don for the project.

From the get go, we found John and Don to be responsive, open, trustworthy, fair, friendly, and professional. Today, they wrapped up the project for us in two days and we couldn't be happier. There is no doubt they are experienced, knowledgeable and good at what they do. It is also obvious that they care about the quality of their works and their customers.

John and Don are truly wonderful to work with and lucky for us we don't need to wait for another 40 years to call an electricians because we have now found the perfect ones.

Thank you John and Don! You rock!!!!

Another positive review for Don and John!

Came out after some initial back and forth on the job. Took a look, gave some great advice on ideas on how best to do the run and setup. Quoted, scheduled, and got it done. Looks great and very happy with the final setup in the backyard. Highly recommend and will use them again as I take on all the other electrical projects I know I have to deal with.

Thank you Authentic!

John and Don replaced all of the halogen can lights in my house (70 in total) with LED lights.  They did an awesome job from start to finish.  They quickly provided me with a bid, immediately scheduled the job and got the work done, all within a week.  I'll definitely use them again the next time I have an electrical issue.

I sent out 3 requests for an estimate/appointment as we had an issue with an overhead light flashing.  The first company replied in a timely manner and said that they were too busy.  The second said that he could do it, asked all of the right questions and as we were going to book the appointment I asked what the charge would be.  He said $650 for San Francisco!!  Huh?  Authentic Electrical (Don) also responded and said that he would have Alex contact me to set up an appointment.  They charge $200/hour.  While that's not a bargain either I went for it.  Alex texted me within the hour and showed up promptly at the agreed time.  He diagnosed the problem and was on his way in 25 minutes.  Right after he left, I noticed that a plug didn't seem to be working and I texted him immediately.  He came back within 5 minutes, troubleshot the outlet and was off again in 10 minutes.  All of this was within the one hour that I'd paid for and I couldn't be more pleased.  Alex was professional, knowledgeable and friendly.  What more can you ask for?

Don was amazing to work with. Knowledgeable, efficient, on time, and communicates! I had 3 different electricians quote me and Don was the only one who provided an official quote on the same day he came out. Price was extremely reasonable for the work. He added a brand new sub panel because I needed more circuits/outlets in the kitchen, bedroom, and living room since I kept tripping fuses when I would use certain devices at the same time. He took half a day to install the panel and another half day to install the new circuits in three different rooms and fix the kitchen light. He spoke to us to make sure he was installing the new outlets in the locations we wanted and was super clean with the work. I would highly recommend him and use his services again.

He's a no BS kind of guy and is not trying to push unnecessary work. He took the time to really listen to us because we initially thought we needed to upgrade to a 200a panel but in reality we just needed a sub panel because we actually just needed more breakers. He was the only electrician who provided that as an option. Very honest which is something you don't find nowadays.

Needed two new outlets installed and reached out to John and Don.  These guys are awesome!  Showed up right on time, had great ideas on how to get these installed, did a thorough and efficient job. Patched up the drywall, cleaned up and did it all in record time.  These two are my go tos now!  Thanks John and Don!

Don and John are fantastic. We recently purchased a new condo and needed some minor electrical work, they did a great job, were fast and super transparent about what was and was not needed. We recently used them again to instal light fixtures, which they also did a fantastic job with, would highly recommend.

These guys are the best. We've used them for years to perform various installs. Their work is solid and they brought us to code recently too. Availability is important and there is nothing like professionals you can trust at your fingertips. We'll always come back and recommend you to others.

Everything about working with these guys was great.  Don and his brothers are legitimately great electricians.  We hired them to install an EV charger and CATV wiring conduit at our house. They were helpful and communicative during the design and quote phase.  During the work and permit process, they explained everything clearly.  The work was of high quality - sturdily built, and worked well the first time.  Nice guys to boot.

We subsequently hired them for work on a new house when we moved.  Same results: super reliable, super easy to work with, great results.  They had to upgrade the entire main panel and did a great job with it. Thanks, guys!

These guys are great. They're busy, but excellent communication. Text and phone.

They installed a ceiling fan in my loft style apartment with 20 foot ceilings. Big job that they completed perfectly and super efficiently. Skilled craftsmen, for sure.

They're good natured, respectful and get the job done right. Will definitely come back to them for all electrical needs.

Don was referred to us by a friend, so we invited his company to submit his quote along with a few other companies that we found on Yelp and elsewhere.  Don was prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable. He took the time to understand what we needed for our kitchen and bath remodel, and provided a reasonably priced and thorough quote for the work.

The actual work was done very professionally and well, and passed inspections with no problems. Minor changes to the original specifications were handled with ease. Everything went smoothly.

I highly recommend Don and J.T. (Authentic Electrical Services)

Utilized YELP to obtain several quotes and decided on Authentic due to good reviews, responsiveness to my inquiry, and honest, upfront costs.
Samuel came by for an assessment and then came on a Saturday to perform the installation. No issues and it was completed in two hours.
I certainly will consider them again for future work.
PS, I am giving this business a 5 star review though it is appearing as 4.

Don and John were great and I told them, they are my electricians now and could not stop working until I die! LOL!   BTW, Don had to crawl into my attic with a crawl space of maybe 3 fit tall to fix the problem!

These guys helped me replace my old electrical outlets and install some news fixtures. They were responsive and ready to get the job done a couple days after initial call. Happy with their work and service :)

Don was easy to work with. We had two electrical issues (related/same issue but recurring) and both times I reached out, he was able to stop by within the day. He worked quickly both times and was good about explaining what he did and even trying to troubleshoot with my husband so he could try to work on it himself if needed. He was reasonable about his rate coming the second time since it was the same issue as the first time and only a few weeks after our first diagnosis of the problem.

I had reached out to a few other electricians and Don was the most readily available. He was accessible via text, too! Would work with again.

John and Don are true pros, not only did they put up with my aging dad nagging requests.  They were sweet, on time and professionally handled.
I was so comfortable in trust I left my parents to get lunch and on return they completed job well done.

Explained code, asked what the purpose of the new wiring was for so they get the right parts.

Awesome fun but professional electricians!

Don was great to work with. He was super responsive, took the time and answered all my question. Pricing is very fair and transparent and he was able to start almost immediately and finished early which is rarely the case with all the demand for work in the bay area lately. Will definitely recommend and work with these guys again.

This is the second job Authentic has done as my house and they're great. Professional, speedy, and stay in good contact. Highly recommend.

Look no further if you need professional electrical services.  I needed to have a large (4' x 5') & heavy crystal chandelier removed from a high 17' ceiling within a week.  Don replied back quickly with a very reasonable estimate and was able to work with my schedule.  Great communication throughout.  It crossed my mind that Don may have second thoughts about taking the job once he saw it in person, but 30 minutes later the monsterous chandelier was safely removed and wires/drywall hole capped off on the ceiling.  They were both very professional, efficient, clean and friendly.  Answered any questions I had.

Authentic Electrical will be the first team I call for any future electrical needs and I easily recommend.

Thank you, Don Hecks from Authentic Electrical!

We were searching for an electrician who could install an EV charger in our garage for our new car.  We contacted several electricians in the area.  Most were unable to meet with me until the following week.  A couple contractors required me to fill out a questionnaire with pictures in order to get a quote.  

Authentic Electrical returned my phone message within an hour and agreed to meet with me the same day.  He provided a quote on the spot and we scheduled to have the outlet installed two days later.  We couldn't imagine an easier process.  Don was professional, responsive and ultimately installed an EV charger that works perfectly.  

Highly recommend Authentic Electrical.

We needed an electrical connection to span our yard and connect to the house, an electrical connection for a bathroom fan, replacement of a defective LED light fixture, and repair of three way light switches. Don and John did all this work in a long morning, neatly and effectively. They closed three dry wall holes in the bathroom, even though this was outside the electrician's scope. They provided a free cost quote, cleaned up each job site, explained each aspect of the work, and were very pleasant. They will now be our go-to electricians.

I had an electrical failure in the house and called a handful of electricians.  Authentic was the most responsive and came out the following day.  They quickly identified and fixed the issue - all for a very reasonable price.  5 stars all the way.

Excellent service by Don and Jon. They are experienced, communicative, punctual and did a great job adding electrical outlets and lights in the basement. Everything looks great and it's completed quickly. Highly recommended!

I contacted Authentic on a Friday after a referral from family member, for installation of the SENSE device to monitor electrical usage in the house.  Don (owner) contacted me almost immediately that night and indicated that he can swing by the next morning, which would be a Saturday.  I called back on late Sat afternoon and proposed Tuesday morning for a visit, but Don says he can come by Sunday morning!    

Don came this morning with Nelson, who happened to have done an install of the SENSE device for another house, and it took about 25 minutes or so to complete the install for me.  Afterwards, I took over and configured the SENSE device from my iOS device and everything is looking great.  I have solar service for my house and installed the SENSE Solar device and now I can see realtime energy output from my solar panels via SENSE.  

Don and Nelson are great.  They are polite and easy to work with.  It was such a pleasure.  I would recommend these guys anytime!

Don is great anything electrical i will be going to him! I explained to him what the issue was and he was able to help me get it fixed the same day.

Don and John Heck are pros! My lights were flickering all over the house, and cutting in and out. Power strips were popping with smoke!  At first, I called another electrician who came over the night before, and basically gave me an assessment that I was using cheap power strips that were daisy chained, and that is what was causing the shortages.  
His advice? buy $100+ Monster power strips, and see what happens.
He charged me a bunch of money, and left his merry way.

That night, the electricity started getting worst! Another power strip popped and smoked, and the house electricity was going berserk.

The next day, I called Authentic Electrical Services. Don and John showed up, on time, and were friendly.
They asked questions. Lots of them. They checked the main power, and got up on a ladder and tapped the connecters to the house to see if there was anything loose there. (there wasn't). They immediately and confidently assessed that the trouble they felt was with the connectors that were on the street power line, and to call P,G&E to fix it.
They also wanted me to call them to follow up.

I called in P,G&E that came out and replaced the connectors in 20 minutes. Problem was solved.  I followed up with Don, who was very happy to hear they diagnosed the problem properly.  These guys are a gem to our community. If you want honest, professional and experienced electricians, please call these guys!

This is the second time I have used Authentic Electric at my rental unit during a tenant turnover. It was important that the work be done promptly to have it ready for new tenants. They were very responsive, and communication was easy. They got the job done on short notice and their rates were very reasonable.  With all the deferred maintainace during the pandemic it can be hard to find a reliable electrician. This team filled the bill and more. It is my pleasure to give them my five stars. If you work with them, I think you will do the same.

Professional, quality work and reliable! Definitely recommend Don to the anyone who is seeking his service. Communicate well and arrive on time and complete work as committed. Best of all he cleaned up the area before he leaves. Thank you.

Tom == electrical genius. Fixed my doorbell and my bathroom light in an hour and a quarter, including the time to get a part from the nearest hardware store! Very nice person and punctual. Probably the first electrician who called me back when I was desperate for help and calling everyone. A++++

Don and his team are great. They installed new pendant lights, a large crystal chandelier, and replaced 20+ light switches and bulbs throughout our new home (with hazardously high ceilings). More than being friendly and professional, I really felt like this team was caring. That, to me is very rare, especially in a city where good electricians are either too busy or just hard to come by!

If we're ever in need of electrical work again, there's no doubt in my mind about who I'll be calling. And if anybody is still in doubt about the quality of their work, just look at this chandelier!

I am very happy with the service I received from Authentic Electric.

I requested a quote through Yelp about a ballast that needed to be replaced in my bathroom light fixture. They responded almost immediately and told me an electrician would contact me shortly, which he did.

After a few more calls and texts, we decided it would be better to replace the complete fixture with LED lighting, which meant I wouldn't have to deal with a ballast and lightbulbs. We settled on a fixture when he called me from the hardware store. He arrived promptly to replace the old one and did an excellent job.

I can't quite give Authentic five starts because the electrician said I would get a discount if I paid cash, which I  would have if I had enough on hand and had confidence that this was fully above-board. He then said I could write a check, either to him or to Authentic Electric. I chose the latter because the former felt very suspect. He left me with the packing material from the fixture, but not the full carton so I could check the brand and price of the fixture. I believe the $32 was reasonable, but it would have been nice to read up on what I had purchased.

Again, I am very happy with the service and price, but a few details about the transaction make me slightly suspicious.

Needed an electrician to install an LED backlit mirror in the bathroom. While the project seemed simple at first, complications arose for various reasons ... basically because a hefty and flat modern unit protested about being mounted flush on a bathroom wall. A vintage 1948 San Francisco house. Tom from Authentic Electrical Services devised a clever solution which involved carpentry as well as electrical skills. The outcome was neat, sturdy and good looking. Just the update my bathroom was asking for.

PS  The boss is Don. He joined in toward the end of the project as two persons were eventually needed. Don did not charge for his time! The going rate for certified electricians is significant. Yet with Authentic you get real pros and nice ones too.

These guys were first to respond when I reached out for help with my electrical. Quick story: power went out when I was using a power saw. I checked the circuit board and nothing was flipped. Messaged some contractors on yelp and Don H( from authentic electrical) was first to respond with both a general quote and a  pre-diagnostic. He helped me fix my issue with the messaging app on yelp. I would come back to him with my needs in a heartbeat.

Don and his brother, John, really took care of us. We needed a lot of electrical work done for our house, and their work far exceeded our expectations.  Our recessed lighting looks amazing,  and we were impressed with the electrical panel update. Through their work, I could tell that they were very skilled, and they were very considerate with how we wanted things to look and be.  They were always very responsive, and they were mindful about keeping our home as clean as possible as they were doing the work.  They even bought cleaning materials to clean our floor and garage once everything was completed.  

My wife and I highly recommend Don and John from Authentic Electrical Services to do any electrical work.  When we have any future projects needed for our home, we will be sure to contact them again.

This review is way overdue. Don was very knowledgeable and covered the ground well. He first carried out a thorough inspection, then was able to identify the issue with the wiring in the wall. Don charged very reasonably and was able to come in very short notice so we're back to civilization within minutes! Definitely has his number on speed dial, very handy.

Don and his partner showed up within 45 min of my phone call on the day after Thanksgiving. He went immediately to work to replace my meter socket that had burned. He completed his work within 2 hrs including a trip to an electrical store for the replacement socket. Don even called me the next day to confirm the electricity was still flowing smoothly. Amazing service.

I reached out to Authentic through Yelp on the weekend and Don got back to me Monday morning with availability to come that day or the next. My EV charger was on the fritz, and I wasn't sure if it was the fuse box or the charger itself.

Don and John showed up to my house exactly on time (how often does that happen?) and within an hour they had my charger up and running. I was mentally prepared to put out for a new charger, so was thrilled that they were able to fix my problem for the least possible cost.

After 15 years of renovations in this old house, I still haven't found an electrical company that I've been happy enough with to have back again - that's changed and Authentic Electrical is now my go-to.

I've worked with several electricians in San Francisco and Don is the best!  He is responds quickly and is very professional.  In addition, both times we contacted him about an electrical problem we were having, he talked us through options in the phone first and then only came out when necessary. Then, he followed up after to make sure all was well. I really appreciate that personal touch and effort to be helpful. We will definitely keep him at the top of our list to call if we have any other issues in the future (which is likely in these old SF houses!).

I needed an electrician to help me with a remodel of a California-type closet.  Don and John did a great job of hooking up the electrical boxes and of systematically cutting the drywall.  

Very pleased.

Great guys to work with. Prompt, thorough and efficient, these guys stepped in quickly to finish another job started by a careless competitor. From the highly complex to the basic work, they got it done.  Always on time, including weekend work. Don is a thoughtful communicator and fair in his billing. Pleasure doing business with AE!

I contacted them thru Yelp and  Paul called me yesterday.  He said he works for John.  He said he can come over around 10 AM today 02/25 to install an 240 v outlet in my garage so I can charge my electric car.  I told him I would have to take off from work.  He said it might take a long time to do it.  So I said OK.  He told me to text him my address which I did and confirmed the appointment by adding See you at 10 tomorrow.  He didn't confirm receiving.  I was a little worry but gave him the benefit of doubt.  
This morning I texted him at 7:52 AM to make sure that he will come at 10 AM, NO REPLY.   Called him at 8:52, NO ANSWER.  Called website number around 10:20, left a msg and asked them to call me back.  Now is 12:08, NO ONE CALL OR TEXT me about it.  
I took off from work for this and now I got stood up by them.  I understand people can be busy, or even forgotten the appointment but, you would think they would remember the apt more than I would.  Or have the decency to call if they are too busy.  
They really betray all those good reviews people have given to them.  No matter how good their work is, as a businessman, I guess, commitment and agreement don't mean anything to them.  SAD!!

These guys are amazing, fast, clean and friendly!
Excellent rates, on time and knowledgable.
Dont wait call Authentic Electrical and get it done
right.

I called Authentic Electric to help me with an exterior lamp that was not working. Don called me back within a couple of hours and we set an appointment for the next day, a Saturday. Don and another gentleman showed up exactly on time (a specific time - not a range) and were courteous, efficient, and effective. They explained that the switch was wired incorrectly and fixed the problem in about half an hour. Had a great experience and will definitely call again! Note: Authentic Electric does not accept credit cards (only cash or check).

Don and his crew did superb job installing new panel for the house and bringing electrical to the code - running a new main, hammering in grounding rods, replacing flex to new conduit etc etc.

Besides, Don worked with inspectors to determine scope of wiring exposure required to get sign-off on a kitchen remodel that was done by the previous owner without permits (which turned out to be minimal - phew... we really dreaded the perspective of opening walls in the kitchen, but ended up just exposing wiring thru the outlets openings), making necessary upgrades and getting that sign-off.

It was a great experience from start to end - reasonable bid (and honoring the contact when a piece of work turned out to have been overlooked), great communication - both business and small talk, flexibility on schedule, keeping the site clean and safe, coordinating with electric company and city inspectors, getting the sign-off from inspectors, and even coming back 5 months later to finish work that seemed optional originally.

Don and his guys have great personalities, know their trade very well and stand behind their work - I cannot recommend them high enough! I'm glad that I found guys I can trust with my future projects.

Don and Jhon were fantastic to work with. They were extremely responsive, arriving on time and were willing to increase the scope on the job. Their work was completed to an extremely high standard and they were even keen to clean afterwards, all this within a reasonable price!

These guys really came through for me in a pinch and I highly recommend them.   Excellent communication even after business hours to coordinate the job.     Thanks Authentic Electrical!

Don responded to my request to come and check out an electrical issue in the kitchen. He returned calls promptly and came out within a couple of days. Breaker kept tripping. He recommended to separate lines to the appliances and put in an extra outlet. His schedule was full but was able to squeeze the work on a Saturday. Don & JT, the A Team, were professional, knowledgeable and completed the job in a timely manner.They were efficient. Price was reasonable.  Don answered my questions and gave thorough explanations. He had to cut out pieces of the drywall and was nice enough to place them back with putty after they finished.They were neat and cleaned up after. After they left, I noticed that the lights under the cabinets were not working. I called Don and he responded quickly and returned to resolve the issue. Terrific customer service!

Don and his brother did a great job to install recessed lighting for our house. They looks very bright during the night. They are very considerate and cover everthing before starting the work. They cleanup after done. We will contact them again for future electrical work.

I HIGHLY recommend Don for any electrical services that you may need. I found him through Thumbtack and feel lucky that he was able to resolve issues in my condo. I will absolutely hire him again.

I reached out to Don for a project that needed deep research to find the best solution to the problem and correct it with minimal re-work. He successfully executed it.

He replaced 20 LED recessed lights in my condo in San Francisco city. He ensures the work he plans to do will work with the inspectors. He made several calls to the inspection office to ask if the products he had in mind would be sufficient for the inspectors and the code.

- Very professional
- Wears contractor shoe covers to keep customer's house clean
- Listens to the customer's needs
- Very responsive with text messages, e-mails and phone calls
- Great communicator. He is reachable 24/7. He responded to me right away and provided updates on timely basis throughout the project
- Makes sure he cleans up any mess in the customer's home
- He knew my priorities and kept them in mind as he sought the solution to my problems
- Very trustworthy
- Inspectors work well with him too
- Very knowledgeable about his field. He gave me some heads up regarding some risks and issues with the project before he started the work.

Donald and John are wonderful people. Solved our problem quickly and worked with us to resolve our issue. Will certainly recommend to anyone.

Don was fabulous. He responded quickly to my inquiry, and was able to install my ceiling fan and light fixtures just a few days later. He did a wonderful job. He is very customer oriented, friendly, and highly competent. I was very impressed that he took my questions seriously and even investigated an alternative way of installing my ceiling fan. I will definitely use Don again and tell my friends about him.

Don and Co were fantastic. They were on time, polite, affordable, worked with my schedule and did a great job. Highly recommend.

Don, Nick and Tom did a great job on my lighting installation, which included two new tracklights, replacing some pendant lights with can lights, putting all of those lights on fancy electrical dimmers and installing a Haiku Big Ass Fan in the living room. It was a transformative change: the place looks so much more modern now!

They were so pleasant to work with, as they showed up when they said they would and they took great care to ensure the work area was protected while they were working and then cleaned up afterward.

It has been my experience that working with small businesses is so much better than a big chain, provided the small business really cares about their work. You can rest assured that Don and crew care about their work, so I hope you'll support their businesses when you have an electrical need.

We had an appointment with Don to discuss some work I want to do in our garage, and I wanted ideas for how to ensure things were to-code and installed properly before we closed up the walls.  Don was initially not able to make the appointment, but ensured a colleague arrived on-time.  His colleague was patient and open to the discussion; though I had some specifics that he felt Don would still be best to answer.  
Don followed up immediately, and came by the same day.  He spent meaningful time and offered practical advice that meant we would not break the bank, and was very knowledgeable about local code--plus he's a down-to-earth guy who didn't make me feel rushed, which I really appreciate.  We will definitely call on him for help with our various project needs.

Highly recommended. They did a good job on our light fixtures. They were on time and worked quickly. The price was reasonable, and they did not make a mess. Can't ask for more.

PGE did new hook ups to all of the houses on our block in the Sunset Dist. this year. They told us our neutral wire connection was shot, it was still working, but it could not actually be repaired, and we needed to have completely new wiring into the house, and since we were still on the original 1940's fuse boxes, we needed a new circuit panel as well.

I got bids from 5 different electricians. They were separated by $2500 from the lowest to the highest. Authentic Electrical Services was the only one that came the same day I called. Don was Knowledgeable and Very Pleasant to deal with, and said they do these New Panels in this part of town all the time. Their bid was in my inbox within hours WITH PICS of similar jobs they'd done, and it gave me our options for the total amps needed on the panel. Their bid was one of the most reasonable, and Don came across as VERY trustworthy.  

Once we said OK, Don and John were on time EVERY DAY, kept in touch at every twist and turn, took care of all of the permits and negotiations with the city inspectors, and PGE, and there were NO DELAYS. They were clean and thorough, and even did things, like where to run the conduit, to my wishes as much as they could, and never acted like I was bugging them or in their way. They even shared their lunch with me the last day on the job.

If I ever need electrical work again, Authentic Electrical Services will get my call, and I can't recommend them any higher, to anyone who needs electrical work done. 5 stars is not enough.
Thank You guys.

I needed to have the weatherhead repaired and the associated interior wiring and electrical panel upgraded and replaced in my SF house.

I called 3 electricians one evening; and Don was the only one that responded.  He and his brother John came out the following morning, assessed the situation and provided a quote along with details of the work to be performed.

They were both very likable guys and came across as being, fair, honest and caring.  I accepted the quote and they came back the next day to start the work, pulling all necessary permits along the way.  Since we had no power coming into the house, they even left their generator for us to use until we got the final clearances from SF and PG&E.......  Now that is awesome customer service!

In the meantime I had two contractors in the house for different things on different days. They each happened to notice the the finished job and both asked who did my electrical, as they said it was outstanding work.

I would recommend them in a heartbeat.

They deserve a 5 star WOW. Don and John were easy to work with, showed up on time, and did what they said they were going to do with a high degree of attention to detail.

Without hesitation, they are now our choice for future electrical work.

I pinged a few electricians for my issue in order to get a quote. Don was one of the quickest to respond and in his response he shared information about a potential quick fix and when this was not enough he and his brother (Jon) came by and instructed me what to do to fix the issue - for no charge!

Awesome professional and friendly service!

Mike did all the work for me, and was very responsive and cooperative. I had 2x6 ceiling lights installed, 6 in two rooms. The work took a few days longer than anticipated, because it turned out that the wall switches were not for lights, but for an existing wall socket; so Mike had to run all new wires and add switches. Mike also took care of painting the ceiling where necessary, and was very conscientious about cleaning up every day. He also provided really great help with some unrelated problems that cropped up. Would rehire for more work.

What impressed me most was that when I asked for a quote for a relatively simple problem, AE responded with several bits of advice to try on my own, first. I appreciate the honesty and integrity above all, and will definitely remember it going forward. It's good to have professionals who are trustworthy!

Don and his associate Manny came to our house yesterday to complete a number of small jobs for us.  We couldn't have been happier with their support!
1.  He arrived ON TIME - that is so rare nowadays!
2. All of the work was completed with a high level of quality and attention to detail.
3. They were considerate of our house - they wore shoe covers in the home, and then again in a muddy yard area to as to not track mud into the garage!
4. He was really responsive through all discussions before the job date came.
5.  He provided some cost cutting ideas - one example was a DIY fix for a motion sensor outlet that he told me how to do myself, rather than requiring him to charge me for the time to address it.
6.  He had no problems answering my questions along the way and educating me about the process.

I'm sure there are more positive things I am forgetting, but I hope this is enough for you to consider hiring him in the future.  We know we will!

I can't say enough great things about Don and John. They are honest, thorough, and resourceful.

They came out to give me an estimate on a job that could've been very labor intensive and expensive. They took the time to look around and problem solve. After playing out a few ideas they found a simple, cost-effective solution.

After making a quick trip to the hardware store they came back and did the job right on the spot.

Thank you!

We didn't end up going through with our electrical project, but did have some positive interaction with Don. He called back immediately, and came over right on time to check out the scope of work. He was very knowledgeable and then provided a quote for his services within a week.

Great communication, competence and follow through. I'd definitely work with Don in the future.

-Jake

I HIGHLY recommend Don Heck's services. He came our way through Tom Hurray Construction. Tom did a complete renovation of our bathroom and Don did the electrical work for that project. We separately hired Don for many small projects to get our fixer upper up to code.

Some services completed:
- Outlets added to our bedrooms
- Dedicated lines ran for our new refrigerator, food disposal, and microwave.
- Installation of our over-the-range microwave
- Installation of our carport and patio light fixtures

Don is trustworthy and a pleasure to work with. My husband and I plan on hiring him for all our future electrical needs.

Don and Nick did an awesome job installing new lights in our kitchen and bathroom and even changed them to LED. They provide a very effective, efficient , and professional service. They are super friendly people who they know what they are doing.

Don and Nick did a great job installing my cooktop and Oven -  I switched from a gas cooktop / oven to electrical ones (I know no-one does that, except me...).  So I needed to run 2 new 240V lines from my fuse box to my kitchen (the old gas ones ran on 120V, which was barely enough to power the clock on the new oven... let alone create heat).

So, Don and Nick ran the lines through the walls, all the way to the kitchen and installed both appliances, with minimal disruption.  

They were professional, fast, and on time (big plus in my book).  They even helped me figure out that my dryer's fuse was out (hence no heat) and helped re-wire the garbage disposal, all included in the original quote.

Oh, and they are reasonable price wise...  Great team who takes pride in their work without reaping the customer off!!!  

Highly recommended ...

Don and his crew at Authentic Electrical installed some recessed lighting for us.  They were very communicative from start to finish, provided an accurate estimate up front, were flexible about scheduling on short notice, and ultimately got the job done on time.  They were all really nice guys and easy to work with.

Don and John were great! Showed up when they said they would, diagnosed the problem within about 10 minutes, and had it fixed in not much more than that, and for a very reasonable price. These guys are now my go-to electricians.

I was looking for an electrician to install my EV charger for my new 2016 Chevy Volt. When I bought the charger from Amazon I purchased an install package which included a local installer to hook up the Level 2 charger. The electrician came out 10 days later and looked to be in a rush and indicated I would need a new electrical panel to support the charger and he was not capable of performing the job (me scratching my head in disbelief :/). Mind you this was around Christmas and New Years when nobody was willing to work or return my inquiry about installing the charger. I tried Home Depot, Lowes, and a few electricians on Yelp. All giving me excuses that they are swamped with work or can do an onsite inspection weeks later. I was able to get one person from Yelp to do an onsite assessment, which added to the frustration when he said it would cost around 7 to 10k to upgrade to a 220 circuit. WOW, needless to say a simple install turned into an odyssey as well as me taking electrician 101 classes..... URGHHHHHH.......

Then I came across Authentic Electrical Services Yelp page. As skeptical as I was and more uncertain about going with an L2 charger I decided to go ahead and call. Before I did I thoroughly read every review and their external website. I felt a little comfortable with the family style business, the level of experience with EV installation, and years in the trade. I decided to call and a polite lady on the phone took my information and indicated that a gentleman named Don would be contacting me by Monday (I called late Friday).

Monday Don called and introduced himself and inquired about the services I was interested with, and suggested an onsite evaluation 5 days later. Don was on time and was kind enough to wait 15 minutes as I was running behind finishing up an errand and was late (very professional). Don began going over my current setup while jotting on his notepad. We began to make small talk while Don was brainstorming on a couple of options to present to me. After the assessment, Don presented me with 2 options and explained the advantages and disadvantages of each one. I went with the 2nd option of installing another sub-panel and placing it on the other side of the garage, that also included moving a few of the circuits from the main panel to the new sub-panel, and also installing a power outlet so I can plug in my compressor and install a workbench light. The job would also consist of installing the EV charger I bought on Amazon.... Great! Don indicated he would get me a quote sent out later that evening (and he did).

I accepted the quote and was able to use a 10% discount Don offered on his page (whohoo, I love discounts). I make most of my decisions on gut feeling and had a feeling that Don was a stand-up guy and was going to take care of me by doing what it takes to make sure I was satisfied with his service. I was spot on. Don required 1/2 down and 1/2 when the job was completed. It was the 1st day of the big storms to hit the Bay Area and I had to work. My mother was home to let Don in and give him 1/2 the payment in the form of a check. Don was very courteous to my mother and informed her of the time he would return. My mom also had a good feeling about Don and said he was kind and respectful. Don was able to get his team to complete the job in 1 day (during the heavy rains). I was very impressed that Don waited for me to get home and test charge my car. I can honestly say that this was a very smooth, professional transaction. Don has the expertise to explain the job in a way that was understandable no matter what level your knowledge is about the electrical trade. Thank You Very Much Don!

* courteous
* professional
* expertise
* solution provider
* clean work
* fast and efficient
* communicates often
* sets expectations correctly

Nelson is great! Very patient and helpful in answering any questions you have and providing suggestions. He's friendly and was nice enough to follow-up with me on a situation I was having with the electricity in my bathroom.

I will definitely use him the next time I have an electrical issue.

Don and his team came to our home twice to install new light fixtures and remove non-compliant wiring. They were very efficient, professional, friendly, and responsive.

They helped us triage some really crazy wiring that the prior owner had installed, put up 3 ceiling fixtures - one of which was fairly complicated as it was at the top of a stairwell and involved lots of very delicate porcelain, installed a new breaker box, and did a great job overall!

I really appreciated that their wiring work was clean and that they swept and mopped up after themselves, too.

I would absolutely ask them to come back for any future electrical work that we needed.

Samuel quickly responded and was very accommodating on an early Saturday evening to change an electrical outlet.

Don and his team were very timely in their communication, fair in their pricing, and quality in their work. I felt confident that they were able to get our home up to code and safe for our baby. Friendly and great communicators. All in all, a good experience!

Don was excellent. We hired him to install an EV level 2 charger in our garage and he installed a new 240 plug, mounted the new unit, and waited patiently while the charger company replaced the damaged unit they had mailed me. I would hire him again for anything electrical.

Don and John did a truly expert job perfectly assembling and installing new ceiling lighting for me in my kitchen. Moreover, they are responsive, prompt, and professional, and offer very reasonable pricing. I will absolutely call them again for my next electrical project.

I'm highly satisfied with the service provided for replacing a fuse panel. When we bought our house it had an old panel that was recalled because it was a fire hazard. Out of several contractors that came by to give me a quote, I felt the most comfortable with Don at Authentic Electrical Services. He was great at explaining how and when the work would be done. Whenever we had any questions or concerns we always got a prompt response through emails and text messages.  

While on site, he was clean, organized, and respectful of our home. We wanted the work to be permitted and along the way discovered that we needed ground rods installed. Where we are located, there is a considerable amount of rock under our foundation. He was able to get the 8-foot rods into the ground using a jackhammer.
When everything was done we were really happy with the results and that his work passed inspection. I highly recommend Don and consider him our go to electrician for future work.

Don was a great electrician to work with! He performed electrical work on a studio renovation for us. His communication was great and he was able to address all of our concerns. When some minor issues came up, he was very responsive and was able to resolve them quickly. We would definitely work with Don again!

They came.  They saw. They conquered.  You can't go wrong with Don and Nelson, took care of 5 different requests for electrical fixes and advice in less than an hour, TOTALLY WORTH IT!  Fixed porch light, track light, doorbell, and advised re: thermostat and power problems in the kitchen (how to manage toaster, microwave, and electric oven from one duplex plug).  Highly recommended, totally reliable.  Plus they were a delight to work with (not that I was working, just hovering).  You can't go wrong!

Don was super responsive from moment one, returning messages via phone, quoting via email, and communicating about the job via text.  

He was able to come out to quote a job (recessed lighting in three locations and a multimedia cable pull) within a day.  We had a tight timeline to get this done before painters, and he was able to squeeze us in right before Christmas.  He showed up promptly with a crew of two more guys, and all the materials for the job.  His team was very communicative and clean, using drop cloths and floor protection where possible, and cleaning up after what is a pretty messy job.

He was very helpful with choices too, for a novice like myself.  When asked, he told us our idea for lighting placement in the kitchen was not good (very diplomatically!) and suggested something else which ended up being so much better.

He ended up completing the job in just under two days (five days after we first spoke on the phone), for what I consider to be a very reasonable price considering the almost rush nature of it.  I would hire Don again in a second.

My house lost half of its electricity a few days ago, and I called Authentic Electrical Services. They responded within a couple of hours, unlike others I tried which required waiting for several days or longer. Don came promptly and diagnosed the problems fairly quickly. Don is friendly, courteous, on-time and knowledgeable. He determined that the problems were due to the line coming into my house and that was the responsibility of PG&E. He told me exactly how to describe the problem to PG&E. In the meantime, he rearranged my circuit breaker connections so that I could have most of the essential services. I got PG&E to come and fix the line in the evening. Don kept in touch with me during the evening to monitor the situation. Early next morning he came promptly and return my circuit breaker to the original connections. My problems were satisfactorily solved. I was extremely happy with the service Don and Authentic Electric provided.

Don and the guys at Authentic are great... I am Rob Quinn .Tattoo Artist at 404 Broadway .san francisco.owner and our facility was pretty bad getting started.this service was on time, from start to finish in timely manner and thank god because i was in dyer need of a great electrician and finding someone to Actually show up. Do the job and be right .... So i am thankful.!!!! ..//.Huge #2... im also a painter. In the city on random projects . i painted a very famous bakery on columbus st ..sf...Stella pastry...Once again .dons guys on time. Did a great job on fan installs and running everything the right way...Need we say more...if your in the dark and need to shed some light !! These are the guys or one man team .small or big job They Rock !!! You'£ be happy you chose Authentic. Electrical..  !!!!!!!!

I contracted Don Heck of Authentic Electrical Services to work on recessed lighting in my kitchen and to run low-voltage conduits on the outside of my house.
From the start, Don was very professional, showing up on time, communicating clearly, and following through.  His work description was thorough and accurate, and I felt his price was fair.
On the day of the job, his team showed up on time and got to work right away.  While there, they made some helpful and creative suggestions, and they were always accommodating and polite.
Within 8 hours, both jobs were done.  The result was without issue, clean, complete, and aesthetic.
I would definitely recommend Don and Authentic Electrical Services.

Don was early and brought his helper Manny, both of which were welcome surprises.
He was very friendly and thorough, tracking a mysterious problem which another electrician the day before could not solve.  I found him on Yelp and called on Friday afternoon, hoping he could cover over Saturday morning.....which he did.  When I got the bill, I was pleasantly surprised, given the short notice, and Saturday (often at higher rates.)  He's my electrician now.

I hired Authentic Electrical and have a previous review about them that was positive.  However, I was too quick to write a review without having the work entirely completed.  They are all very friendly, they are all very nice.  However, their work is sloppy.  They start one room, open up walls, then start another one, open up walls, at the end of a few days, the walls are still open, the work is done incorrectly (outlets placed in wrong area, switches added in wrong areas), sloppy haphazard patching job.  Basically, what happens is the main guy, the owner named Don comes out to look at the project and afterwards sends his guys to come do the work while he leaves the project to do other jobs.  Fair enough.  However, Don's blue taping of where sockets should go and where outlets go is put in the incorrect places and therefore his guys (who I think are actually very knowledgeable and do good work) end up placing the outlets in the wrong places.  They don't finish one room before beginning the next one.  I have a door bell installed with loose wires hanging, I have a switch put in the wrong place on a very visible wall that I had to have redone so that the switch isn't visible and in a more inconspicuous, less visible location, I have outlets left with no covers, I have terrible patching.  One of my GC's said these guys should not have the privilege of working in SF.  Please be cautious when hiring Don.  There are better electricians out there that will actually listen to the customers needs.  Also, Don is quick to fire off repetitive emails, to not take any blame, to say he works for the customer.  Guess what, the proof is in the work and the work is was terribly done.  He sent me links to several music sites when I complained about the work.  I get my ZEN from work well done and being heard as a customer.  I don't need some idiot sending me music to ZEN out too.  I have plenty of vinyl that fits that bill well.  If only more effort was put into his actual work, and less in his attempts at humor.

Highly highly recommend Don. He was very knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to get my issue fixed up.

I had been having issues with my track lights for about 3 months, and had 2 electricians prior to Don come and try to fix the problem.
It looks like one of them left a huge mess behind him, and had completely messed up the wiring (compared to what I wanted the switches to do).
Don was super responsive before, during and after we we were done with the fix (had a few questions for him after).

Hecame in, checked out the place, looked at what he'd need to get the job done.
Because the track lights were at the top of a 17 feet ceiling, Don had to make a few trips to find a ladder that could be brought up to my apartment and would would allow him to reach the ceiling.

He did all of that with a big smile on this face, adjusted the wiring to add more functionalities for me, and did all of that on Memorial Day.

He's definitely awesome, and am keeping his contact info for my future needs.

I cannot speak highly enough about Don. He showed up right on time and ready to work. He demonstrated perfect attention to detail in using his laser to line up my pendant lights precisely where I wanted them. He was very clean and moved anything that might get dirty and tarped my furniture. He even wanted to vacuum but I insisted I was happy to. I am so thrilled with my lights over my bar that I can't wait to have a party! He also gave me some great lighting recommendations for other areas in my home and landscape lighting which I now plan on doing! He's much more than just a great electrician, he's a great person. I'm glad I have the opportunity to write something to highlight his incredible workmanship.
Thanks again Don.

We originally hired another electrician to install a new, heavier fixture for our dining room but had a complete disaster of a time getting it installed.  Don and Tom came to our rescue in a very quickly and were able to trouble shoot all of the mess the first electrician made, very professional and positive manner.  Even when the switching that the first electrician blew out was difficult to fix, they came back after hours to help us with our problem and were very thorough and communicative with the problem.  We've since used their services on a number of other smaller projects around our house (new tv cable runs, trouble shooting outlets, getting advice on circuiting problems elsewhere) and have been very satisfied with all their work to date, even recommending them to a number of friends who have used them as well and were very happy with their workmanship.

Nick and Tom were extremely helpful in rewiring my entire new office.  It was a big job, but they worked tirelessly until it was completed.  They were prompt, professional, and expert electricians.  I would definitely use them again.

I found Don through Yelp because of his great reviews.  Don did not disappoint and lived up to his outstanding ratings.  I needed an electrician to run a 240V outlet for my Electric Vehicle in the garage.  Don was able to install a subpanel in my garage and wire up my charger so I can now charge my car in the garage!  Don was very professional and friendly, very knowledgeable and explained all that he needed to do.  And he did it quickly and left my place cleaner than it was.  Don also gave me a tip on looking for a GFCI outlet that must have tripped a few months ago, causing several outlets in my garage to be without power.  I will certainly use Don in future projects!

I had the pleasure of working with Nelson and John of Authentic Electrical Services today to install two chandeliers and a wall sconce.  A++ all the way.  They stopped by on a previous day to assess the job.  They arrived on time, despite unbelievable construction on my street (4th near the Caltrain station).  They were friendly, efficient and professional despite my dog, Skye, giving them a not so friendly welcome.  THEY ACTUALLY BROGHT DOGGIE TREATS FOR HIM as they remembered him from the assessment visit!!!  How thoughtful!  They consulted with me with during every step of the installation to ensure I would be pleased.  They worked hard, were thorough, cleaned up after the installation and removed the old fixtures and packaging.  Their pricing is extremely fair!  As a real estate broker, I work with many painters, electricians, tile workers, etc., so I have a good idea of what repairs and work should cost.  Did I mention my ceiling is about 15ft high!  They have moved to the top of the my list for work with my properties.  I'm so glad I found them and I highly recommend them for your electrical needs.  I have an additional 4 chandeliers waiting to be delivered and looking forward to having these guys do the work.

Don and his team(Nick, Zack and Tom) came over to do a large lighting project for our condo. Throughout the job, they were professional, courteous and cheerful. Their work was clean and quick and they thoroughly cleaned up after themselves. Don and his team are my go to guys for any electrical work!

We just completed a bathroom and bedroom remodel. I really liked working with Don. He's an all-around great person who is very professional and really cares about his work and customer satisfaction. He was responsive, collaborative, communicative and really knew his trade. We did have some challenges with LED string lights (I had a complex set-up using this fledgling technology), but he dove right in and figured it out. I share this because it says a lot about how he operates - honest about what he knows/doesn't and willing to do what it takes to get it done. I wish I had more for him to do as it was a real pleasure working with him. I wouldn't hesitate to use Authentic Electrical again and I look forward to working with him again someday. Thanks for all you did for us Don!

When the power to half you house goes out and you don't know why...you call Don!  On a dark and rainy night last week he came to diagnose the situation within 30 minutes of my call - now that's service.  He explained that the problem was with the incoming power from PG&E, helped me contact them and explain the situation for their work crew.  Don even followed up with me the next day to make sure that all was well and that the problem was solved.  When in need for any future electrical assistance I'm calling him - thank you Don!

I called Authentic solely based on the good reviews I read about them.  When I called, Tom responded since Don was on vacation.  Due to the short timeline i had to get this project done, Tom assured me all would good and he would contact the owner (Don).  I figured I would not hear back from him.  Next thing you know I have Don calling me from across the world to schedule it and assure me it would get done in time.  Sure enough, i had a full crew on the job the next day, and it was Sunday!  The quality of the work was great.  They left the job site immaculate each night, and they got the job done in 3 days just in time for the painters.  It was raining sideways that day and they were up on the scaffolding getting soaked and didn't quit until the job was done.  I was very impressed, and as promised, I hired them for the next job.  I used them for wiring Cat 6 and Coax to every apartment in our 42 unit building.  Along the way we found some electrical hazards that they fixed for us as well.  I am glad to have found Authentic Electric as I know they know what they're doing, and they're flexible.  Very friendly crew!

Call Don late 4/16/2015 to have him troubleshoot a problem with the main breaker constantly tripping.  He was able to come over in 20 minutes and found the problem was the sub-panel.  He's took the time to explain the problem and discussed the replacement.  He was out the next day to replace the panel.  He's very neat, and the replacement panel looked great after the installation.  I would definitely call him again for any electrical needs in the future.

Hi, I've used Don, the owner, and his team of top notch electricians on multiple occasions. They are friendly, professional, straightforward and affordable. Tom gave me the suggestion of putting multi-colored led lights in my living room. I loved the idea as it saved space and looked cool. I wouldn't have thought of it without Tom. These guys are really helpful and want to make sure you're satisfied. I would definitely recommend them to my friends.

We have enjoyed the professional and detailed work provided by Authentic Electrical Services. They installed under cabinet lighting recommending the best lighting to get for the job and going above and beyond by patching holes needed for the job even though I was getting a drywall person to do it. In addition they installed sconces, light switches and outlets. I could hear them taking the time to line up properly all that was installed. They take pride in what they do as it shows in what they did for us. I would recommend their services to anyone who asks.

I highly recommend Authentic Elec. to any general contractor or home owner for residential or commercial work.   As a general contractor, I have used Don's services on many of my projects as a sub.  He and his crew are incredibly professional and know their trade well.   His delegation and communication on large or small jobs have been exceptional.  Prompt service and attention to details.

Over the last three years I have hired Don Heck to help me assess electrical infrastructure at properties and install electric vehicle charging systems for my clients all over the bay area.  He is professional, intelligent, well spoken and very through.  I m always happy to have Don with me on a project as he knows what he is talking about and puts customer service and their satisfaction at the top of his must do: list.

I recommend Don Heck for electrical work in the house.  He installed new lighting fixtures in the kitchen giving it a totally updated look.  He also installed several lights outside the house with motion detectors and another group of outdoor lights that can be controlled from the ground and upper floor area of the house.  He even fixed the swimming pool lights and the pool electrical system.  It now works so efficiently.  Don has also performed other repair and upgrade construction services that has really improved and updated the house (inside-out). I have recommended Don to several of my relatives and friends.  He is hardworking and honest, and best of all, he really knows his trade. His prices are very reasonable and competitive.  When he completes every job, he would leave the area clean and spotless.

We can heartily recommend Don's services.  We had some lighting changes we wanted made.  He answered our phone call immediately, came and gave us an estimate within a couple of days and completed the work within 3 days.  So pleased to work with someone who is reliable, on time and courteous.  The other 3 electricians I called didn't even return our calls.

What a great, knowledgeable electrician (family run business) and superb to coordinate and work with.  From coming out for the estimate, discussing permitting and scheduling the work, Don stayed on top of it, very flexible, available, courteous and professional.  I live in a condo and he was well aware of the condo HOA requirements. His team installed 13 recessed lights, 1 pendant light and an over the sink light including all LED bulbs & dimmer switches.  Arrived on time with all supplies and his team was very friendly and considerate. They completed the work in one day and he had already scheduled the city inspection for the next morning, very efficient! Before leaving, all was cleaned up and everything put back as it was... they care about their work and overall customer satisfaction! Quality work and very reasonably priced compared to others. Would 100% recommend him to others. Thank you Don & Team!