FAQs

Yes. Capstone Electric serves both residential and commercial customers. On the residential side, we work with homeowners on everything from routine repairs and service calls to full rewires, panel upgrades, and new construction electrical. On the commercial side, we work with business owners, property managers, and general contractors on tenant finish-outs, commercial build-outs, lighting retrofits, panel upgrades, and more. We’re licensed and insured, and experienced across both sectors throughout the Hill Country and greater Austin area.

Yes — a significant portion of our work comes through general contractors and custom home builders who rely on Capstone Electric as their electrical subcontractor. We handle the full electrical scope on new construction and remodel projects, pull our own permits, coordinate with other trades, and stay on schedule. If you’re a GC or builder looking for a reliable electrical sub in Central Texas, we’d welcome the conversation. Visit our Electrical Subcontracting page to learn more.

Capstone Electric is based in Dripping Springs, TX and serves the greater Austin area and Central Texas. Our primary service area includes Dripping Springs, Austin, Westlake, Lake Travis, Buda, Kyle, Blanco, Spicewood, and Johnson City. If you’re not sure whether we cover your area, give us a call at (512) 894-0462 — chances are, we do.

Yes. Capstone Electric holds Texas Electrical Contractor License #24165 and is fully insured. Every technician on our team is licensed and qualified, and we stand behind all of our work with a one-year warranty on parts and labor. When you hire Capstone Electric, you’re hiring a fully credentialed electrical contractor — not an unlicensed handyman.

Scott Breen has been in the electrical trade for decades, and Capstone Electric has been serving homeowners, businesses, and contractors throughout Dripping Springs and Central Texas for over 20 years. In that time, we’ve completed work for over 10,000 satisfied customers and built a reputation as one of the most referred electrical contractors in the Hill Country.

There’s no hard rule, but most electrical panels have a functional lifespan of 25 to 40 years. Age alone isn’t always the deciding factor — condition, brand, and capacity matter too. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels are known to be problematic regardless of age and are worth replacing. A 100-amp panel in a home with modern electrical demands is often undersized regardless of its age. If your panel is more than 25 years old, has been showing signs of trouble, or your home has grown in size or electrical load since it was installed, it’s worth having it evaluated by a licensed electrician.

Extension cords are designed for temporary use, not as a permanent wiring solution. Using them long-term — especially for high-draw appliances — creates fire and shock hazards. If you find yourself relying on extension cords or power strips because you don’t have enough outlets where you need them, the right solution is to have an electrician add outlets or circuits in those locations. It’s a relatively straightforward job that eliminates the risk and the clutter of a cord-dependent setup.

Both are safety devices, but they protect against different hazards. A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protects against ground faults — situations where electrical current flows through an unintended path, often involving water or a person. GFCIs are required in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and other wet or damp locations. An AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) protects against arc faults — dangerous sparking within the wiring that can ignite fires inside walls without any obvious outward sign. Current electrical code requires AFCI protection in most living areas of new construction. If your Hill Country home is older, it likely doesn’t have AFCI breakers, but they can be retrofitted for improved safety.

It depends on the scope of the work. In Texas, certain electrical jobs require a permit — panel replacements and service upgrades, new circuit installations, and significant wiring work all typically require permits and inspections. Smaller repairs like replacing an outlet or a switch generally do not. When Capstone Electric performs work that requires a permit, we handle the entire process — application, scheduling, and final inspection. You don’t need to manage that yourself. If you’re ever unsure whether a project requires a permit, ask us — we’ll give you a straight answer.

Start by checking your breaker panel for any tripped breakers — a tripped breaker will typically be in a middle position between on and off. Reset it by switching it fully off and then back on. Also check any GFCI outlets in the affected area — a tripped GFCI upstream can cut power to multiple outlets on the same circuit. If resetting breakers and GFCIs doesn’t restore power, or if the breaker trips again immediately, that’s a sign of an underlying problem that needs a licensed electrician. Don’t repeatedly reset a breaker that keeps tripping — that’s the breaker doing its job, and forcing it can create a safety hazard.