Your Hoboken Electrician, Trusted Since 1977
Malfettone Electric has been serving Hudson County since 1977, and Hoboken's mile square has its own personality when it comes to electrical work. Narrow brownstones with a century of renovations layered on top of each other. Pre-war walk-ups converted into condos. New luxury builds squeezed onto tight lots next to buildings that predate modern electrical code entirely.
We know this housing stock because we've been working in it for nearly fifty years. Founded by Mike Malfettone Sr. and now run by his sons Michael Jr. and Jason, we're a family-owned, licensed and insured electrical contractor — and Hoboken is one of the towns we know best.
Electrical Services We Provide in Hoboken
Panel Upgrades
Many Hoboken brownstones and older multi-family conversions are still running on undersized or outdated electrical panels — sometimes original to the building, sometimes added decades ago without today's power needs in mind. If you're adding central air, an EV charger, or just tired of tripped breakers, a panel upgrade is often the real fix, not a workaround.
EV Charger Installation
Hoboken has one of the highest concentrations of EV owners in Hudson County, and also some of the tightest parking and electrical infrastructure to work around. We install Level 2 home chargers in single-family homes, and we work directly with condo and co-op boards when a charger needs board approval or has to route through shared electrical space.
Generators
Storms and grid issues don't skip Hoboken. Whole-home and portable generator setups are common requests here, especially in ground-floor and garden units where flooding-related outages are a real concern.
Wiring & Rewiring
A lot of Hoboken's older housing stock — especially pre-war brownstones — still has remnants of outdated wiring systems, including aluminum branch wiring or, in some of the oldest buildings, knob-and-tube wiring that was never fully removed during past renovations. Both can be safety and insurance concerns. We evaluate what's actually in your walls before recommending a fix, rather than assuming the worst or the cheapest option.
Indoor & Outdoor Lighting
From recessed lighting in a gut-renovated condo to exterior lighting on a brownstone stoop or rear yard, we handle both new installs and upgrades to existing fixtures.
Electrical Repairs
Flickering lights, warm outlets, breakers that trip for no obvious reason — in older buildings these are worth taking seriously rather than resetting and forgetting.
Outlets & Switches
Adding outlets in a renovated kitchen, upgrading to GFCI/AFCI-protected outlets where code requires it, or installing smart switches — common requests in Hoboken's condo renovation market.
We Understand Hoboken's Housing Stock
Hoboken is not a typical suburban service call, and we don't treat it like one.
- Brownstones. Many were built well over a century ago. Electrical systems have often been patched, extended, and reworked multiple times by different owners and different contractors. We trace what's actually there — not just what the panel label says — before recommending work.
- Condos and co-ops. A large share of Hoboken's housing is condo or co-op-owned, which means electrical work often has to account for building rules, shared systems, and board approval — especially for anything that touches common electrical infrastructure, like adding a new circuit that runs through shared risers, or installing an EV charger in a shared garage. We're used to working within those requirements and can provide the documentation boards typically ask for.
- Tight urban buildings. Narrow row-house footprints, shared walls, and limited access mean electrical work in Hoboken often takes more planning than the same job in a detached suburban home. We plan around that up front instead of discovering it mid-job.
- Limited panel space. Older Hoboken panels were sized for a much lower electrical load than modern households actually use — no AC, no EV charger, none of today's appliances. Adding modern circuits to an already-full panel is one of the most common issues we find here.
- Aluminum wiring and knob-and-tube. Both were common in different eras of Hoboken's building history, and both come with known risks if left untouched or improperly modified. We assess condition honestly, explain what we find in plain terms, and recommend a fix that matches the actual risk — not a scare tactic.
Why Hoboken Homeowners Choose Malfettone
- Family-owned since 1977. Nearly fifty years serving Hudson County, now run by the second generation.
- Licensed and insured. Every job, every time — no exceptions.
- We handle all the permits. Hoboken permitting and inspection can be its own process to navigate, especially in older buildings or condo/co-op settings. We pull the permits and manage that process so you don't have to.
- Free virtual consultation. Get an estimate from your phone or laptop, no need to schedule around an in-person visit for the first conversation.
- Financing available. Necessary electrical work shouldn't have to wait on a full renovation budget.
- Strong warranty on all work. We stand behind what we install.
- 4.9 stars across 119+ reviews. Hoboken and Hudson County neighbors have trusted us with their homes for generations.
FAQ
Do I need permission from my condo or co-op board before electrical work?
Often, yes — especially for work that touches shared electrical systems, like adding a new circuit through a common riser or installing an EV charger in a shared garage. We can help identify what documentation your board is likely to require and provide it as part of the job.
My brownstone still has some old wiring I'm not sure about — is it dangerous?
It depends on the type, condition, and how it's been modified over the years. Aluminum wiring and any remaining knob-and-tube wiring are worth having evaluated by a licensed electrician rather than guessed at. We'll tell you honestly what we find and what it means.
Can my panel handle an EV charger?
Many older Hoboken panels are near or at capacity before an EV charger is even added. We evaluate your existing panel's capacity as part of every EV charger consultation, and recommend a panel upgrade only when it's actually needed.
Do you pull the permits, or do I have to?
We handle the permit process for you. That includes filing with the appropriate office and coordinating any required inspections.
How does the free virtual consultation work?
You choose phone, video, or in-person — whatever's easiest. For most Hoboken jobs, a video walkthrough of the panel and work area is enough for us to give you a clear estimate.
Do you work in condo buildings, or just houses?
Both. We regularly work in Hoboken condo and co-op buildings, including coordinating with property management and boards when required.
Ready to Talk to a Hoboken Electrician?
Whether it's a panel that's showing its age, an EV charger you've been putting off, or wiring you'd rather have checked than wonder about, we're here to help — and we've been doing this in Hudson County since 1977. Call us at (848) 294-1739 or visit /contact to schedule your free virtual consultation. We handle the permits. You handle the decision.