JoeTedesco

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Why do electrical companies charge for travel time?
Answer: Because they have to pay their employees for eight hours per day, whether or not the employees are actually working or just driving to a job. They also have to pay for the associated costs like taxes and worker's compensation insurance - which is pretty high for electricians. And don't forget about the high price of gas these days. If a company says it doesn't charge for travel time, it is making up for the cost somewhere else.

Question: Why is electrical work so expensive?
Answer: Believe it or not, it takes training, mathematical aptitude and at least four years of experience before an electrician is capable of working without supervision. As with any job, employers such as Walker's Electric must pay a premium for these skills and experience. To the employees' pay you must add the costs of payroll taxes, worker's compensation insurance premiums of between 9 and 16 percent of payroll, liability insurance, etc. And then there's other overhead costs such as maintaining and insuring vehicles, advertising and administrative expenses. Also consider that it isn't cheap to live in San Diego and electrical work can not be outsourced to China.

Question: Why should I use an electrician when I can hire a handyman or an unlicensed electrician for less?
Answer: Licensed electricians charge and earn more than handymen for a reason - they have to be able to understand complicated electrical concepts and formulas. We are called in to repair the electrical messes made by handymen on a regular basis, so we won't complain if you use them. However, keep in mind that you'll end up paying about as much for a handyman who thinks he knows what he is doing, and takes twice as long to do it, as you would for a licensed electrician. Also, the work of the licensed electrician is guaranteed to meet code requirements whereas the work of the handyman and unlicensed electrician is not.

Question: What is the difference between a licensed electrician and an unlicensed electrician?
Answer: Unlicensed electricians are not regulated by the state board of contractors. It is illegal for them to provide labor and materials in excess of $500 per project. They are not subject to laws designed to protect consumers and do not have insurance - exposing consumers to considerable financial risk. Also, most home owner’s insurance policies do not cover damagers associated with unlicensed contractors.

Licensed electricians are regulated by the California Contractors State License Board, which assures consumers that they have met the following requirements:
1. Four years of verifiable experience at the journeyman or foreman level.
2. Passing score on the Law and Business Examination.
3. Passing score on the Electrical C-10 License Examination.

By using a licensed electrical company, the consumer can be confident of the electrician’s qualifications and can obtain restitution in case of dispute or damages.

Question: What are some signs that there may be a problem with my electrical system?
Answer: These signs should be taken seriously because they indicate the presence of overloaded circuits which can lead to electrical fires.
- Recurring problems with blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
- Flickering lights.
- A burning smell or unusual odor near appliances or wiring.
- A sizzling sound at wall switches or outlets.
- Appliances that deliver a slight shock when touched.

__________________

mdshunk

That about sums it up for that person.

I like the quote, "We are called in to repair the electrical messes made by handymen on a regular basis, so we won't complain if you use them." I should track how many messes I fix up in a year's time, along with the dollar value. I know it's substantial.

Regrettably, there are places that still don't license electricians on a statewide basis. I know that Speedy Petey and myself both work in such states. We find some stuff, brother, I guarantee you. "It works; what's the problem?", is the usual reaction from the customer.

CE1

I do the same thing here in Vermont But: The state does license electricians. There are so many loopholes in the state regulations that the licensing of electricians is almost totally useless.
When was the last time someone asked to see you license?
“What’s In Your Wallet?”

Sparky Joe

I'm pretty sure as of tomorrow(01/07) every electrician in the state of California will finally be required to be licensed.

In Utah we can't take the journeyman test if we didn't have a state license for 4 years(plus some other things). And even then to maintain your license you need 8 hours of schooling per year 4 of which need to be code specific.

In 4 years I've had to pull out my license twice, and we've called state inspectors out at least 2 times. It's a pretty serious fine for both parties(employer/employee) one that I wouldn't mess with.

Sparky Joe

When was that Q&A written Joe? My dad has a (dormant) C-10, but I know he didn't have 4 years of wireman experience when he took the tests(still doesn't)

JoeTedesco

Go back to the first post and click the link for the website where this was discovered.

Frequently Asked Questions

__________________

Magnettica

To the employees' pay you must add the costs of payroll taxes, worker's compensation insurance premiums of between 9 and 16 percent of payroll, liability insurance, etc. And then there's other overhead costs such as maintaining and insuring vehicles, advertising and administrative expenses.


Interesting. How did you come up with the 9-16% figure. Is that based on a national average, or just the avg. out in California?

JohnJ0906

Thats pretty good Joe! I'm always asked that first question. (Travel time)

mdshunk

Nice to see you over here, John. I see we just crossed paths over at M.H's site a few minutes ago.

JohnJ0906

I guess I just can't get enough

Teetorbilt

I'm curious as to why this only applies to electricians. With the exceptions to the tests taken, doesn't everything else also apply to most trades?

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

JohnJ0906

Some of it does, of course. I can't speak for other trades, but some of the DIY or handyman electrical work I have seen is MAJOR safety and/or fire hazard.

mdshunk

Some, but not all. Nobody ever died from a bad paint job. Few people have died because the new roof leaked. Few people have died from a poor landscaping job. Just some for instances. Of all the trades, I believe that a screw up on the part of the electrical work has the potential for the greatest catestrophic loss. Structural work is right in there too.

Teetorbilt

My carp is about W/C, travel time, ins. on and on like the rest of us don't deal with it.

My license required [b]5[b] yrs. of the same verified by a GC + the business and law exam + the current code exam. I don't built to code anyway, I built what is right. That's why I'm Teetorbilt.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

mdshunk

Good for you!

Bkessler

The california license is still a joke, How many states do you need a license to cut some ones hair, but not to work as an electrician?

mdshunk

I know my state (PA) is one of those states. Barbers are licensed on a statewide level, but electricians are licensed here and there in the bigger boros, towns, and cities. Heaven forbid a fella gets a bad haircut.

JohnJ0906

I have just that fear! Therefore, no haircuts! God forbid I get that one hack barber!

RobertWilber

I am certain that licensing of barbers stems from the public health standpoint, but it may well be a holdover from the 1700s, when barbers performed surgery on a regular basis.
They were known as barber-surgeons, and had carried on the "trade" since the middle ages, performing amputations and extracting teeth.

...and you know that they [and we all know who "they" is] NEVER eliminate the requirement to hold an income producing, fee-paying license once it has been established.

Reminds me of the guy who asked his wife why she cut the legs off the turkey before she roasted it at Thanksgiving ...

K2

I think untrained deck builders can kill or injure in numbers comparable to poor electrical work and deck building is sold as a diy project everyday.

Faulty auto mechanic work can kill in numbers far exceeding that of faulty electrical work yet that is also sold as another diy and has no license requirements or inspections in my state. I would rather have a few electric code violations in my house than have a crappy brake job.

I think we all wake up in the morning and decide what are the acceptable risks we are willing take to get by that day. If we looked for and took heed to every warning out there we'd have to roll over and go back to sleep for the rest of the day.
K2
Colorado Elect lic 23528