Hiring a Reputable Electrical Contractor
Taking time to hire a reputable electrical contractor can assure that you get quality
electrical work for your home or business at a fair price. Tacoma Power offers the
following suggestions when you hire an electrical contractor.
- Call Tacoma Power's Light's Electrical Inspection Office, 502-8277, to verify
what electrical work is required.
- Hire only a licensed and bonded electrical contractor. Call the State
Department of Labor & Industries' toll-free hotline at 1-800-647-0982 to make sure
your contractor is properly registered. You also can ask about any complaints that Labor
& Industries has received about a particular contractor. Ask friends and neighbors for
references. You also can ask your contractor for references from past customers. Tacoma
Power cannot recommend contractors.
- The contractor or owner living in the home must obtain an
electrical permit.
Residential permits cost $80 for homes served by
overhead power lines and $160 if the home
has underground electrical service. Other permit fees vary.
- Get at least three bids for electrical work. Most contractors will
provide bids at no cost to you; be sure to ask when you call to request a bid. Ask bidders
about any costs you don't understand before you sign a contract. You can call electrical
suppliers to verify costs for meters, wire, circuit breakers and other equipment. If a bid
looks "too good to be true," it probably is.
- Make sure you understand any contract you sign, and never sign any
contract that doesn't specify what work will be done, the charges, when work will begin
and how long it will take.
- Ask for a provision in the contract so that you make your final payment
after Tacoma Power completes its inspection and accepts the work.
For information call the Tacoma Power's Electrical Inspection Office
at 253-502-8277, or the Washington State Department of Labor
& Industries at 1-800-647-0982.
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