Frequently Asked Questions

Rates in NYC run higher than national averages — typically 25–40% more — due to master license requirements, DOB permit obligations, and the complexity of older buildings. Our work is priced per job, not padded hourly: outlet work from $120, lighting from $150 per fixture, panel upgrades $1,800–$3,500, EV chargers $450–$1,200, rewiring $2,500–$12,000. Every job gets a written fixed price before we start. See our cost guides for detailed breakdowns.

Yes. Phone estimates and on-site quotes are free with no obligation. The only paid assessments are formal written reports — wiring assessments and safety inspections ($250–$600) — and those fees are credited toward any resulting work.

Yes, transparently: after-hours and weekend rates run 1.5–2× standard daytime rates, and emergency service calls start at $120. We quote the repair before starting it, even at 2am. What we never do is inflate a crisis.

For larger projects — rewiring, panel upgrades, generators — ask about payment scheduling when you request your quote. Commercial and co-op projects can also be structured around board payment processes.

Yes — master licensed and fully insured for residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work throughout New York City. We provide license and insurance certificates (including additional-insured certificates for co-op and condo buildings) with every job that requires them.

Panel upgrades, new circuits, service upgrades, rewiring, generator installation, EV charger circuits, and substantial new wiring all require NYC DOB permits. Simple replacements — a switch, outlet, or fixture on an existing circuit — generally don't. Full details in our NYC electrical code guide.

We handle everything: DOB filing, DEP fuel permits for generators, inspection scheduling, and the final sign-off. Permits are included in our quotes — never a surprise line item. You receive the Certificate of Electrical Inspection when the job closes.

It's common in NYC. Unpermitted work can block sales, void insurance claims, and draw DOB violations. We can assess what's there, document it, and where needed, bring it to code and have it properly inspected — a process called legalization. Start with an inspection so you know what you're dealing with.

All five boroughs, with dedicated coverage of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Staten Island is served on request.

Standard appointments: 2–5 business days, often same-week for smaller jobs like outlets, switches, and fans. Emergencies: 1–3 hour response, 24/7/365 — call (877) 976-7353 directly rather than using the web form.

Constantly — it's a core part of our NYC work. We prepare complete board packages: scope of work letters, license and insurance certificates naming the building as additional insured, and load letters where the building engineer requires them. We also work within building hour restrictions.

Yes — offices, retail, restaurants, and multi-family buildings. Commercial projects over $2,500 get fixed-price itemized proposals after a site walk. We also handle the electrical side of Local Law 97 electrification — load studies, service upgrades, and heat pump infrastructure.

One circuit tripping repeatedly usually means that circuit is overloaded — often fixable with a dedicated circuit rather than a panel upgrade. A breaker that won't reset indicates a fault and should stay off until diagnosed. Trips across many circuits, a warm panel, or a burning smell point to panel-level problems. Our troubleshooting service identifies the actual cause before recommending anything.

Usually one of four things: a breaker that's tripped without looking tripped (switch it fully off, then on), a hidden GFCI outlet upstream that's tripped, a failed breaker, or a loose neutral connection — the serious one, since it can damage electronics. Worth diagnosing promptly.

Not automatically. Knob-and-tube and older wiring can be safe if original, undisturbed, and not buried under insulation — and hazardous if deteriorated or improperly modified. The honest answer requires an assessment, not a blanket replacement quote. Read our knob-and-tube guide for the full picture.

Call immediately for: sparking outlets or panel, burning smells, smoke, power out to the whole home when ConEd shows no outage, breakers that won't stay reset, exposed live wiring, or flooding near electrical equipment. A single dead outlet or minor flicker can wait for a scheduled visit. If unsure, call — we'll tell you straight.

Almost certainly. Private homes are straightforward; co-ops and condos require board approval, but New York State law requires buildings to permit reasonable EV charger requests from owners with parking. We handle the documentation, the DOB permit, and the incentive guidance — federal credits and ConEd rebates can cut your real cost significantly. Details on our EV charger page.

Yes, with the right platform. Most pre-1990 NYC switch boxes lack the neutral wire standard smart switches need. Lutron Caseta works without one and is our default recommendation for pre-war buildings. We verify your wiring before you buy any equipment — see switches & dimmers.

Often, if you have 100A service — common in NYC homes built before 1985. A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 50A circuit, and many older panels have no headroom. We assess your panel's real capacity as part of every EV and AC quote, and only recommend the upgrade when the math requires it.

Townhouses and homes with private outdoor space: usually yes. Co-ops and condos: sometimes, with board approval — ground-floor units with private yards have the best odds. High-rises generally need building-level systems instead. We'll tell you honestly what's feasible before you spend anything. See generator installation.

A full phased modernization of a 3–4 floor brownstone runs $12,000–$35,000 — service upgrade, panel, rewiring, grounding, and electrification readiness. It starts with an assessment ($300–$550, credited toward work) that produces a master plan with per-phase pricing. Details on our brownstone and pre-war modernization pages.

Almost always yes — separate ConEd meters and panels per unit means tenants pay their own usage, repairs are unambiguous, and legalizations go smoother. We configure the second meter with ConEd during service work; the meter-and-panel scope typically runs $2,500–$5,000.

Yes — it's a core practice. Standardized unit turnover packages at fixed per-unit pricing, HPD electrical violation cures with certification-ready documentation, common-area and emergency lighting, riser and service upgrades, and portfolio rates at 3+ buildings. See multi-family building electrical.

LL157 added natural gas alarms to NYC's detector requirements — residences with gas service (a gas stove, boiler, or water heater) need them under DOB rules effective 2025. Most homes we visit don't have them yet. We install compliant units alongside smoke and CO coverage — see detector installation.

For homes with EV chargers, heat pumps, mini-splits, or smart switches — strongly yes. Most damaging surges come from grid switching and ConEd restoration events, not lightning, and they kill hardwired equipment that power strips can't protect. A panel-mounted Type 2 SPD ($350–$800 installed) protects every circuit. Details at surge protection.