• 1.(a) For an estimate on doing a service upgrade - approx. $40.00 to $60.00 (Action Electric - NO CHARGE)

• 1. (b) Estimate on rewiring  a bungalow - Some charge even $200.00 others $40.00 others are free.

•  ( Action Electric - If we are not doing a service upgrade and decide to bid on the work, then, we will require a pre payment  of $140.00 paid online using "PayPal" or a Certified cheque or cash upon arrival. Such payment only covers mainly traveling to the premises and back and about one hour onsite! The time to work out the estimate and write it down is free. We  will refund this amount if we are accepted to do the rewiring work or do a service upgrade.)

• 1. (c)  Hourly rates vary from $18 $25 for hacks, $30 to $35 for amateurs being handymen/women and some carpenters. A licensed certified electrician may charge $45 or more but is NOT ALLOWED TO WORK IN YOUR HOME within the city limits unless supervised by an electrical contractor! The only legal way is hiring a legitimate electrical contractor - expect $60 to over $120/hour. ( ACTION ELECTRIC - If we have to work by the hour it will be from over $80.00 for residential to over $100.00 for Commercial work.  It depends on the specific type of work, how far from down town, type of building construction and & environment of the work and if it is a one man job or two and more! We do not work by the hour unless the type of work can not be estimated properly.)

• 2. Minimum fee for a permit payable to the city is $114.00. Some contractors charge $250.00. We charge from $180.00 up  because it may even take 1/3 of the day to get it!.

• 3. Call out service charge - 3 hours on site or part there of (includes travel time) - minimum charge is $200.00 only when available. (usually there are over 5 hours of CRITICAL long overdue electrical work to be REPAIRED in EVERY HOME. Look around for extra work to make up for the 3 hours minimum charge. Extra travel time charges may also apply. ( Action Electric - (We do not do service calls) 

• 4. 100 amp. service upgrades, exactly the same as a new overhead Hydro connection from $1,500.00. (based on approx. 8-14 circuits to be reconnected back) (We also may charge approx. $1,700.00 during winter months + taxes if the panel-board has 6 - 8 or more ccts. to be reconnected back, subject to other conditions on site, no two electrical services are alike!)

• 5. 200 amp. new or upgraded service from $ 2,350.00 (We charge about the same)

• Prices and comparasons are 3 years old. Please contact me for UPDATES.

• 6. Change the main 100 amp. panel from fuses to a circuit breakers type (only if possible to do so) from $ 1,300.00. (We charge from $1,200.00 and up)

• 7. Install a 2nd panel (sub panel) off the existing splitter, only when and if approved to do so,  $1,300.00. (We don't do that, we remove the splitter completely!)

• 8. Having to install a mast approx. 4 feet ABOVE a roof, when required for the service upgrade add  $340.00. (We charge $360.00)

• 9. (a) To install a sub panel with 16 - 24 spaces from $600.00 and up. (We charge from $500.0 up)

• 9. (b) To install an 8 cct. sub panel when other work is being done at the same time $ 400.00. (We charge approx. $200.00)

• 10. To rewire a home from knob & tube to modern wiring: Expect $30.00 materials and labour for each device - light, switch etc.  from unexperienced contractors or handymen or unscrupulous contractors, if those are the kind of people you have confidence in for your safety! The work done may be required to be removed and start all over again! NORMALLY expect some others who may be electricians to work for $45.00/hour - you buy the materials and get the permit and you are responsible for all work. This type of set up is still legal in Winnipeg. EXPECT from $170.00 to $190 and even over $240 from experienced contractors per each existing item and expect EXTRA additional items which are not there now but are required such as 3 way switches, smoke & co alarms, ARC FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKERS and GFCI protection in the washrooms, laundry and kitchen counters, out doors etc. Some items of this type of work may even cost more! - It all depends how much surfaces damages and frustration, disruptions you are willing to put up with and who will repair such damages later. All that non electrical work can amount to a few thousand dollars! (We have no exactly set charges - from us it may end up being  $160.00 for some items to $180.00  for others to over $220.00 each in more difficult areas. We normally only do this type of work by the hour  at over $80.00/hr + materials + taxes + total permit expenses etc.) (We only estimate this type of work when the customer already has another estimate and such estimate works out to be higher than $160.00 per item. We charge $140.00 paid in advance for this type of estimate - this pre payment amount is refunded if we are hired to do the work or are doing a service upgarde )

• 11. Basic wiring of a recreation room - as per "City Bylaws" Per standard receptacle, switch, light, smoke + co alarm outlet box, etc. $ 30.00 each from inexperienced "wanna be electricians" and $45.00 from inexperienced contractors . If hiring experienced electrical contractors expect  2 -3 times more than what the carpenter or handyman told you in the beginning! Usually they say "oh, I will throw in a couple of plugs and a light" or "I even can do it all myself! - no problem!" Sample estimate for a rec. room (We may charge from $90.00 to even over $110.00 per item - it all varies if there are bedrooms, washrooms exotic light fixtures to install etc.  which alone may even take one hour to install some fixtures!. An exact price is given on site!)
  The installation of exotic light fixtures or fluorescents, track or  pot lights, are extra to install. Rec. rooms also need other items and generally most number of items are not set by you the customer but is set by the Electrical inspection authority! Most people are not aware of the requirement to install: Building and ELECTRICAL Permit expenses, smoke and CO alarms DEVICES including upstairs  3 way switches, gfci receptacles in some areas, ARC FAULT Circuit breakers etc.
  (ACTION ELECTRIC - we don't compete with handymen/women or your carpenters to wire a rec room - therefore, don't call us if you plan to do such price comparisons!)

• June 24, 2010 - here is a sample copy of a similar rec. room we wired a while ago:  Sample estimate for a rec. room

• Prices and comparasons are 3 years old. Please contact me for UPDATES.

• 12. NOTE: rewiring areas of a home  - per item: from handymen expect $ 30.00 for each item in an all opened basement areas with no bed rooms, approx. $60.00 throughout concealed 1st floor interior walls only and over $80.00 or more at its 1st floor perimeter walls. It can cost well over $100.00 each item on the 2nd and especially at 3rd floors. It all depends on how much damage is accepted to walls and ceilings. The more damage allowed to be done the less cost per item. An empty room is rewired much faster. Rewiring a home with the occupants living in the premises and furniture all over and only minimal surface damages allowed can easily doubled or triple the cost. From legitimate electrical contractors, just basically triple the cost of what the handy/people are charging you. From legitimate lectrical contractors expect at least 2 - 1/2 times more as stated above.

• (ACTION ELECTRIC - we look at over 10 different situations & conditions which affect the price and which have to come together into an agreement. We then decide if it is feasible to do it or not to do it at all even without discussing any prices! Further, we only estimate this type of work when the customer already has another estimate and such estimate is higher than $160.00 per item - there is a PREPAID travel time charge of $80.00 to do a rewiring estimate.)

• 13. Rewiring completely an old home throughout - all opened walls no OBSTRUCTIONS no occupants living in, all cleaned up opened walls and ceilings $100.00 to $110 or even $130.00 per item. ARC FAULT breakers, smoke & co alarms + the electrical main service & equipment and permit fees also extras. (We don't exactly have set prices, we estimate on site.  (EXACT PRICE. We only estimate this type of work when the customer already has another estimate and such estimate is higher than $110.00 per item -  there is a PREPAID charge of $140.00 to do a rewiring estimate.)

• 14. Wiring of a new home from approx. $45.00 to $120.00per item + the MAIN overhead or under ground service + ARC FAULT breakers + smoke & co alarms and permit fees. Supplying and installing  light fixtures is also extra.

• (ACTION ELECTRIC - We stopped doing new homes long time ago unless we are competing with other legitimate contractors tradespeople instead of competing with helpers or apprentices or carpenters or handy people. There is a travel time charge of $80.00 PREPAID to estimate the wiring of a new home) Our prices may be set at $100.00/per item + the cost of the MAIN SERVICE  entrance & panel and permit expenses.

• 15. A hot tub outside 30 - 50 amp. from $1,200.00 and up. (not $300) quoted by the sales people to customers when they are purchasing it!) (For this and AC. wiring, we don't compete against handymen who usually do this type of work, therefore, (we stopped a long time ago competing with unlicensed workers for this type of work)

• 16. An outdoors receptacle GFCI from $ 375.00 and up, may include a permit expense. (this may include a service call (traveling charge if it is the only work to be done) Most people go to work once a day, most of the time some contractors go to work 6 - 8 times per day! How many times per day do you travel to work?
  To stress this point - A second receptacle 2 feet away would only cost about $40.00 - do you know why? (ACTION ELECTRIC - we don't do service calls)

• 17. A service call to install a receptacle in a room - an office (which later may become a bedroom): Permit fees + time to get it = $320.00 + travel to the premises average 20 minutes both ways $60.00 + time on site about 1.5 hrs for a very easy installation $110.00 + price of an ARC FAULT C. BREAKER required $85.00 + cable and box and device etc. $30.00 + ALL TAXES $56.00 = TOTAL approx. $500.00 - this is where the handyman makes a killing!
  A second receptacle by a legitimate contractor may cost only $30.00 - do you know why? (ACTION ELECTRIC we don't do service calls)

• 18. A complete wiring of a new 2 car garage 30 feet away (digging the trench not included.) from $1,200.00. (We only look at it if the customer accepts a rough estimate over the phone!)

• 19. Baseboard heaters some cost $200.00/each, most from $350.00 and up, others over $450 /each - Includes a built in thermostat. (the cost depends on the location to be installed, size and difficulty of running cables to it etc.) (We only do NEW electric heating installation work in the WHOLE BUILDING. Free estimates)

• Prices and comparasons are 3 years old. Please contact me for UPDATES.

• 20. A service call to inspect a 1200 sq ft home, subject to 'as per details' in your offer in the purchase agreement - A quick 1.5 hour maximum walk through and a VERBAL report $150.00. For a written report add $50.00 requiring to take more accurate notes, open up panels, LIGHT FIXTURES etc.  and having to spend much more time on site - with a detailed report all could take one person over a whole day! (Action Electric - We may or may not do an electrical pre purchase inspections. This type of service is where we demand a pre payment of $220.00 mimimum  + taxes - an advance payment to be made "on line" or on arrival by cash or a certified cheque. )

• 21. A new dryer receptacle wired 20 feet from the panel from $450.00 includes the wiring permit fee + time to get it & inspection. (For a second dryer receptacle beside the first one - would cost approx. $80.00 - Would you know why?) (ACTION ELECTRIC - We only do a dryer receptacle if the customer accepts a minimum price by phone!)

• 22. A range receptacle installed on the existing cable $30.00 - $100.00 and up. (we don't do this type of service call)

• 23. To wire & connect an electric water heater $250.00 to $ 340.00 to over $500.00 (depends on the WATTAGE, type of panel and distance from the panel, includes a permit. Extra for a sub panel and also extra for an unusual discontinued circuit breaker.) (ACTION ELECTRIC - we only do this type of work if the customer accepts a rough estimate first by telephone)

• 24. To Supply, wire (from the panel) & connect (separate cct) and install a VENT, a bath fan at a 1st floor bath room and a wall switch from $ 400.00 and up.
  For the same work at the 2nd floor can add up to $ 300.00 or more! (this work is difficult and costly otherwise it would have been there already 40 or 50 years ago! (Our price begins at $800.00)

• 25. To wire a sun room:  Some may consider wiring cost details to be something less significant and a handy/person carpenter will throw in a light and a plug  later on. Later, when completed and more time is available, then would be nice to have this and that in the sun room including some heat and a fan! Well, the cost can be quite significant then - perhaps over $1,000.00.  Quite different than what the carpenter or the handyman had quoted! (Again - we don't compete  with handymen or handy/women or carpenters) and don't do tours any more around the city trying to do such estimates or others like it!.

• 26. Another example which many would not realize the cost:
  If the owners do not want too much damage to a wall etc., a receptacle in an outer perimeter wall of a home (such as in outside wall of the living room or an actual outside receptacle) with a finished rec. room ceiling below can take up to much more than 3/4 of a day or even more than a whole day to be accomplished. It can cost even more than  $600.00 with a required permit, GFCI protection, separated cct. etc. (ACTION ELECTRIC - We only do this type of work when combined with other substantial work at the same time.

• Prices and comparasons are 3 years old. Please contact me for UPDATES.

• To be continued

• A recent link I found - PRICES   http://www.electricianpdq.com/price-estimates/

•    Another link I found - PRICES   http://pillartopost .com/home-repair-cost-upgrade-guide.aspx

• Another link I found from "Service Magic" I could not have said it better myself! Check it out!

http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.5-Ways-to-Save-on-Electrical-Repairs.8217.html

June 8, 09 - Just found a website with hourly prices! Check it out and compare.  http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.5-Ways-to-Save-on-Electrical-Repairs.8217.html