A BETTER BRIEF
Planning your electrical services project
Describe the work without opening equipment
List affected lights, outlets or equipment, when the issue appears, and any recent changes. For a planned installation, share equipment specifications and location. Do not remove covers, work on wiring or bypass protective devices to gather information for a quote.
Verify the contracting business
Use the Electrical Safety Authority’s official guidance and contractor lookup to check the Licensed Electrical Contractor you intend to hire. Ask for its ECRA/ESA licence number and confirm who is responsible for the electrical notification and any required inspection. Verify the business, not only an individual’s job title.
Compare authorization and completion
Request a scope covering labour, materials, access, restoration and exclusions. Ask how unexpected conditions are approved, what documentation you receive and how the work is handed over. If other trades must repair walls or finishes afterward, establish who coordinates that work.
Jobs to describe in your request
- Electrical repair
- Panel upgrades
- Lighting
- EV charger installation
What changes the cost?
Use these factors to compare the scope of proposals. A total price alone does not show whether the same work is included.
- Diagnostic complexity
- Equipment requirements
- Access and restoration
- Notification and inspection scope
Ask for a written description of included work, exclusions, payment stages and how additional work is authorized. Confirm who supplies materials and what documentation or warranty terms you receive at completion.
Official resources
Check these sources and confirm requirements for your property with the responsible authority. Guidance is a starting point, not a property-specific assessment.