Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked before a first job — pricing, licensing, permits, emergencies, and what we cover.
Getting started
- Do you charge for an estimate?
- Estimates are free for planned work such as panel upgrades, EV chargers, lighting, generators, and remodels. Diagnostic call-outs, where the job is finding out what is wrong, carry a service call fee that is credited toward the repair if you go ahead with it.
- How quickly can you come out?
- Safety issues such as burning smells, scorching, or sparking are prioritised — call rather than sending a form for those. Planned work is normally scheduled within days. Our standard hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Do you give a fixed price or an estimate that can change?
- A fixed price in writing before work starts, for anything we have been able to scope properly. Where something genuinely cannot be known until a wall or panel is opened, we say so upfront and explain what would change rather than leaving it open-ended.
- Do you work with contractors and property managers?
- Yes, regularly. For remodels we coordinate the rough-in to the drywall schedule and book inspections in advance. For managed property we arrange access with tenants directly and invoice per property.
Licensing and insurance
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Yes. We are a licensed Massachusetts electrical contractor and carry full liability insurance. We are happy to provide the license number and a certificate of insurance before work begins — ask and we will send both.
- Why does using a licensed electrician matter?
- Beyond the work itself, it affects whether permits can be pulled, whether the work passes inspection, and whether an insurer will treat a claim as valid. Unlicensed electrical work tends to surface at the worst moment, usually during a home sale or after a fire.
- Are you certified on specific equipment?
- We are a SPAN Certified Installer and a Mass Save partner. Certification matters most where equipment has manufacturer requirements that affect warranty and support.
Permits and inspections
- Do I need a permit for electrical work in Massachusetts?
- Most work beyond a straight fixture swap requires a permit and an inspection by your town's wiring inspector. Adding circuits, panel work, service changes, EV chargers, generators, and remodels all generally need one. Replacing a fixture or receptacle on existing wiring in the same location generally does not.
- Who pulls the permit?
- We do, as part of the job, and we attend the inspection. You are not left filing paperwork or waiting at home for an inspector on your own.
- What if a contractor offers to skip the permit?
- Understand what is being offered. The saving is a small fee, and what you accept in exchange is the liability. Unpermitted work causes problems during a home sale, can complicate an insurance claim, and leaves you responsible for whatever a future inspector finds.
- How many inspections will there be?
- For most single jobs, one. For remodels there are usually two: a rough inspection before the walls are closed, and a final inspection once devices and fixtures are in.
Emergencies and safety
- What counts as an electrical emergency?
- A burning or fishy smell, smoke, sparking, scorch marks, a panel that is hot or buzzing loudly, water reaching electrical equipment, shocks from fixtures, or a breaker that trips instantly every time it is reset.
- Should I call 911 or an electrician?
- If there is active fire or smoke, call 911 and leave. If a power line is down, call 911 and your utility and stay well clear — always treat a downed line as live. For everything else electrical, call us.
- My breaker keeps tripping. Can I just keep resetting it?
- Resetting once is reasonable. If it trips again immediately, stop. The breaker is doing its job and telling you there is a fault. Repeatedly forcing it back on removes the only protection on that circuit.
- Is a warm outlet dangerous?
- It should be looked at promptly. Warmth usually means a loose or deteriorating connection, which generates heat and worsens over time. It is one of the more common precursors to an electrical fire.
Rebates and incentives
- Can you help me get a Mass Save rebate?
- Yes. We are a Mass Save partner and check what your project qualifies for before you commit. Rebates generally require permits pulled and inspections passed before funds are released, and applications usually need approval before work begins.
- Why do you not publish prices or rebate amounts?
- Because both change. Rebate values shift by program year and job costs depend on conditions specific to your property. A number that ignores your situation is a number that changes later, and a stale figure on a live page costs more trust than it earns.
Coverage
- What areas do you serve?
- Greater Boston and the MetroWest towns, including Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Needham, Ashland, Holliston, Sherborn, Weston, Marlborough, Sudbury, and Wayland. If you are just outside that list, call and ask.
- Do you cover both homes and businesses?
- Yes. Residential, commercial, generators, and access systems, across the same service area.