Electricians, a question for you.

[Nayov]

Just want to know how badly I got [censored].

Long story short, there was a short in the underground cable that goes from the pole-mounted meter to my home (15'), resulting in no power obviously. So, I called an electrician after I had the power company check things out. I called 5 local electricians, and all of them were answered by answering machines. I then called a national company that advertised 24 hr emergency service ("Sparky"). They came out (daytime)and installed a so-called temporay cable becasue it's winter here. He spent 3 solid hours, and when all was said and done, I was charged a mind-bogling $738 (he told me in advance).

Does that price sound about right? It was a genuine emergency, so on some level I suppose it can be justified. (Next time it happens I'm grabing some wire from Home Depot and doing it myself!)

Also, he said the temporay cable needs to be replaced with a perm cable and buried come spring.
Is that correct? What makes this cable "temporary?"

 

[-Clayton-]

Sounds like you got ripped off.

 

[Carbon]

Sounds reasonable.

 

[Billy_D]

$120 service call plus another $225 for $75 an hour labor and another $20 for the cable. I don't see why you were charged more than $365 for what appears to be a temporary fix. Could you post pictures of what the electrician did?

 

[labman]

Sounds high. Is there a disconnect out there or did they have to work it hot? If so, I would hesitate to mess with it myself. I am rather bold about DIY stuff, but tend to stop at the main breaker.

 

[JHZR2]

HD cable may be $1/foot at retail, or more. Three hours at $100, plus emergency call, and I figure $450 or so... that seems like a padded bill to me... but I guess on an emergency call, some costs are arbitrary.

 

[tom slick]

Was the call "after hours" (not between 7 am and 6pm)? If so it wouldn't surprise me if the hourly rate was $150 and $240 for the call.

 

[JimPghPA]

If you have any type of home-owners insurance contact them. I read one site where home-owners insurance paid for a generator for use after a major ice storm.

 

[mechtech2]

They took advantage of you desperate need.
To hear that it is temporary is insulting.

 

[tom slick]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Was the call "after hours" (not between 7 am and 6pm)? If so it wouldn't surprise me if the hourly rate was $150 and $240 for the call.


Just wanted to add that since it is above ground he might have had to use SO cord which is expensive. Does the cable look like a big extension cord with a thick robber cover?

 

[BigCahuna]

You stated he told you in advance what it would cost, and sounds like you said OK. So how did you get ripped off? You also said next time you'll go to home depot and grab some wire, well why didn't you do it your self? If you don't know how to do it you pay someone who does. And if it was buried cable, he had to locate the short, ty in the new wire just to get your power back on.He knew what to do, and showed up when the local guys wouldn't and now your complaining?

 

[Nayov]

Cable is stamped "sun res" which I assume makes it an above ground cable.

 

[hertzer]

Well, for a permanent installation, you need to buy USE cable, which stands for Underground Service Entrance cable. Depending on what the size of your service is, or what size your main breaker is in your panel, determines what size of wire to buy. If you have a 200 Amp service, you need to buy 4/0 aluminum USE cable, or 2/0 copper. Copper is more expensive, but is a better conductor than aluminum. If you have a 100 amp service, you need to buy #1 aluminum or possibly 1/0 aluminum, or #2 copper. You can buy USE cable by the foot at Lowes or possibly Home Depot. And yes, you did get hosed.

 

[TallPaul]

You always get reamed on emergency services. Ha, look at the cost of a tow anymore when your car breaks down. I got ripped off by emergency services after a lightning strike, they charged me a huge sum (can't remember now, don't want to remember) for a piddly amount of work I could have done myself. Three guys come out, one just standing around taking it easy. I wrote several complaint letters including to the BBB and finally got a $100 check from them after my insurance agent called them.

 

[ddrumman2004]

I would be wondering what caused the buried cable to short out in the first place so it doesn't happen again.

 

[Herz]

500 dollars max for this job...

 

[eljefino]

Code says bury it deep and maybe conduit, the electrician was just meeting/avoiding code by calling it "temporary".

It is interesting how the old cable failed, burying it should have made it reliable.

 

[SecondMonkey]

This is why I don't hire electricians. *sigh*

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
You stated he told you in advance what it would cost, and sounds like you said OK. So how did you get ripped off? You also said next time you'll go to home depot and grab some wire, well why didn't you do it your self? If you don't know how to do it you pay someone who does. And if it was buried cable, he had to locate the short, ty in the new wire just to get your power back on.He knew what to do, and showed up when the local guys wouldn't and now your complaining?


Agree completely.