ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area SERVICE CHANGE COST?

brother, here in mississippi, wages are low,therefore we can not overcharge.maybe i neeed to relocate to mass

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one of the most expensive items that wil drive a service uprade will be if your state laws dictate that OCPD's need also be updated to AFCI's.....
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mj,

Around Baltimore a 40 ckt. Sq. D QO panel is about $200 with cover, single pole breakers are $6, two pole $12. 4/0 AL SEU is almost $2/ft. Add 8-10 hours labor @$50 and I don't see how you can make any money. Permits alone around here would be between $40-100.

The last on I did I charged $1250, and this was reusing the existing breakers.

Pls don't come to MD, I couldn't stand your prices. LOL

mj,

Around Baltimore a 40 ckt. Sq. D QO panel is about $200 with cover, single pole breakers are $6, two pole $12. 4/0 AL SEU is almost $2/ft.

Panel, $200, 30 breakers @ 6=$180, 6 2p @ $12=$72, permits, taxes etc. Materials alone are more than you are charging.

Add 8-10 hours labor @$50 and I don't see how you can make any money.

Permits alone around here would be between $40-100.

The last on I did I charged $1250, and this was reusing the existing breakers.

Pls don't come to MD, I couldn't stand your prices. LOL

If as a home owner I got a bid to replace my service for less than $600 I would be wondering where you were saving cost. I would never pay $2500 either, unless it was a very difficult job. I would think that $1,000 to 1,500 would be a fair price for a good neat job.

Electricmanscott feels he made a good profit on a $1,600 job sounded like one days work. $915 profit, what about the hidden cost of doing business?? Taxes, tools healthcare and equipment over head etc. I would say that you had a good day, but you sure didn't make a killing by any means.

I would not feel cheated if Electricmanscott had replaced my panel for that price. I am a homeowner with above average skills and knowledge. I replaced the service entrance in my 1st house, and I will likely replace the one in my current house in the near future. When I do it will take a bit as the current panel is located over 15' from the meter pan, so I must install a meter / main and make a 4 wire run to my panel, (I don't like SE cable).

Before Allegheny Power and with no inspections:

Anything over $750 was "highway robbery"...

With Allegheny Power and subsequent inspections:

As much as $1600 for a 200A 120/240V Overhead with 15' x 2" mast, Feed thru disco, 40' to panel, RHW-2 in PVC to panel, 32 space load center under house and through cellar, 2 2-1/2" x 10" Core drilled holes through concrete, 5 junction boxes to lengthen homeruns, 2 ground rods, and 1 GFCI receptacle and 4x4 cover. Plus $75 for inspection...

That was cost...

I got $1065 for estimating too low, and I'm making about $10 per hour on the job... A loss of about $535.00.





[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 11-16-2002).]

rhagfo,the $600 service change, that is about the going rate here, are you in mississippi? we have about 100 licensed electrical contractor in my metro area, if i over- bid ,i dont get the work.

MJ I live in the Greater Portland OR. area. I have never gotten a quoit for a replacement of the of a service. I do work with bids from the electrical trade in my job. Around here average labor runs $50 to $65 per hour. If you bought the least expensive 200 AMP panel and necessary breakers and SE cable, for the simplest of upgrades parts would be at least $250. That leaves $325 to cover labor. That would be 6.5 hours at $50 or 5 hours at $65, I just don't see that as much of a profit margin. I forgot to mention permits here cost about $65.