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Posted By: mj SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 01:37 AM
to up -grade a residental ser to 200 amps the fee here is about$575. including material and labor, are we getting screwed or what? there is so much competition here , if you bid too high, you dont get the job? what about your area?
Posted By: sparkync Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 02:46 AM
mj, it's me again. Seen your post about the service change. It usually takes me about $900.00 to $1100.00 to do a service change, depending on what has to be done. If it is pretty simple, probably your price might work around NC, but the last 2 or 3 I've done included subpanels and working the meter riser hot etc...and most of the time a 30/40 cir. weatherproof panel outside, plus new ground wire to water pipe etc.
Posted By: Electricmanscott Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 03:00 AM
Just did a single fam 200 amp service change couple weeks ago. Very easy 40 ckt main brkr panel, pvc riser. $1600.00 Made a nice profit that day although it was snowing and I ended up with some rusty tools and cold wet feet. Paid a guy $250.00 cash for help and materials were about $410.00. $25.00 for permit.
Posted By: NJwirenut Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 03:49 AM
Usually charge around $1000 or so for a basic single-meter 200A service upgrade here. This includes 40 slot SqD QO panel and ~15-20 standard breakers, oversized 3/4" plywood backboard, meter pan (relocated outside if desired), 2" PVC conduit to service head and through wall, 2/0 copper conductors for entrance/#4 bare ground and new 8'ground rod.

Extras like additional breakers, GFCI/AFCI breakers, TVSS modules, or outside 3R main breaker at additional cost...
Posted By: Electric Eagle Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 03:32 PM
Our base price for a 200 service upgrade is $2000. That's for underground service and the panel within 10 feet of the meter. Most of ours run $2500. Around here we are very competitive. With inspection it is a minimum 2 day process. We have to have it inspected before the POCO will switch over, so we do most of the work, get inspection, finish the change over, call for hook up. Our cost is way over $575, I don't see how you do it, mj.
Posted By: mj Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 03:52 PM
well guys, now i really feel bad, i guess the cost of living here is very low, that why labor is cheap, if i raise my fee to $1000 for a service change, to include a house power panel,se cable,ocpd devices,2 are 3 extra circuits, someone else will do the job for $600 are less,
Posted By: Electricmanscott Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 05:23 PM
Mj what are the materials costing you for this. I can't see how anyone could do this for your price.
Posted By: Wirenuttt Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 05:31 PM
All I can say is I hope it stays a flat rate installation. Seems like one of the only secure part of gauranteed decent pay left on residential wiring.
Posted By: mj Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 05:48 PM
hhp $150 SE CABLE $25 Breakers $80e material 250-$300 labor ;275-$300 basic service change to 200 amp tol$ 575-600
Posted By: Wirenuttt Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 06:34 PM
MJ;
If you were in Massachusetts with those rates, you'd put all the competors out of business
Posted By: mj Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 08:57 PM
brother, here in mississippi, wages are low,therefore we can not overcharge.maybe i neeed to relocate to mass
Posted By: sparky Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 09:21 PM
[thread highjack]
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.....
[/thread highjack]
Posted By: Jim M Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 10:53 PM
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
Posted By: Jim M Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/16/02 10:55 PM
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
Posted By: rhagfo Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/17/02 12:20 AM
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).
Posted By: sparky66wv Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/17/02 01:20 AM
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.

[Linked Image]



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 11-16-2002).]
Posted By: mj Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/17/02 02:19 AM
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.
Posted By: rhagfo Re: SERVICE CHANGE COST? - 11/17/02 03:27 AM
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.
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