frank_n
Senior Member
- Location
- Central NJ
Does anyone have a quick and/or easy way to estimate service upgrades? I live and work in central NJ? It would be helpful if someone would share their unit costs.
Estimating Service Upgrades
- Thread starter frank_n
- Start date
- Status
electricguy45
Member
- Location
- Western NY
Alot of variables there, I live in WNY and I usually use $7.50 per amp if someone wants a "ballpark" price on the spot. That's for a straight forward OH 200A service. Obviously, thats out the window w/ extenuating circumstances, i.e., underground, running down the side of the house with SEU, because the local utility wants the meter on the front corner and the house is 100 yrs. old and the panel is in the back, etc. For my area, that's alittle high, but I feel I can justify it because we've been in business 21 years and I believe the work we do is worth it. Everybody and everywhere is different. Do a few of each and come up with an average, for both materials and labor. What you can charge may be somewhat dictated by your competition, but don't short yourself, we're underappreciated as it is.......frank_n said:
I know this is long winded but I hope it helps.
electricguy45 said:
In the early 90's I was getting $1600 for a 200A upgrade...all SE, now adays I am starting at $2500...heading to $3k in about 2 weeks (my prices go up right after tax season).
Just a panel swap out ~ 200 for 200, 100 for 100 ~ starts at $1000, more if the panel is recessed, etc.
Frank...you still using TNE?
celtic said:
Wow, is this area of the industry in reverse, and at full speed backwards, in 1984 they used the $10 an amp as a guide, that is over 20 years, with no increases, when everything from wages, to material have gone up every year since, if we are not in reverse, were sure standing still.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I have a generic assembly cost for easy 100's and 200's, then I add on for anything out of the ordinary or additional material. Had a call just today about doing a service upgrade at a home where the owner swears they have 3-phase. I just got done looking at it, and darned if they don't have 3-phase at their house. Old A-base meter too. That's one I've never seen before.
satcom said:
I just gave an estimate for $2500 for a single phase service up ...
GC says "Wow, that's more than my other guy"
CEC (me) says: Where is he? I'll have this done as soon as you are ready for me
GC starts falling over his tongue.
I am gradually raisng my prices...although I wouldn't be wrong to just slam them up 25%.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
When I was younger, a friend's parents' house had the typical 3-wire drop, but with a red (looked like) #10 alongside, which supplied only the A/C compressor unit through a separate disconnect.mdshunk said:
frank_n
Senior Member
- Location
- Central NJ
celtic said:
Yes I am. I just upgraded to the 2007 version. I've done a few hot-tubs bids and won every bid and made nice money. I use it for any conduit work I have to do.
I am also using unit costing from the list you gave me last year at this time. I've raised some of my prices, but kept others the same. Here's where I am now:
New work recessed lights $110
Old Work Recessed lights $150
Old work receptacles $110
New work receptacles $40
Ceiling fan box $150
Hang Ceiling Fan $90
My business is still part-time (I'm a teacher during the day) and I'm able to take on some decent size jobs. When I was a full-time electrician I did mostly commercial work. Residential is so much different. I've stuck to the TNE Quotes I've given even though I usually spent more time working than the program said I would. I've figured out ways to work faster and I come pretty close to what TNE says I should be at.
I have another teacher working with me as a helper and he is starting to work faster too. Some days we show up at a job at 3:30, wire 4 recessed lights on a dimmer switch and I walk away 5 hours later with a $500 profit. Hopefully I will have more of those days this year. I hooked up with a GC and he is giving me a lot of work. Of course I have to wait longer for my money, but it is work and the jobs are usually bigger. I'm doing my first commercial job now and the money is much better than commercial.
My biggest problem is keeping busy. I can't find a good way to find new work while I am working late at night. I usually work like crazy for days, then wait for the next job. I just switch my telephone service to a VOIP and I'm having my phone ring simultaneously on my cell. A lot of people don't leave messages. I just started this yesterday and I got 2 jobs today. My other problem I am having is record keeping. I need to sit down and figure my expenses and start tracking my hours and work backwards to find my break even point. I started this at $50/hr and I'm already at $90. However, I'm using more unit costing and TNE than I did when I started last year.
What I'm looking for are unit costs for Services. I haven't done many and when I do they are attached to another job (like an addition). If nobody uses unit costs on services I'll try to develop them myself and share here. For example. I am bidding on a 150 amp service upgrade. I'll be using 1 1/2" PVC into a Homeline Panel that has 12 single pole breakers.
I will use TNE for the PVC, wire, service head etc., but it would be nice to have unit costs for: price per foot of pvc run. cost per breakers, etc. I want ot have any kind of variable you can for a service upgrade so I can spend more time working and less in front of my computer.
This site has helped me so much with starting my business.
Frank
frank_n
Senior Member
- Location
- Central NJ
It's only $33 from AmazonRBI14 said:
RBI14 said:
I showed Frank this...almost 1 year to the day! ( #12 )celtic said:[2006 National Electrical Estimator]
Price: $33.23 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
This thread : estimating and billing software links to other threads where TNE has been discussed.
For the price...it can't be beat.
Last edited:
LYNXelectricsocal
Member
Celtic,
You will have a pretty rough time finding any kind of set price for a service upgrade of any kind because of the incredible amount of variables from area to area. If you ever establish a good, set bid for your area after accounting for the obvious variables, "my 2 cents" Put a 30% allowance for material fluctuations and don't date it. It works for me everytime. easy as that.
You will have a pretty rough time finding any kind of set price for a service upgrade of any kind because of the incredible amount of variables from area to area. If you ever establish a good, set bid for your area after accounting for the obvious variables, "my 2 cents" Put a 30% allowance for material fluctuations and don't date it. It works for me everytime. easy as that.
celtic said:
I remember back in 89 200A in RMC was starting at 2K no bends or offsets, less then 10Ft of conduit, and back then they din't enforce the panel marking, and you din't have to drive 2 ground rods, so now with increased material prices, cost of living your increase is long over due.
Every service has different conditions, and different materials, are you using a residential loadcenter or a commercial copper buss, are you using rigid or service cable, how long,and how difficult will the GEC be to run, are there any bends in the riser, how many branch circuits.
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
service upgrades
service upgrades
I start at 12 per amp almost exclusively 200s mast 200 extra. However I allways use 40 ckt 40 space AND replace with all new breakers. Allways shoot 3/4 ply backboard painted to customer pref usually battleship grey or hunter green. You get what you pay for. When I drill your roof you are also getting an experienced roofer. My boots dont leak and they are always layed out perfectly plumb to the meter pan before I drill. No tilted masts and leaking roofs with tired old breakers. 3500 for 200 amp undergrouind up to 100 ft.
service upgrades
I start at 12 per amp almost exclusively 200s mast 200 extra. However I allways use 40 ckt 40 space AND replace with all new breakers. Allways shoot 3/4 ply backboard painted to customer pref usually battleship grey or hunter green. You get what you pay for. When I drill your roof you are also getting an experienced roofer. My boots dont leak and they are always layed out perfectly plumb to the meter pan before I drill. No tilted masts and leaking roofs with tired old breakers. 3500 for 200 amp undergrouind up to 100 ft.
- Status