The price of service upgrades

[cowboyjwc]

He does not make $300-$500 an hour, the company takes in that amount per hour ........assuming he runs the business as a business and not a hobby.

I installed a 200 amp 5 wire pin and sleeve receptacle one time, my cost of receptacle and enclosure was around $900, should I have only charged 300 or less:roll:

You both know what I meant.:roll:

 

[sparky_pdx]

How much to HVAC guys charge for a replacing an old furnace with a new one? Or plumbers & water services ??? Sounds like a similar idea...

 

[iwire]

You both know what I meant.:roll:

Cowboy, I was talking about adding a 15 or 20 amp 125 volt outlet in someones home.

$300 is about 3 hours, some material and those pesky permits.

 

[cowboyjwc]

Cowboy, I was talking about adding a 15 or 20 amp 125 volt outlet in someones home.

$300 is about 3 hours, some material and those pesky permits.

And I know what you meant. Hey, permits are cheap, lawsuits are expensive.

 

[Chamuit]

The price of three phase load center with 150 - 225 amp main breaker is usually nearly double or more than that of single phase. 3 pole branch breakers are usually 4 or 5 times that of double pole breakers. If you filled this panel with several 3 pole breakers you would have 1000-1200 in the panel and breakers easily.

You are correct. This was residential and the only 3 phase breaker is or would be the A/C condenser.

 

[LarryFine]

This was residential and the only 3 phase breaker is or would be the A/C condenser.

You do realize any line-to-line load that has no neutral can have one pole on the high leg, right?

A 1ph panel and a separate 3p disco is usually cheaper (and safer) than what you did in that pic.

 

[LEO2854]

Wow!

Around here we get about a grand for a 100 amp and 1200 for a 200 amp service. If we bid any higher we wouldn't get any work. One contractor is doing simple 100 amp service upgrades for 700 bucks.

Times are tough in michigan but hang in there you guys need to work together to get the prices up good luck:grin:

 

[flyboy]

Times are tough in michigan but hang in there you guys need to work together to get the prices up good luck:grin:

That would be considered collusion and could violate anti-trust laws.

What each and every electrical contractor needs to do is learn how to run a profitable company, even in a down economy with double digit unemployment.

You cannot allow yourself to set prices based on competition, or what the market will bare, or base them on the economy. They are always set based on costs and desired profit.

I've raised my prices twice this year and added value to my services even in this down ecomomy. Business has never been better. If your following the laws of accepted business practices based on costs and profitability your raising prices, not dropping them.

 

[Chamuit]

You do realize any line-to-line load that has no neutral can have one pole on the high leg, right?

A 1ph panel and a separate 3p disco is usually cheaper (and safer) than what you did in that pic.

10-4. This had to be a like for like (POCO). You can't tell from the picture but there really wasn't any more room to put anything else.

 

[drewsserviceco]

Wow!

Around here we get about a grand for a 100 amp and 1200 for a 200 amp service. If we bid any higher we wouldn't get any work. One contractor is doing simple 100 amp service upgrades for 700 bucks.

he should be shot. what would a plumber charge to swap out your boiler?

ask five, and see what kind of price difference you get (assuming same equipment). I would bet only a 10% difference from high to low. We are doing technically demanding work, putting our lives on the line and we should be paid for it.

There is no way he can do a proper job for $700, ie:

permits
inspection
insurance cert
painted plywood (code around here)
accurate panel schedule

not to mention the litany of any other possible issues to come up.

my cost for materials/permits/inspections would almost be $700.