If electrical lines have been torn from your house, or the electric meter or power pole mast attached to your home has been damaged, contact a private electrician to make the repairs.
Your utility company is usually responsible for the wires connecting your home to the pole. Homeowners are responsible for almost all other electrical components. A good electrician will have referrals, references, and qualifications.
Linemen and electricians are quite different. Linemen work outside with high voltage transmission lines and systems. Electricians work in commercial and residential settings, mostly indoors, and with lower voltage systems. If you like to work outdoors, becoming a lineman might be a good career choice.
The cost to replace an electrical service line ranges from $225 to $500, with an average cost of $250. Your final cost will depend on the type of wire you use and the length of wire needed. When it comes to powering the appliances and devices in your home, you want your electrical wiring to be safe and reliable.
When a power line falls, it will be your power company's duty to repair and raise the line again safely. They will reconnect the wires to the electrical grid and to your home's attachment point.
Average Hourly Rates
Typically, electricians charge between $50 and $100 per hour. But the first hour might cost more, about $150, due to initial setup and travel. In emergencies, expect to double the rate to $100–$200 per hour.
Since the utility companies are responsible for low hanging power lines they have engineering tables that give formulas for how much sag and tension a given span of the power lines between poles should have so they do not snap or hang too low and, thus, endanger the public.
The average cost to run power underground is $10 to $25 per foot, or $5,000 to $12,500 for 500' of new electrical lines. Overhead power line installation costs $5 to $15 per foot, or $4,000 to $7,500 for 500'. The cost to bury existing power lines is $2,000 to $6,000. Get free estimates from wiring installers near you.
Although most work full time during regular business hours, some line installers and repairers must work evenings and weekends. In emergencies or after storms and other natural disasters, workers may have to work long hours for several days in a row.
Electricians typically do the following: Read blueprints or technical diagrams. Install and maintain wiring, control, and lighting systems. Inspect electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers.
Electricians work on electrical systems and appliances, whereas plumbers focus on water systems and drainage. If you're considering a trade, knowing about these two roles and how they differ can help you decide.
You own the section of power line that connects to your house. The lines company that serves your area owns the power lines - up to the point where they connect to the lines on your property. This is usually at a power pole near the boundary of your property.
Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines and assume they are energized. De-energize and ground lines when working near them. Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines. Worn cords can expose the wires within, or loosen the connections on the plug end.
Fallen Power Lines Are Dangerous And Destructive
Home damage caused by falling trees or power lines themselves is covered by most homeowners insurance policies.
Electrical linemen install, maintain and repair electric power lines and other equipment used in electrical distribution and transmission systems. Linemen are expected to work through the intricate processes of electrical work while maintaining balance and composure at great heights.
Utility workers can fix a minor incident, such as a fallen power line, in around 2-3 hours. But when the cause of a blackout is severe weather or a natural disaster, you can expect to be out for several days and even months in some extreme cases.
Also called: Electrical Lineman, Lineworker, Power Lineman, Service Man. What they do: Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
Electric Company Responsibility
Your electric company is only responsible for maintaining and repairing the following items: Wooden utility poles. Overhead and underground power lines. Electric service lines that run between utility poles and to your home.
Underground installation also improves aesthetics, but is usually more costly. For this reason, most utilities will install underground lines at the customer's request and cost.
Master electricians can supervise journeymen and apprentices (see next section). They can make $50 per hour designing schematics for electrical systems.
Electrician hourly rates are $50 to $130, with a $100 to $200 service call fee covering the first hour. The average cost to hire an electrician is $150 to $600 for small jobs or $2,000 to $10,000 for larger projects. The electrician's cost per hour depends on location and experience.