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What is an electrical contractor?

Electrical contractors design, install, and maintain electrical systems in homes and facilities (i.e. offices, commercial and industrial buildings). The term is used to describe companies that provide these services as well as the individual workers that actually perform them.

There are three general classifications of electrical contractors in the construction industry:

• Inside electrical contractors: As their name implies, these contractors manage electrical systems inside buildings. That would include electrical outlets, light fixtures, and other components that are an integral part of a building’s interior.
• Outside electrical contractors: As you can probably guess, these contractors manage systems located outside. Among them are lineworkers, who service electrical and telecommunications lines.
• Integrated building systems contractors: These contractors manage the electrical components of a building’s integrated systems (i.e. access and climate control, networks, lighting, etc).

Are Electrical Contractors Different from Electricians?

Generally speaking, the term “electrician” is used to describe the individuals who perform electrical work. The term “electrical contractor” is used to describe those individuals and the companies that employ them. You might typically find an electrician working in a residential setting, and an electrical contractor working in a commercial or industrial setting.

What does an electrical contractor do?

Broadly speaking, an electrical contractor’s responsibilities may include:

• Estimating – Determining the cost of materials and labor
• Project Management (including planning and resource allocation)
• Installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting electrical systems, telecommunication systems, security systems and more

An electrical contractor’s day-to-day activities can vary depending on their specialty and what stage of the project they’ve been called in to help with. Electrical contractors brought in prior to the structure’s construction, for example, may be expected to identify and install the ideal system based on the client’s needs. Meanwhile, electrical contractors brought in to service an existing structure may need to upgrade or maintain the already-installed system.

Read more about how to choose an Electrician here:

https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/19633-bbb-tip-hiring-an-electrician