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0 pointsthechao3mo ago0 comments

> which would probably hae been another 3-5k if I could have found someone to do it.

Yo. If you can find an electrician to stop by my house and turn a light switch off for less than 1000$, please inform me. I got a quote for 25k$ to install a system that size, and that price. City code has me by the balls: I can't modify my main panel without inspection, the inspector won't show up without a licensed electrician, and electrician wants the labor. I pointed out that we're talking 8 hours of labor — call it 2500$, lawyer money — and he was like "what's your choice". I'm in Texas.

0 comments

fullstop3mo ago

2019 prices, but it was $487 to move a receptacle from under a window to the left of the window prior to making that window opening a french door.

In 2025 it was $1,100 to have an EVSE put in, including permit fees.

I'm in Pennsylvania.

Working with my township to get a permit / inspection was horrible -- they dragged their feet for months!

I have to believe that I am one of a few people in my township who have done this the "right way".

IAmBroom3mo ago

Weird. I'm in PA, and my electrician quoted me a flat fee of $100 for replacing my outlets with GFCIs (each).

fullstop3mo ago

This wasn't replacing outlets, I do those myself. This was moving a receptacle four feet to the left and doing it through a finished basement.

stickfigure3mo ago

Including drywall work? How many hours was the whole job?

1 more reply

ozim3mo ago

For 2500$ maybe you can pass the exam to become licensed yourself. Like do it over the weekends.

adrianmonk3mo ago

To get a journeyman electrician license in Texas, you need to have 8000 hours of documented on-the-job experience working under a licensed electrician[1].

So you'd need to find an electrician who will let for you work them on the weekends, and if you work 8 hours every Saturday and every Sunday, then it will take you 500 weekends.

A residential wireman license only requires 4000 hours[2], but I'm not sure if that kind of license would be good enough for the inspection.

---

[1] https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/jo...

[2] https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/wi...

chasd003mo ago

"licensed electrician" is also timewalled behind a lengthy apprenticeship.

From google's llm "..requiring 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) under a Master Electrician .."

so even if you could pass the test you still don't get to become licensed until you've paid your dues in terms of time.

ozim3mo ago

Isn't there an exclusion or lower entry requirement if you have a technical education like engineering degree? Like if not electrical engineering because I guess that would be obvious there should be lower entry bar - but for all others at least somewhat related...

I guess if you want to dabble with installing battery packs with inverters, that's not your typical bachelor of arts who is trying to do so.

scarecrowbob3mo ago

I mean, my MA is in Rhetoric... but hey.

Where I am at (rural CO), as long as it can be inspected and meets code, the county is fine- you don't need a blessing. Septic is different (that's a $175 certificate, though). But for electrical all you have to do is meet codes, which isn't really super hard.

lostapathy3mo ago

This right here - I have been investigating getting my own contractor license for DIY work on a property I own that must be permitted but city will only issue permits to licensed contractors. Took a practice test for the exam on a whim and nearly passed it without studying. Anybody seriously considering DIY'ing the install of something like this probably could get a license without a lot of work.

lotsofpulp3mo ago

Run for political office espousing Texas' famous "freedom" that does not allow you to modify your own home.

thechaoOP3mo ago

"Freedom for me, rules for thee". Texas has always been a cesspit of political kickback. I mean ... not Illinois or New Jersey, but annoying enough.

ozim3mo ago

From what I quickly checked you can modify your own home there is an exclusion for doing electrical work on your property - seems like main panel would be somehow excluded from what qualifies as "yours".

tzs3mo ago

That exemption is from the state code and applies to "work not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance that is performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling".

They said it was city code causing their problem.

scarecrowbob3mo ago

Hoss I am sorry to hear that- I have literally no idea what electrical costs, as I've been doing it myself. If you're living close enough to other humans that the can observe and complain, then we're not really in the same situation.

But that doesn't really change my point, does it? Like, if they are installing $6k worth of equipment and materials, then that's what the up-thread points was about paying 10K more for tesla-branded equipment, right? I get that at a certain point the labor makes the cost of materials less of a deal, but my point was that my battery+inverter+panels+material is still less than the equipment they are describing.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

fullstop3mo ago

2019 prices, but it was $487 to move a receptacle from under a window to the left of the window prior to making that window opening a french door.

In 2025 it was $1,100 to have an EVSE put in, including permit fees.

I'm in Pennsylvania.

Working with my township to get a permit / inspection was horrible -- they dragged their feet for months!

I have to believe that I am one of a few people in my township who have done this the "right way".

IAmBroom3mo ago

Weird. I'm in PA, and my electrician quoted me a flat fee of $100 for replacing my outlets with GFCIs (each).

fullstop3mo ago

This wasn't replacing outlets, I do those myself. This was moving a receptacle four feet to the left and doing it through a finished basement.

stickfigure3mo ago

Including drywall work? How many hours was the whole job?

1 more reply

ozim3mo ago

For 2500$ maybe you can pass the exam to become licensed yourself. Like do it over the weekends.

adrianmonk3mo ago

To get a journeyman electrician license in Texas, you need to have 8000 hours of documented on-the-job experience working under a licensed electrician[1].

So you'd need to find an electrician who will let for you work them on the weekends, and if you work 8 hours every Saturday and every Sunday, then it will take you 500 weekends.

A residential wireman license only requires 4000 hours[2], but I'm not sure if that kind of license would be good enough for the inspection.

---

[1] https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/jo...

[2] https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/individuals/wi...

chasd003mo ago

"licensed electrician" is also timewalled behind a lengthy apprenticeship.

From google's llm "..requiring 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) under a Master Electrician .."

so even if you could pass the test you still don't get to become licensed until you've paid your dues in terms of time.

ozim3mo ago

I guess if you want to dabble with installing battery packs with inverters, that's not your typical bachelor of arts who is trying to do so.

scarecrowbob3mo ago

I mean, my MA is in Rhetoric... but hey.

lostapathy3mo ago

lotsofpulp3mo ago

Run for political office espousing Texas' famous "freedom" that does not allow you to modify your own home.

thechaoOP3mo ago

"Freedom for me, rules for thee". Texas has always been a cesspit of political kickback. I mean ... not Illinois or New Jersey, but annoying enough.

ozim3mo ago

tzs3mo ago

That exemption is from the state code and applies to "work not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance that is performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling".

They said it was city code causing their problem.

scarecrowbob3mo ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse