I wanted to share some shady business practices that I experienced with my NEMA 14-50 installation, and recommend Gregg Walther with GAW LLC ([email protected]) to do your NEMA 14-50 installation in the Portland, Oregon area.
The Tesla-referred Electricians in my area (Portland, Oregon) were:
Young Electric LLC
Westside Electric
I reached out to both -- here is my experience:
Young Electric LLC
A representative came to my home to review my request and offer a bid. He pushed me hard for about 10 minutes on why I needed to upgrade my entire panel. He pitched me on the greatness of two different panels and why I should consider an upgrade at costs of $1800 and $2500 respectively. After listening to the pitch, I asked him if he could perform the installation on my existing panel. With some hesitation, he said that he could, but I wouldn't be able to do any future upgrades (untrue) to my panel after this one. I asked him to bid the job and he did so. I received the following itemization:
1) Parts / Labor - $500
2) Permit - $200
Westside Electric
This company reached out to my via email and asked me to send pictures of the panel and surrounding area and he would bid the job based on the images. I sent the pictures and he came back to me with the following itemization:
1) Parts / Labor - $498
2) Permit - $200
A little background -- I received a BS in Computer Engineering from Purdue University and I have done some smaller electrical projects personally, so I know what is involved in this job. I have 4, 15-amp single pole breakers all in a row that can be twinned up to make room for the 50 AMP breaker. The parts should be no more than:
1) 50 AMP breaker - $25
2) 2 dual 15 AMP breaker - $60
3) Receptical - $25
4) Wiring (6 AWG) - $25
Parts total = $135
I called the county (who handles all of the building permits for the City) and they told me the cost would be $120 for a permit. Why would BOTH companies overbid the cost of the permit, not to mention, why the hard sell on a new panel from Young Electric?
I found a third electrician -- he sent an itemized list of parts and his permit cost was ... $120!!! He even bid 1.5 hours of labor at a rate of $93/hour. His parts total was similar to my estimate, giving a total of $435 (including the $120 permit)!! HIRED on the spot! He came out this morning and did the work with permit and authorization to begin work in hand. The inspection will be completed on Wednesday.
What's more? He arrived, and realized that he made a mistake on the bid and lowered the cost by $60, and then showed me the permit cost which was $130. We adjusted the price and he did the entire job for $385 out-the-door.
For those in the Portland area and are looking for a good electrician -- I highly recommend Gregg Walther with GAW LLC ([email protected]). Excellent electrician! Honest and reliable.
As far as the other electricians overbidding the cost of the permit and gouging me for what amounts to about $300 per hour, I don't know what to say.
Has anyone else had negative experience with the Tesla-recommended electricians?
The Tesla-referred Electricians in my area (Portland, Oregon) were:
Young Electric LLC
Westside Electric
I reached out to both -- here is my experience:
Young Electric LLC
A representative came to my home to review my request and offer a bid. He pushed me hard for about 10 minutes on why I needed to upgrade my entire panel. He pitched me on the greatness of two different panels and why I should consider an upgrade at costs of $1800 and $2500 respectively. After listening to the pitch, I asked him if he could perform the installation on my existing panel. With some hesitation, he said that he could, but I wouldn't be able to do any future upgrades (untrue) to my panel after this one. I asked him to bid the job and he did so. I received the following itemization:
1) Parts / Labor - $500
2) Permit - $200
Westside Electric
This company reached out to my via email and asked me to send pictures of the panel and surrounding area and he would bid the job based on the images. I sent the pictures and he came back to me with the following itemization:
1) Parts / Labor - $498
2) Permit - $200
A little background -- I received a BS in Computer Engineering from Purdue University and I have done some smaller electrical projects personally, so I know what is involved in this job. I have 4, 15-amp single pole breakers all in a row that can be twinned up to make room for the 50 AMP breaker. The parts should be no more than:
1) 50 AMP breaker - $25
2) 2 dual 15 AMP breaker - $60
3) Receptical - $25
4) Wiring (6 AWG) - $25
Parts total = $135
I called the county (who handles all of the building permits for the City) and they told me the cost would be $120 for a permit. Why would BOTH companies overbid the cost of the permit, not to mention, why the hard sell on a new panel from Young Electric?
I found a third electrician -- he sent an itemized list of parts and his permit cost was ... $120!!! He even bid 1.5 hours of labor at a rate of $93/hour. His parts total was similar to my estimate, giving a total of $435 (including the $120 permit)!! HIRED on the spot! He came out this morning and did the work with permit and authorization to begin work in hand. The inspection will be completed on Wednesday.
What's more? He arrived, and realized that he made a mistake on the bid and lowered the cost by $60, and then showed me the permit cost which was $130. We adjusted the price and he did the entire job for $385 out-the-door.
For those in the Portland area and are looking for a good electrician -- I highly recommend Gregg Walther with GAW LLC ([email protected]). Excellent electrician! Honest and reliable.
As far as the other electricians overbidding the cost of the permit and gouging me for what amounts to about $300 per hour, I don't know what to say.
Has anyone else had negative experience with the Tesla-recommended electricians?