Why the choice matters
Your electrical contractor works on the system that keeps your lights on, your equipment running and your people safe. A good one finishes on time, leaves clean documentation and stays useful for years of maintenance and changes. A poor one can leave you with failed inspections, unsafe installations, missed opening dates and wiring nobody can trace.
For facility managers, the contractor relationship often lasts longer than any single project. The company that installs your new switchgear or fits out your space is often the one you call at night when something trips, and the one whose drawings the next contractor relies on.
Price matters, but it is only one of several things to compare. Here is a practical way to choose.
Check the credentials
In Alberta, electrical work is done by certified journeyperson electricians and registered apprentices working under supervision. Electrical permits for contractor work are taken out by contractors who hold a Master Electrician certificate or employ a certified Master Electrician. Ask the contractor to confirm who that is.
Also ask for:
- A current WCB Alberta clearance letter, so you are not exposed to their unpaid premiums
- A certificate of commercial general liability insurance naming your limits
- Their safety program, and a Certificate of Recognition (COR) if your organization requires one
- References from jobs similar to yours in size and type
A contractor who suggests the work does not need a permit, or asks you to take one out yourself, is a red flag. Permits and inspections protect you, your insurance coverage and the next owner of the building.
Match the experience to the job
Commercial, industrial and residential electrical work overlap, but they are not the same. A contractor who mainly wires houses may not know three-phase distribution, motor controls or fire alarm coordination. A large industrial contractor may not be the right fit for a small retail refresh.
Ask what similar projects they have done recently, who will lead the work on site, and whether they can support the work after it is finished with maintenance, service calls and emergency response. For many businesses, access to a 24/7 service line matters as much as the original installation. Alberta Electrical offers 24/7 service at 1 (800) 716-8955.
Compare quotes on the same scope
Two quotes for the same job can differ widely for perfectly good reasons, or because they do not cover the same work. Before comparing totals, line up the scope.
- Is it based on drawings, or on a site walk and assumptions?
- What is excluded, such as fire alarm work, patching, disposal or after-hours premiums?
- Which items are allowances, and what happens if the real cost is higher?
- How are changes priced, and at what rates?
- What schedule does the price assume, and who supplies the long-lead equipment?
- What documentation is delivered at the end?
If one quote is far lower than the rest, ask why. Sometimes it is a better method. Often it is a narrower scope.
The clearest comparisons come from quotes priced against the same drawings and specifications. For larger jobs it is often worth paying for a design first, so every contractor is pricing exactly the same work and you own the drawings.
Look at how they communicate
Good contractors make it easy to know what is happening. Expect one point of contact, regular updates, photos of concealed work before walls close and a clear process for changes. Changes should be priced and approved in writing before the work is done.
Alberta Electrical provides online job management and reporting, so you can see progress, reports and documents in one place, and every job is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Red flags
- No permit, or a request that you pull the permit yourself
- Cash only, or a large deposit before any work or material
- No written scope, or a one-line quote for a complex job
- Unable or unwilling to show insurance and WCB documents
- Pressure to sign quickly
- No clear answer about who will actually do the work
Taking an extra day to check these points is far cheaper than fixing a bad installation. When you are ready, see our tenant improvements and commercial maintenance services, or read our guide to planning a tenant improvement.
Common questions
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three is usually enough for a well defined job, as long as each covers the same scope. For a complex project, a design first, then quotes against the same drawings, gives the cleanest comparison.
What is a WCB clearance letter?
It is a letter from WCB Alberta confirming that a contractor's account is in good standing. It protects you from liability for the contractor's unpaid premiums. Check the date, as clearances are issued for a point in time.
Should I always take the lowest price?
Not automatically. Compare scope, exclusions, allowances, schedule and the documentation delivered. The lowest number is only the best value if it covers the same work to the same standard.
Can one contractor handle design, permits and construction?
Many commercial projects run as design-build, where the contractor prepares the electrical design and permit drawings, often with an engineer for larger work, then builds it. It gives you one point of responsibility.
Codes and permit rules change and every building is different. For work on your system, talk to a licensed electrician and your local permit authority.