What an electrical proposal is for
Panel and service upgrades invite add-ons that make sense to do while the power is off and the permit is open: surge protection, an EV circuit, a generator inlet, new grounding. Showing them as options lets the customer decide what to do now, and makes clear why doing them together saves a second visit and a second permit.
What to put on an electrical proposal
- The core work, the same in each option.
- What each option adds and why now is the time.
- Permit and inspection in every option.
- Power-off time if it changes between options.
- One deposit rule and a choice line.
A worked example
The same house with the full panel. Every option includes the service upgrade and permit; options two and three add the extras that are easiest to do while the panel is open.
Option 1: Good: panel and service upgrade. The new service and panel, with circuits transferred.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service upgrade, meter base and mast | 1 | each | Your price |
| Panel replacement | 1 | each | Your price |
| Permit and inspection | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 2: Better: add surge and EV circuit. Protects electronics and readies the garage for a charger.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service upgrade, meter base and mast | 1 | each | Your price |
| Panel replacement | 1 | each | Your price |
| Whole-house surge protector | 1 | each | Your price |
| EV charger circuit | 1 | each | Your price |
| Permit and inspection | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 3: Best: add generator inlet. Adds an inlet and interlock so a portable generator can run chosen circuits safely.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service upgrade, meter base and mast | 1 | each | Your price |
| Panel replacement | 1 | each | Your price |
| Whole-house surge protector | 1 | each | Your price |
| EV charger circuit | 1 | each | Your price |
| Generator inlet and interlock kit | 1 | each | Your price |
| Permit and inspection | 1 | each | Your price |
Keep the permit line in every option so each total is complete. If the customer chooses option one now, the others make a useful follow-up list.
Line items electricians use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call | each | The trip and the first part of troubleshooting. |
| Panel replacement, with breakers | each | Amperage, brand and number of spaces. |
| Service upgrade, meter base and mast | each | Say who coordinates the disconnect and reconnect with the utility. |
| New circuit, home run to panel | each | Wire size, breaker size and what it feeds. |
| Receptacle, add or replace | each | Note GFCI or AFCI protection where code calls for it. |
| Light fixture install, customer supplied | each | Say who supplied the fixture and whether a new box is needed. |
| Recessed light | each | Count the cans and say whether the ceiling is open or finished. |
| Ceiling fan with fan-rated box | each | Include the brace if the existing box is not fan rated. |
| EV charger circuit | each | Amperage, run length and whether the panel has room. |
| Whole-house surge protector | each | Installed at the panel. |
| Smoke and CO detectors, hardwired | each | Interconnected where required. |
| Wire run | ft | For long runs priced by the foot, with the wire size. |
| Permit and inspection | each | Electrical permits are required for most new circuits; check local rules. |
| Electrical labor | hour | Troubleshooting and work that cannot be priced flat. |
Terms and deposit language for electrical
- Deposit. Small service calls are paid on completion. Panel changes, service upgrades and remodel wiring take a deposit at signing for equipment and the schedule. Check your state's rules on deposits.
- Payment. Balance due when the work passes inspection or, for work that needs no permit, when it is done and tested.
- Warranty. State your workmanship warranty and that devices and fixtures carry the maker's warranty. Customer-supplied fixtures are covered for installation only.
- Work is done to the electrical code adopted where the job is, and the inspector has the final word.
- If opening a wall or panel shows unsafe existing wiring, it is reported to the customer and quoted before any repair.
- Utility scheduling for a disconnect is outside your control; say how a delay is handled.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for electrical
- Electrician labor rate calculator
- Voltage drop calculator
- EV charger installation cost calculator
- Labor rate calculator
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for electricians: how electricians run on Koira.