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Usually scheduled within days

Commercial Electrical Services

Three-phase, lighting retrofit, tenant improvement, sign, parking-lot and equipment power work for small business, retail, restaurant and light industrial premises.

Typical national range $300 – $15,000 · usually Project based

  • 24/7 availability for genuine emergencies — burning smells, sparks, water damage and total power loss.
  • Repairs tested under load before sign-off, not just switched on and left.
  • Permits pulled where the job requires one, so the work is inspected and documented for resale.
  • Local crews who know your area’s permit office, inspection timelines and housing stock.
  • Licensed electricians only — ask for the licence number and confirm it before work begins.

When you need this

  • New tenant build-out, or a change of use that needs new power
  • Parking lot, canopy or security lighting that keeps failing
  • Adding commercial kitchen, refrigeration or production equipment
  • A panel, sub-panel or three-phase distribution upgrade
  • Failed inspection or code corrections from a municipal notice
  • Energy retrofit to LED with occupancy controls

Any single item above is a reason to get the circuit inspected. If you are seeing more than one, treat it as a pattern rather than a coincidence.

What commercial electrical work costs in 2026

Commercial Electrical Services: national 2026 planning ranges — not a quote for your address.
WorkTypical rangeNotes
Commercial service call and diagnostics$300 – $900Site visit with written scope
LED lighting retrofit (per fixture installed)$90 – $300Depends on access and fixture type
New dedicated equipment circuit$600 – $3,500Kitchen, refrigeration, production
Three-phase sub-panel installation$2,500 – $9,000Includes feeder and disconnects
Parking lot or site lighting repair$500 – $6,000Pole, ballast or driver work

Why the price varies

Commercial work is quoted by scope rather than by job type, so the survey matters more here than anywhere else — service capacity, hours of access and phasing set the price.

Overtime and after-hours scheduling on a revenue-generating premises often represents a substantial share of the labour cost.

What a proper job includes

  • Site survey, panel and service capacity assessment
  • Three-phase distribution, sub-panel and disconnect work
  • Lighting retrofit design with controls and photo documentation
  • Dedicated equipment circuits sized to nameplate data
  • Coordination on permits, inspections and after-hours scheduling

Timing and urgency

Usually scheduled within days. Typical duration on site: Project based. The single biggest timing factor is whether the work is permitted — a permit adds an inspection visit after the work, usually within a few days.

Choose your state

Pricing, permit rules and licensing all vary by state. Each page below covers this service in that state with the cities and ZIP codes where it is most requested.

Commercial Electrical Services FAQ

What does a commercial estimate need from me?

A panel and service photo set, the address, equipment nameplate information, and the hours the site is accessible. With those four items most contractors can produce a realistic scope without a second visit.

What should I do while waiting for an electrician?

For an urgent fault, switch the affected circuit off at the panel and leave it off. If the panel itself is hot, smoking, sparking or wet, do not touch it and keep everyone away from it. Never pull a meter or open a panel, and never pour water on anything electrical.

Can you handle multi-site or franchise work?

Franchise and multi-site programmes are usually coordinated through a single point of contact with licensed local crews in each market, which keeps one standard across locations.

How do I know the electrician is licensed?

Ask for the licence number before work begins and confirm it with the licensing authority for your state or municipality. Electrical licensing is handled at state level in most of the country and at city or county level in a few large metro areas, so the correct place to verify depends on where you live. A licensed contractor will give you the number, and usually the insurance certificate too, without being asked twice.

What warranty should I expect?

Workmanship warranties are set by the contractor, and one to two years on labour is common on larger jobs, with manufacturers covering the equipment separately. Ask for the warranty terms in writing on the invoice, not verbally.

Do you work after hours so business can stay open?

Many commercial contractors schedule night and weekend work for restaurants, retail and clinics so trading hours are unaffected. Expect a rate premium, and expect it to be disclosed in the written scope.

Is a permit needed for electrical work?

Permits are commonly required for panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, and work in wet locations like kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. Simple device replacements often do not need one. Because requirements are set locally, the safest approach is to ask the contractor who will pull the permit and confirm the inspection record afterwards.

Do you handle both homes and small businesses?

Most local electrical contractors take residential work and light commercial work such as retail, restaurant and office premises, including three-phase distribution, lighting retrofits and dedicated equipment circuits. Larger commercial projects are quoted from a site survey.

Need commercial electrical work?

Free phone triage: describe what is happening and find out whether it needs a visit today or can be scheduled. No obligation, no charge for the call.

Call (619) 877-0478

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for the licence number and the trip fee before anyone is dispatched.