Electrical Contractors in Texas

Electrical in Texas: what to know

In Texas, residential electrical work is regulated: electricians are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and most jobs that add or move wiring — a panel or service upgrade, a whole-home rewire, a new EV-charger circuit, or a standby generator with a transfer switch — require a city permit and an inspection. Interest in backup power grew after the February 2021 winter storm and other grid events left many homes without electricity, so more homeowners are asking about generators and transfer switches. Older homes are also a common reason for a service upgrade, because their panels and wiring were never sized for today's loads, from added air conditioning to EV charging.

What affects the cost

• Scope of the job: adding one outlet or circuit is very different from a whole-home rewire or a main-panel/service upgrade.
• Panel and service capacity: raising the amperage (and sometimes the utility service drop and meter) is a much bigger job than swapping a breaker.
• Condition and access of existing wiring — finished walls, older cloth or aluminum wiring, and a tight attic or crawlspace all add labor.
• City permit and inspection requirements, which are set locally and add time as well as cost.
• For EV chargers and generators: distance from the panel, the circuit amperage, and whether a subpanel or transfer switch is needed.
• Any coordination with the electric utility when the service size or meter has to change.

How to choose a Electrical contractor

• Verify the electrician holds a current TDLR license — Texas electricians are licensed by the state, and you can look the license up on the TDLR website.
• Confirm they carry liability insurance and will pull the required city permit and schedule the inspection, rather than working without one.
• Get an itemized written estimate spelling out the scope, materials, panel/amperage, and whether utility coordination is included.
• For a generator or EV charger, ask about the load calculation — the work should be sized to your panel's capacity, not guessed.
• Ask about the workmanship warranty and make sure the final inspection sign-off is part of the job.