AUSTIN – Many Texas homes and businesses suffered ice damage this week. Although repairs to electrical transformers and some lines will be performed by power companies, some repairs may fall to homeowners and business owners because the damage is at their side of the powerline. Do not hire unlicensed electricians to perform this important repair.
Anyone performing, or offering to perform, electrical work in Texas must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and perform that work through an electrical contractor licensed by TDLR.
The first step in hiring an electrical contractor should be checking the TDLR website (www.tdlr.texas.gov) to make sure that they are licensed by TDLR. Licensed electrical contractors must either hold a license as a master electrician or employ a master. They are required to carry insurance, which protects you as a consumer on completed jobs.
Make sure that the contractor has gotten any required electrical permit through the city or county before any work begins, and never pay upfront for all the work you’ve agreed to have done.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Comments
I have been an electrical contractor for many years. Countless times I've seen unlicensed people advertising to do electrical work. I have reported some of these wanna be electricians on occasion to the TDLR and nothing ever happens. The same people continue to advertise and present themselves as licensed electricians. My particular business is 90% commercial and 10% residential. Commercial projects require absolute proof that your company is legit but residential is easy prey for unlicensed electricians. I have seen these guys lie and even display fictitious license numbers. Many years ago my own parents house burned down because of one of these jackasses.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkPost a comment to this article here: