What should I look for when hiring an electrician in New Brunswick?
What should I look for when hiring an electrician in New Brunswick?
How to Find and Hire a Good Electrician in New Brunswick
Hiring the right electrician protects your home, your family, and your wallet. Here's what to look for and what to watch out for when hiring in NB.
Verify Their License
In New Brunswick, electricians must be licensed through the TSANB (Technical Safety Authority of New Brunswick). There are different license levels:
- Journeyperson electrician — completed a 4-year apprenticeship and passed the interprovincial Red Seal exam. This is the standard qualification for residential work.
- Master electrician — additional experience and examination beyond journeyperson. Required to pull permits and operate an electrical contracting business in NB.
- Apprentice — in training, must work under supervision of a journeyperson or master electrician.
What to Ask Before Hiring
1. "Are you licensed and insured?"
Beyond the TSANB license, they should carry:
- General liability insurance ($2 million minimum) — covers damage to your property during the work
- WorkSafeNB coverage — workers' compensation insurance. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you could be liable.
Ask for proof of insurance. Legitimate electricians provide certificates of insurance without hesitation.
2. "Will you pull the permit?"
Any electrician who suggests skipping the TSANB permit is a red flag. Permits protect you — they ensure the work is inspected by an independent authority. If an electrician says "we don't need a permit for this," get a second opinion.
3. "Can I get a written quote?"
A professional electrician provides a written estimate that includes:
- Scope of work (what exactly they'll do)
- Materials (with specifics — wire gauge, panel brand, fixture models)
- Labour cost
- Permit fees
- Timeline
- Payment terms
- Warranty on workmanship
Verbal quotes are meaningless if there's a dispute later.
4. "Do you have references or reviews?"
Check Google Reviews, Facebook, and ask for 2–3 recent customer references in your area. A busy electrician in Moncton, Saint John, or Fredericton should have plenty of reviewable work.
5. "What's your warranty?"
Most reputable electricians offer a 1-year workmanship warranty minimum. Some offer longer. This covers their labour — if a connection fails or a fixture stops working due to installation error, they fix it at no charge.
Red Flags
- No written quote — only verbal estimates
- Demands full payment upfront — standard is a deposit (10–30%), with the balance on completion. Never pay 100% before work starts.
- No permit — suggests working without one to save you money (saves them time, puts you at risk)
- Can't show license or insurance — excuses like "it's at the office" or "I'm between renewals"
- Unusually low price — if one quote is 40–50% below others, they're cutting corners on materials, skipping permits, or not carrying insurance
- Pressure to decide immediately — "this price is only good today" is a sales tactic, not a professional practice
- Shows up in an unmarked vehicle with no company identification — not necessarily disqualifying, but combined with other red flags, it suggests a fly-by-night operation
Typical Rates in New Brunswick (2025–2026)
| Rate Type | Range |
|-----------|-------|
| Hourly rate (journeyperson) | $75–$120/hour |
| Service call / diagnostic fee | $80–$150 |
| Apprentice rate | $45–$75/hour |
| After-hours / emergency | $120–$200/hour |
Most residential work is quoted as a flat fee per job rather than hourly. Flat-fee quotes protect you from slow work inflating the bill.
Getting Multiple Quotes
For any job over $500, get 2–3 quotes. This gives you a realistic price range and lets you compare scope — sometimes the cheapest quote excludes items the others include. When comparing:
- Ensure all quotes cover the same scope of work
- Check whether permits and inspections are included
- Ask about materials — premium brands cost more but last longer
- Ask about timeline — a cheaper quote with a 6-week wait may not serve your renovation schedule
Where to Find Electricians in NB
- Word of mouth — ask neighbours, family, and coworkers. In smaller NB communities like Sussex, Oromocto, Shediac, and Woodstock, reputation is everything.
- Google search — "licensed electrician near me" plus your city
- NB Construction Network directory — verified local electricians across the province
- Your general contractor — if you're doing a renovation, your GC likely has electricians they work with regularly
- TSANB — can confirm a contractor is licensed, though they don't provide recommendations
Find a Electrical Contractor
New Brunswick Electrical connects you with experienced contractors through the https://newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com:
View all electrical contractors →Electric IQ — Built with 20+ years of field expertise, strict guidelines, and real building knowledge. Answers are for informational purposes only.
Ready to Start Your Project?
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