Electrician Boston: $50 to $130 an Hour + Permit Rules

Prices are national; we found no Boston-only electrician price. The last row is a City of Boston program for eligible seniors.

Do this now: an electrical problem in a Boston home

1. Sparks, smoke or a burning smell: get everyone out and call 911.
2. Downed or hanging wire outside: stay away, keep pets away, and report it to 911, then to Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 (eastern Massachusetts).
3. Whole house dark: check whether neighbors are out too, and report the outage to Eversource.
4. One circuit dead: unplug what was on it before you reset the breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
5. Water near outlets or the panel: shut the main breaker off only from a dry spot.

Is it an emergency? When to call an electrician today

Electrical problems are an emergency when there is heat, smoke, sparks, a burning smell, buzzing at the panel, or water near live wiring; call 911 for fire and smoke. A breaker that trips again right after you reset it, a warm outlet or flickering on several circuits should get a same-day call. One dead outlet or a fixture that will not turn on can usually wait for business hours. After-hours rates are on emergency electrician, and repeat trips on breaker keeps tripping.

Who can do electrical work in Boston?

In Boston, only a contractor with a valid, non-expired Massachusetts trade license may apply for an Electrical Permit and do the work, the City says; the permit covers installing or repairing any electrical wiring or services. Homeowners can apply for a Short-Form Permit, for example to open a non-structural wall, but not for the Electrical Permit itself, so a service upgrade needs a licensed contractor.

Massachusetts licenses electricians through the Board of State Examiners of Electricians, which sets standards for electrical work and assists in fire investigations related to electricity; its line is (617) 701-8786. Look up the license on the state's occupational license search before work starts, and ask for proof of insurance. Other states' rules are in electrician license by state.

Power outages and downed wires in Boston: Eversource

Eversource serves eastern Massachusetts and takes outage reports at 1-800-592-2000 (western Massachusetts: 877-659-6326), CBS News Boston reported in October 2025. Its advice for downed lines: stay away from any downed wires, keep pets away, and report them to 911. An outage on your street is Eversource's job; a dead circuit inside the house with the neighbors' lights on is an electrician's.

Old wiring in Boston homes

The median Boston home was built in 1947, the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey shows, against 1980 nationally, so ask how old the panel and wiring are before you approve a repair, especially if you plan to add a heat pump or EV charger. HomeGuide puts rewiring a house at $10,000 to $30,000; panel prices are in electrical panel upgrade, and charger costs in EV charger installation.

Help paying for electrical repairs in Boston

• Minor Home Repairs for Seniors. Free plumbing, electrical and minor repairs up to $2,000 for owners 62 and older in owner-occupied one to four family homes, with income at or below 80% of area median.
• Home Repair and Improvement Loan. Deferred, interest-free loans up to $50,000 for eligible repairs, including heat pumps, for incomes at or below 135% of area median; one-third forgiven after 10 years.

Local rules, programs, contacts and climate for Boston, from the official, utility, Census and NOAA pages listed under Sources.

Questions to ask a Boston electrician

1. What is your Massachusetts license number, and will you pull the Electrical Permit?
2. What is the service call fee, and does it include the first hour?
3. Is this a repair on one circuit, or a sign the panel or service needs work?
4. Can I see proof of insurance and a written price before work starts?

Compare electricians in Denver and electricians in Phoenix. The national electrical repair guide prices outlets, switches and wiring, and lights flickering explains the usual causes. Plumbing is on plumber in Boston; home repair costs compares trades.