Electrician Indianapolis: $50 to $100 an Hour + AES Line

Indianapolis rows are local figures from ConsumerAffairs; the national row is labeled.

Do this now: an electrical problem at home

1. Sparks, smoke or a burning smell: leave the house and call 911.
2. Power line down or the service line to the house damaged: stay away and call AES Indiana at 317-261-8111.
3. Whole house dark: check whether neighbors are out too, then report it to AES at 317-261-8111.
4. One circuit out: reset the breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
5. Water near outlets or the panel: shut off the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot.

Is it an emergency? When to call an electrician tonight

Call now for a burning smell from an outlet or panel, a breaker that trips the moment you reset it, warm or buzzing outlets, or partial power to the house. ESFI lists flickering or dimming lights, a burning smell, discolored switches and warm outlets among the warning signs of a wiring problem. A single dead outlet or a fixture that will not light can wait for a weekday at the $75 to $150 Indianapolis service call ConsumerAffairs lists. More on emergency electrician rates and a breaker that keeps tripping.

Who fixes what: AES Indiana or your electrician

AES Indiana repairs the meter and the service line from the pole to the house; the homeowner is responsible for the rest. AES says to call 317-261-8111 if your overhead service line looks damaged, and to hire a licensed electrician for damage to the weatherhead, conduit, meter base or service line anchors on your house. Never touch equipment or limbs touching it, AES says.

Electrical licenses and permits in Indianapolis

Indiana has no statewide electrician license; Indianapolis licenses electrical contractors through its Board of Electrical Examiners, ConsumerAffairs reports. Its September 2026 Indianapolis guide adds:

• Electrical installations and alterations generally need a city permit and inspection.
• Owner-occupants of one- or two-family homes may do their own wiring only with the permit and city approval of their qualifications.
• Licensed contractors keep a $10,000 surety bond plus liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees.
• The 2009 Indiana Electrical Code, based on the 2008 NEC, is still in effect while the state works on an update.

Ask for the contractor's Indianapolis license number and who pulls the permit. The state-by-state rules are on electrician license by state.

Older Indianapolis wiring and panel upgrades

Indianapolis's median home was built in 1973, and 15.7% of units date to 1939 or earlier, the Census Bureau shows, so ungrounded outlets and undersized panels are common. ConsumerAffairs prices a 200-amp panel upgrade at $1,500 to $3,500 locally and whole-home rewiring at $4,000 to $15,000. See electrical panel upgrade and rewire house cost.

Local rules, programs and data for Indianapolis, from the official, Census, NOAA and trade pages listed under Sources.

Questions to ask an Indianapolis electrician

1. What is your Indianapolis electrical contractor license number?
2. Does this job need a permit and inspection, and will you pull it?
3. Is the service call applied to the repair?
4. Can I see proof of insurance and a written price before work starts?

More Indianapolis help

Lights flickering: lights flickering. EV charging: EV charger installation (ConsumerAffairs lists $560 to $2,340 in Indianapolis). Other cities: electrician in Denver and electrician in Phoenix. National guide: electrical repair. Plumbing: plumber in Indianapolis. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).