Electrician Philadelphia: $171 to $582 + Emergency Rates

All prices are Angi's March 2026 Philadelphia figures; the permit row is the City's.

Do this now: electrical trouble in a Philadelphia home

1. Sparks, smoke or a burning smell: get out and call 911.
2. A wire down outside: stay away, call 911 and PECO at 1-800-841-4141. PECO says to assume its equipment is energized.
3. Whole house out: check whether neighbors are out too, and report outages to PECO at the same number.
4. One area out: check the panel. If a breaker trips again right after you reset it, leave it off.
5. Water near outlets or the panel: shut power off at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot.

Is it an emergency? When to call a Philadelphia electrician tonight

Call right away for a burning smell, a hot or buzzing outlet or panel, sparks, or a breaker that will not stay on; Angi customer data shows 36.4% of switch, outlet and fixture jobs are emergencies. Angi's Philadelphia emergency rate is $108 to $215 an hour, about double the daytime rate, and its guide says calls after summer thunderstorms and winter ice storms cost more. A dead outlet or a flickering fixture with nothing hot can wait for a weekday. See breaker keeps tripping and lights flickering for causes.

24 hour electrician in Philadelphia: what after-hours calls cost

A 24 hour electrician in Philadelphia charges roughly double: Angi lists $108 to $215 an hour for emergency work, against $54 to $108 normally, and says electricians may charge a minimum of one to four hours even for short jobs. Our line connects you with companies that take emergency calls; hours vary, so ask about the after-hours minimum first. More on emergency electrician costs.

Philadelphia electrical permits: who can do the work

Philadelphia requires an electrical permit to install, alter, renew, replace or repair electrical systems, and a licensed electrical contractor must perform all electrical work. That contractor must hold an active license, be current on City taxes and have insurance on file with L&I. The permit costs $25 for each $1,000 of estimated work, with a $63 minimum, plus a $100 filing fee credited to the permit and $3 City and $4.50 State surcharges. Work on a one- or two-family home under 200 amps, and service conductors of 200 amps or less, can go through an EZ permit with no plans.

One local rule surprises people: the owner or the owner's agent must hire a licensed electrical inspection agency to do all inspections, scheduled before work starts, and the City issues a Certificate of Approval once they pass. Ask whether the inspection agency fee is in your quote.

How to check a Philadelphia electrician's license

The City licenses electricians, along with plumbers, fire suppression and demolition contractors; look one up on L&I's Find a Licensed Contractor search. Pennsylvania has no state electrician license, ContractorLicenseRequirements.com reports, but contractors doing $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year register with the Attorney General, contracts must be in writing with a 3-day cancellation notice, and deposits are generally limited to one-third of the price. Compare states on electrician license by state.

Old Philadelphia wiring

Philadelphia's median home was built in 1949, and 83.3% of its 748,270 housing units were built before 1980, the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey shows. Angi's Philadelphia guide says older row homes may have 1920s wiring and that brick walls and tight basements add time. CPSC found pre-1972 homes with aluminum branch wiring are 55 times more likely than copper-wired homes to have an outlet connection reach fire hazard conditions. Angi puts a Philadelphia breaker box at $539 to $1,939 and a rewire at $1,616 to $10,770; see electrical panel upgrade.

Free electrical repairs for eligible Philadelphia owners

The City's Basic Systems Repair Program makes free electrical system repairs, along with plumbing, heating, structural and roof repairs, in eligible owner-occupied homes. Household income limits apply; call the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation at (215) 448-2160.

Local rules, programs and climate for Philadelphia, from the official city, utility, state, Census and NOAA pages listed under Sources.

Questions to ask a Philadelphia electrician

1. What is your City electrical license number?
2. Will you pull the permit, and which inspection agency will you use?
3. Is there a minimum charge, and what is the after-hours rate?
4. If the panel is old, will you price a repair and a replacement?
5. Can I see proof of insurance and a written price before work starts?

More Philadelphia guides

Roof leak dripping near a fixture: emergency roof repair in Philadelphia. Water near wiring: water damage restoration in Philadelphia. Heat and AC: HVAC repair in Philadelphia. Compare electricians in Denver and electricians in Houston, or start at the national electrical repair guide and home repair costs. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).