Electrical: what bids leave out
Electrical bids often differ because each bidder drew the line in a different place, not because one priced the work better. One carries temporary power, fire alarm and site lighting. Another prices the building only and leaves out the utility charges, trenching, low-voltage rough-in and owner-furnished equipment hookups. Get them all on the same line list before you compare.
Level your electrical bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Utility service coordination and utility company charges |
| 2 | Service entrance, metering and main switchgear |
| 3 | Temporary power & lighting during construction (install, maintain, remove) |
| 4 | Distribution: panels, feeders and transformers per drawings |
| 5 | Branch circuits, devices and wiring methods per spec (conduit vs. MC cable) |
| 6 | Light fixtures: furnished by whom, installed by whom |
| 7 | Lighting controls: sensors, dimming, programming and commissioning |
| 8 | Exit and emergency lighting |
| 9 | Mechanical equipment power connections (HVAC, pumps, water heaters) |
| 10 | Owner-furnished equipment connections (kitchen, signage, process equipment) |
| 11 | Fire alarm system: devices, panel, programming, permit |
| 12 | Low-voltage rough-in: boxes, conduit and pull strings for data / security / AV |
| 13 | Site lighting, pole bases and trenching |
| 14 | Trenching, backfill and underground conduit |
| 15 | Generator, transfer switch and connections (if any) |
| 16 | Grounding and bonding |
| 17 | Demolition and make-safe of existing electrical |
| 18 | Coring, cutting and patching for electrical work |
| 19 | Firestopping of electrical penetrations |
| 20 | Testing, labeling, arc-flash study and labels if required |
| 21 | Permits and inspection fees |
| 22 | Lifts and access equipment |
| 23 | After-hours or shutdown work in occupied spaces |
| 24 | As-built drawings and O&M manuals |
| 25 | Sales tax, bond and prevailing wage |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility company charges |
| The utility's own work and fees, plus the transformer pad and primary conduit, are often excluded. They're usually owner costs, so get them in the budget early. | TBD |
| Temporary power |
| Someone has to provide, maintain and remove construction power and lighting. If no bidder carries it, it lands on you or your GC. | TBD |
| Fire alarm |
| Fire alarm is often a separate design-build specialty. Some electrical bids include it all, others only the conduit. This alone can explain a big spread between bids. | TBD |
| Low-voltage rough-in |
| Even when cabling is by a low-voltage sub, someone has to set boxes and conduit in the walls before drywall. Make sure one bid carries it. | TBD |
| Trenching & site work |
| Site lighting and underground feeders need trenches and bases. These can fall between the electrician, the grader and the concrete sub. | TBD |
| Owner-furnished equipment |
| Kitchen, signage, IT and process equipment all need power and final connections. If the list isn't spelled out, expect change orders. | TBD |
| Cutting, patching & firestopping |
| Penetrations through rated walls must be firestopped, and openings must be patched. These are common exclusions across all MEP trades. | TBD |
| Lighting controls & commissioning |
| Code-required lighting controls need start-up and programming. A bid that only hangs the sensors leaves you with lights that don't work right. | TBD |
| Testing & arc-flash |
| If your spec or insurer requires testing or an arc-flash study, it needs to be priced. Ask whether it's in the bid. | TBD |
| After-hours & shutdowns |
| Work in occupied buildings often means night or weekend shutdowns. A daytime-only bid isn't comparable to one that prices the real schedule. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Where does your scope start at the utility service, and are any utility company charges included?
- Is temporary power and lighting included? Who maintains it, and who pays for the power used?
- Is the fire alarm system included in full (design, devices, panel, programming, permit) or rough-in only?
- Are low-voltage boxes, conduit and pull strings included?
- Which owner-furnished equipment connections did you include? Please list them.
- Is site lighting included, including trenching and pole bases?
- Did you price conduit or MC cable for branch circuits, and does that match the spec?
- Are cutting, patching and firestopping of your penetrations included?
- Does your price assume normal hours? What would after-hours shutdowns add?
Bid-ready electrical contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
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Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist