Electrical
11 guides
Electrical
Portable Generator With Transfer Switch or Whole-House Standby?
After Hurricane Isaias left more than 884,000 customers without power, here is how a portable generator with a transfer switch compares with a whole-house standby unit on price, permits, fuel and safe placement.
Oct 14, 2026
Electrical
Record Copper Prices Are Reaching Electrician Quotes
Copper set a record on the London Metal Exchange this week. Learn which lines of an electrician's bid move with it, what to ask before signing, and when a fixed price is worth locking in.
Sep 13, 2026
Electrical
How to Restore Power Safely After Floodwater Reaches the Breaker Box
Edouard dropped more than 20 inches of rain on parts of Southeast Texas. If water got to your breaker box, this covers what has to be replaced, what an inspection costs, and the steps Entergy needs before it will reconnect you.
Sep 11, 2026
Electrical
DIY EV Charger Installs Are Ending, But Not Everywhere and Not on the Date You Were Told
A real new code rule says permanently installed EV chargers must be put in by qualified persons. But there is no national deadline, most states have not adopted it yet, and the change that definitely raised your price this year was a tax credit expiring. Here is what a permitted install actually costs and how to find out what applies at your address.
Aug 20, 2026
Electrical
AI Data Centers Are Now on Your Power Bill: Why 2026 Electricity Rates Jumped and the Home Upgrades That Blunt the Hit
Your 2026 electric bill went up, and AI data centers are a big reason why. Here is the honest breakdown of what drove rates higher, what the headlines get wrong, and the home upgrades that actually lower your bill now that the federal tax credits have expired.
Jul 16, 2026
Electrical
The 2026 Electrical Code and Home EV Charging: What DIY Installs, Pre-Wired Homes, and Level 2 Costs Really Look Like Now
The 2026 National Electrical Code changes the rules for home EV charging: hardwired installs now need a qualified installer and new homes must be pre-wired. But the headlines get two big things wrong. Here is what it actually means, plus realistic 2026 Level 2 costs and the tax credit catch most homeowners miss.
Jul 11, 2026
Electrical
Half of North America Is Now at Blackout Risk, and Whole-Home Generator Quotes Are Climbing Because of It
A new federal grid assessment puts more than half of North America's regions at elevated or high risk of falling short on power over the next five years. Here is what is driving it, what backup power actually costs in 2026, and how to size a generator without getting oversold.
Jul 7, 2026
Electrical
Copper Just Hit $6 a Pound for the First Time Ever: Why Your Rewire and Repipe Quotes Jumped 25 to 35% in Three Months
Copper crossed $6 a pound for the first time in 2026, and that metal-market number is showing up on home electrical and plumbing quotes. Here is what is driving it, what rewires and repipes actually cost now, and how to protect yourself from quotes that won't hold a week.
Jun 15, 2026
Electrical
Your EV Charger Quote Doubled Because of the Panel: When an $800 Install Becomes a $4,000 Project (and When 70% of Homes Can Skip It)
An EV charger install often runs $800 to $3,000, but add a panel or service upgrade and the quote can jump past $4,000. Here is how to tell whether your home actually needs that upgrade, and how a simple load calculation can save you thousands in 2026.
Jun 13, 2026
Electrical
The 2026 NEC GFCI Rules Explained: Why a $40 Breaker Swap Can Turn Into a $1,200 Panel Bill
The 2026 National Electrical Code expands GFCI protection again, but the real homeowner shock is not the code text. It's discovering that your older panel won't accept a listed GFCI breaker, turning a small parts-counter purchase into a panel or service upgrade conversation.
Jun 10, 2026
Electrical
Hurricane Season Started June 1: Why Standby Generators Are Back-Ordered Into October 2026
NOAA is calling for another above-normal Atlantic season, and Southeast dealers are quoting 14 to 20 week install windows for whole-home standby generators. Here is what a real installed price looks like, how to pick between natural gas and propane, and the contractor red flags that show up every June.
Jun 1, 2026