Electrical Contractor (EC)

A person who conducts business in the electrical trade field and who has the experience and knowledge to install, repair, alter, add to, or design electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, and conduit, including the electrical installations and systems within plants and substations and ALL alarm systems and specialty categories.

An electrical contractor is a business person or firm that performs specialized construction work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems—a $130 billion industry in the United States.

An electrical contractor is different than an electrician; an electrician is an individual tradesman and an electrical contractor is a businessperson or firm that employs electricians. Together, they perform specialized construction work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems.

Electrical contractors are generally classified by three major types of work performed.

• “Outside” or "line" contractors are responsible for high-voltage power transmission and distribution lines. Line contractors build and maintain the infrastructure required to transport electricity generated at a power plant through a series of high-voltage lines and substations before it is used to power facilities, buildings, and homes.
• “Inside” electrical contractors provide electricity to any structure within a property’s boundary lines, including outdoor lighting or substations. Under current construction specification guidelines, “inside” electrical contractors can serve as prime contractors for all electrical and cabling design, installation, and maintenance for commercial, institutional, and residential buildings.
• “Integrated building systems” (IBS) or “Voice/Data/Video” (VDV) electrical contractors work primarily with low-voltage installations such as back-up power, climate controls, wireless networks, energy-efficient lighting, telecommunications, fiber optics, and security systems. IBS contractors are particularly skilled at integrating these system controls to work together for maximum energy efficiency and building performance.

Electrical contractors employ workers in many capacities, determined by their level of training and experience. Some common jobs include:

• Apprentice Electrician — Receives on-the-job training and classroom instruction from licensed journeymen about how to install, modify, repair, and maintain power and lighting systems. Most apprentice programs last 3 to 5 years and apprentices earn wages during this training period.
• Journeyman Electrician — Installs, modifies, repairs, and maintains power and lighting systems. Reads blueprints, terminates cable, and installs and troubleshoots control wiring from drawings. Has completed the apprentice program and holds a journeyman's license (according to state requirements) and supervises apprentices.
• Estimator — Calculates a project's duration and cost, including materials, overhead, and labor. This estimate is often submitted as a bid on a project and serves as a scheduling and budget guideline as the project proceeds.
• Project Supervisor — Oversees workforce to encourage safe and high-quality installations. Monitors progress to meet project deadlines. Submits required reports and forms.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the largest trade association in the electrical contracting industry. NECA publishes ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, sponsors the industry's premier annual convention and trade show, and serves as the voice of the industry. Approximately 4500 electrical contractors are members of NECA, including 38 of the nation’s top 50 electrical contractors.

Electrical contractors in the United States are required to follow National Electrical Code (NEC) to ensure systems work in a safe manner.

While the aim of NEC is ensure safety, additional standards have been developed that address quality and performance standards for electrical construction. Under consensus procedures accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), has developed National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS).

NEIS define the quality and performance standards for a project so the owner, specifying engineer, electrical contractor, and electricians have a shared expectation for quality.