Electrical Repairs in Arlington, TX: Hiring Guide

Choose the right first call

For a dead outlet, unreliable switch or recurring circuit problem, describe the symptoms when booking an electrician. Record which rooms or devices lose power, what you were using at the time and whether the problem followed rain or a power interruption. Ask for diagnosis before agreeing to a particular replacement.

For an outage at an Oncor-served home, report it through Oncor's outage channel at 888.313.4747. Oncor owns and repairs its utility poles, power lines, service lines, transformers and electric meters. It does not repair customer-owned electrical equipment. [1]

If you see a downed power line, stay away, keep other people away and call 911. Oncor gives this instruction in its storm recovery guidance. Do not approach the line to photograph damage or determine who owns it. [1]

Describe heat, burning smells, sparks or visible damage when requesting help. Avoid touching damaged equipment or opening the electrical panel to investigate. For an active fire or immediate danger, leave the area and call emergency services.

Check state licensing and city registration

TDLR states that anyone performing or offering non-exempt electrical work in Texas must hold a license and perform the work through a licensed electrical contractor. Use the license-search links on its electricians page to check the company and the individual electrician. Ask the company who will perform and supervise your repair. [3]

Use Arlington's Public Search for a separate local check. Open Search for a Contractor, choose Electrical Contractor and enter the company name. The city says this search returns only currently active contractors. Compare the result's business name and registration number with the details the company gives you. [2]

Ask for proof of insurance and a written explanation of the proposed work. If a company uses a different trading name, ask it to explain the connection before you book. Treat licensing, registration, insurance and the repair scope as separate checks.

Set the repair scope and compare quotes

Ask what the diagnostic visit includes, what you owe if you decline the repair and whether the contractor credits any diagnostic charge toward approved work. Request a written price after diagnosis, with labor, parts and any proposed permit or inspection charges identified.

Compare quotes for the same outcome. For an outlet problem, ask whether the electrician proposes replacing the device, repairing a connection or investigating the circuit. For a breaker problem, ask the electrician to explain the diagnosis and the reason for the proposed replacement. Require your approval before additional work.

Ask the contractor to confirm Arlington's permit and inspection requirements for your address and repair scope before work begins. Arlington's public portal includes a Building Permit for Electrical Work search option. Ask who will obtain any required permit, arrange inspections and give you the completion records. [2]

Agree on completion records before work starts: an itemized invoice, a description of the fault and repair, warranty terms and any applicable permit number or inspection confirmation. Ask who will handle wall repairs or other finishing work if the electrician needs access to concealed wiring.

Plan storm repairs and any power shutdown

Oncor identifies the weatherhead as the cap on the pipe connecting a home to electric service lines, and the meter base as the enclosure holding its meter. If customer equipment suffers damage or pulls away from the home, Oncor instructs customers to call 888.313.6862 for a temporary hazardous disconnect and hire a licensed electrician to repair or replace it. [1]

Oncor says some communities require an inspection before restoration. In that sequence, the city sends Oncor confirmation that the work passed inspection, and the customer calls 888.313.6862 to request reconnection. Ask your electrician to confirm Arlington's requirements for the job and identify who will coordinate each step. Do not treat the end of physical repairs as a promised restoration time. [1]

For a planned shutdown, tell the electrician about refrigerated food, medical equipment and anyone who needs cooling at home. Arrange an alternative location if needed. Ask for the expected interruption window and what could extend it, including inspection or utility coordination.

The nearby DFW station's 1991–2020 normal daily high is 95.6°F in July and 78.4°F in October. Use the regional temperature chart as context when arranging a planned loss of air conditioning. Check the forecast for the actual appointment; do not delay an urgent repair to seek milder weather. [4]

Regional temperatures to consider when planning a power shutdown

Choose your next step

Your hiring checklist

1. Record affected rooms, devices and the circumstances of the fault without opening equipment.
2. Ask for the company's electrical contractor license details and the assigned electrician's name.
3. Check the proposed business in Arlington's active Electrical Contractor search.
4. Request insurance documentation and written diagnostic charges.
5. Approve the repair scope and price before the electrician starts additional work.
6. Ask who will confirm and handle any permit, inspection or utility coordination.
7. Plan for medical equipment, refrigeration and cooling during an agreed shutdown.
8. Keep the invoice, warranty terms and any applicable permit and inspection records.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check an electrician before hiring?

Use TDLR's electricians page to reach its license searches and check both the business and the individual. Texas requires licensed people performing non-exempt electrical work to work through a licensed electrical contractor. Then check the company in Arlington's active contractor search. [2] [3]

Does every electrical repair need an Arlington permit?

Ask the contractor to confirm Arlington's permit and inspection requirements for your address and repair scope before work begins. Request an explanation of any required permit and who will arrange it. Arlington's portal includes a Building Permit for Electrical Work search option for checking applicable records. [2]

Will Oncor replace a damaged meter base?

Oncor identifies the meter base as customer-maintained equipment and the electric meter as Oncor equipment. Hire a licensed electrician to repair a damaged meter base. Confirm any required inspection and coordinate restoration with Oncor. [1]

What should a repair quote include?

Request the diagnostic charge, proposed repair, parts and labor, any permit or inspection allowance, and warranty terms. Ask how the electrician will obtain approval if diagnosis reveals additional work. For a shutdown, agree on coordination responsibilities and an interruption window.