What an electrician quotation should list
A quote for electrical work should show each job and each cost before any work starts. Treat this list as practical advice, not any agency's rule. A clear electrical quote lists:
- Each job in plain words, for example the number of power points and where each one goes.
- The parts, with the brand and rating of each item, such as a 13A socket.
- Labour, shown separately from parts.
- Call-out or after-hours charges, and when they apply.
- Trunking, and making good the wall or ceiling after the work.
- Any HDB permit and SP Services testing the job needs, and who arranges them.
- The warranty, what it covers and how long it lasts.
- Payment terms, including any deposit and when the balance is due.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) published a guide on fair trading practices for the renovation industry in 2022. It says quotes should be accurate, clear and itemised, with mandatory charges stated at the outset.
Check the LEW licence
Electrical work at home should be carried out or supervised by an LEW licensed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA). That includes installing, repairing or modifying wiring, and adding, extending or replacing power points. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. Details are on EMA's page on engaging licensed workers.
Every LEW carries a licence card with a photo, name and licence number. EMA asks you to check it before work starts, and licences can also be checked on EMA's ELISE portal.
EMA requires electrical works at consumers' premises to be carried out by LEWs, and the LEW inspects and certifies that the installation is safe before supply is turned on. New wiring, rewiring and extensions also have to be tested by an authorised officer from SP Services Ltd before supply can be turned on, as EMA's electrical safety page explains. If your job includes any of these, the quote should show the testing.
When you shortlist electricians, ask each company which LEW will carry out or supervise the work, and check that LEW's card on the day.
HDB rules a quote should respect
HDB's renovation guidelines for electrical works do not allow wiring to be embedded in reinforced concrete or wall plaster. Covering wiring with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trunking and encasing surface wiring in conduit need no HDB permit. Additional 13A power points and extension of wiring also need no HDB permit, but SP Services Form CS/5H endorsed by HDB must be submitted for testing of the new wiring. A quote for an HDB flat should therefore show trunking or conduit, not wiring buried in the wall, and list the CS/5H submission.
For rewiring, the appointed LEW must submit an SP Services form CS/5H endorsed by HDB to SP Services and apply for testing of the completed works, according to HDB's guide to electrical accessories and wiring. HDB gives the estimated average lifespan of a PVC electrical cable as about 25 years, and advises replacing wiring when its lifespan is over or it has deteriorated. An LEW can check the wiring and advise.
If you are planning a wiring job, ask whether the LEW will check the existing cables first. Before you accept a quote, compare each socket listed against our guide to socket ratings.
Compare and agree in writing
Compare quotes line by line, not by the total alone. Check that each one covers the same jobs, the same parts and ratings, trunking, making good, testing and the warranty. Before you accept, ask what happens if a fault is found behind the wall once work starts, and how any extra work will be priced.
The CCCS guide says changes to a contract should be made only with the consumer's express agreement. Ask for any change to be written into a revised quote, and agree it before the extra work goes ahead.
For more help, read how to compare quotes or use the quote comparison tool.
NEXT STEP
See electrical companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare electriciansWhat call-outs and power points cost
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published call-out rates
For the most common unit (per visit), the lowest published call-out rates from 4 companies run from S$40 to S$300 per visit, per visit, before any repair. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 4 published call-out rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fix My Heater | Transport & inspection fee (waived when repair proceeds) | S$40 per visit | fixmyheater.sg |
| Sin & Goh Electrical Engineering | Basic attendance / call-out fee | S$40 to S$80 per visit | wireman.com.sg |
| Yeobuild HomeRepair | Call-Out Charges | S$70.85 per visit | yeobuild.com.sg |
| Mirza M&E Engineering Pte.Ltd. | Call-out | S$300 per visit | mirzaengineering.com.sg |
4 companies publish a call-out line, all priced per visit, from S$40 to S$300 per visit as printed. The two middle rates are S$40 and S$70.85 including GST, so there is no single middle figure. One S$40 line says the fee is waived when the repair proceeds; another is printed as S$40 to S$80 per visit. All are per visit, before any repair, so check what each price covers.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published power point installation rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published power point installation rates from 7 companies run from S$28 to S$90 per job (middle rate S$75), for one 13A socket point. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average.
See 9 published power point installation rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyteam Electrical Pte Ltd | Additional wall sockets (3-pin, 13A) | S$28 per job | skyteamelectrical.sg |
| AVV Engineering Pte Ltd | Replace Power Socket | From S$30 per job | avvelectrical.com |
| Electrician24 Singapore | Power Point Installation | S$60 to S$120 per job | electrician24.sg |
| Yong Jin Solutions Engineering Pte Ltd | Power socket installation | From S$60 to S$130+ per point | yongjinelectrical.sg |
| Mr Electrician Pte Ltd | Single Power Point | S$65 | mrelectrician.sg |
| Saikon Contractors | Single 13A socket | S$75 per job | saikon.com.sg |
| Lito Electrical Service | Additional power socket point | From S$80 per job | litoelectrical.com |
| 81 Electrical | Double power point (13A x2) | From S$90 per job | 81electrical.com |
| Spower Electrician Services | Supply and install single or double 13A power socket (non-conceal) | From S$90 per job | spower.com.sg |
9 companies publish a power point installation line, and 7 of them price it per job. Those 7 run from S$28 to S$90 per job as printed, with S$75 as the middle company's published rate. Of the other two, one is printed from S$60 to S$130+ per point, and one, S$65, is printed without a unit. As printed, these prices are for one 13A socket point, so check what each one covers, such as trunking.
For other published rates, see electrical costs. If your power keeps tripping, the power trip repair cost guide covers that job.
Questions
How do I confirm the quoting electrician holds an EMA licence?
Ask for the LEW licence card and check it on ELISE. Every LEW carries a licence card with a photo, name and licence number, and EMA asks you to check it before work starts. Licences can be checked on EMA's ELISE portal. Ask which LEW will carry out or supervise your job.
Should an electrician charge a call-out fee?
It can, as long as the fee is stated in the quote at the outset. In the directory, 4 companies publish a call-out line, printed from S$40 to S$300 per visit. One line printed at S$40 per visit says the fee is waived when the repair proceeds, so ask what each fee covers.
Does adding a power point need an HDB permit?
No, but the new wiring is tested. HDB's electrical works guidelines say additional 13A power points need no HDB permit, but SP Services Form CS/5H endorsed by HDB must be submitted for testing of the new wiring. The wiring must not be embedded in reinforced concrete or wall plaster.
Who arranges SP Services testing after rewiring?
The appointed LEW does. For rewiring, HDB says the appointed LEW must submit an SP Services form CS/5H endorsed by HDB to SP Services and apply for testing of the completed works. Ask whether your quote includes this step, so you know who will handle it.
Should the quote include trunking?
Yes, when new wiring runs along the wall surface. HDB does not allow wiring to be embedded in reinforced concrete or wall plaster, and covering wiring with PVC trunking needs no HDB permit. Ask the quote to show where the trunking runs and whether making good of walls or ceilings is included.
How many electrician quotes should I get?
More than one, and each should be itemised. Itemised quotes let you compare the same jobs, parts, labour, testing and warranty line by line. A lower total may leave out trunking, making good or testing, so ask what each quote includes before you choose a company.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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