Before you hand over a key
How to hire an emergency electrician here
This directory lists crews. It does not employ, bond, or guarantee them. You call them. Ask these yourself.
Emergency or scheduled?
Ask if they take night and weekend calls, and what the after-hours rate is in writing.
License and insurance?
Ask for the WA electrical contractor license number and a certificate of insurance. Confirm them yourself.
Panel, circuit, or whole-house?
Name the job. Get a scope and a not-to-exceed number before they open a wall or pull a meter.
What happens if they cannot finish today?
Ask about temporary power, return windows, and who pays for parts already ordered.
Watch-outs
- No public phone — only a form.
- Will not name a license number.
- Vague about after-hours rates.
Verify the license before anyone starts
Washington electrical contractors are licensed by L&I, and electricians hold L&I certificates. Look up both on Washington L&I — Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business.
Tacoma Power customers: what to do in order
- 1. Check whether it is the grid. Look at Tacoma Power’s outage map or call 253-502-8602. Lines get busy in storms, so call once. (Tacoma Public Utilities — Outages & Safety)
- 2. Tell them what they need. Your name, the affected address, a callback number, when it started, and anything you can see: a tree in a line, a wire down, a loud pop, a broken pole.
- 3. Medical equipment at home. If you rely on life-sustaining equipment, register with Tacoma Power at 253-502-8600 so they can notify you before planned outages.
- 4. Permits come from Tacoma Power, not L&I. In Tacoma Power’s service area (Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife, parts of Steilacoom and Lakewood, and unincorporated Pierce County), Tacoma Power issues electrical permits and does inspections. (Washington L&I — City electrical permits & inspections)
Checked against the official pages linked above on 2026-10-08. Numbers change, so confirm on the utility’s site.