What to Actually Check Before Hiring a New Electrical Contractor
A brand-new business name can make people hesitate and that's a fair instinct. Anyone can put up a website and call themselves an electrician. But "new business" and "new to the trade" are two very different things, and knowing the difference can save you a lot of trouble.
Here's what actually matters when you're vetting an electrician, whether the company has been around for one week or twenty years.
1. Is their license active? Every electrician working in Wisconsin should hold a valid license through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). You can look up any electrician's license status directly on the DSPS website, it takes less than a minute, and any legitimate contractor should have no problem being looked up.
2. Are they insured? This protects you, not just them. If something goes wrong on the job; property damage, an injury, insurance is what stands between you and being personally on the hook for it. Ask for proof, and don't be shy about it. A real contractor expects the question.
3. Do they hold anything beyond a basic license? A standard electrical license means someone is qualified to do the work. Fewer electricians go a step further and earn an inspector-level certification; meaning they're trained to the same standard used to check electrical work for code compliance, not just perform it. That's a meaningful difference if you want extra confidence in the result.
4. How long has the electrician been in the trade - not just the business? This is the one people miss most often. A company's age tells you nothing about the actual person doing the wiring in your walls. A brand-new business can be run by someone with 15+ years of hands-on experience, just as easily as an old, established name can hand your job to someone brand new. Ask directly: how long has the electrician working on my house actually been licensed?
Why we bring this up
Komas Electric is a new business. Steve Komas is not new to the trade; he's a licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician and holds a UDC-Electrical Inspector certification, meaning he's qualified not just to do electrical work, but to inspect it for code compliance too.
A new logo doesn't mean new hands. If you're evaluating any electrician, us included, ask these same questions. A contractor confident in their qualifications will always be glad you did.
