How to Find the Best Electrician in Houston

Search "best electrician near me" in Houston and you get a map full of names and stars. Stars tell you who showed up on time. They do not tell you who is licensed for the work, who pulls permits, or who will still answer the phone if a breaker trips 6 months later. Here is how to vet an electrician in Houston before anyone opens your panel.

Check the Texas license first

Texas licenses electrical work through TDLR at 2 levels. The company needs an Electrical Contractor license (TECL). The person working in your home needs an individual license: master electrician, journeyman, residential wireman, or an apprentice working under a licensed electrician. Ask for both numbers and check them on the TDLR license search. Beede Electrical holds TECL 22582, and our master electrician holds Texas license 93748.

Insurance and permits in Houston

Ask for a certificate of liability insurance before work starts. Electrical work that goes wrong damages property.

In the City of Houston, most work beyond swapping a fixture or an outlet needs an electrical permit. Panel replacements, new circuits, standby generators and EV chargers all do. The permit brings a city inspector out to check the work. A licensed electrician pulls it. Unpermitted work tends to surface when you sell the home or file an insurance claim.

Upfront pricing vs hourly

Hourly billing puts the risk on you. Upfront pricing means you see the full price before work starts. Ask which one you are getting, and get it in writing.

The electrical work Houston homes need most

• Panel upgrades. Many older Houston homes still run on 100-amp panels, and some have panels from brands with known safety problems, such as Federal Pacific and Zinsco. Adding an EV charger, a pool or a bigger AC system often needs more capacity. See signs you need an electrical panel upgrade.
• Standby generators. Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 left millions of CenterPoint customers without power, many for days. A whole-home standby generator starts on its own when the grid drops. See whole-home standby generators in Houston.
• Whole-house surge protection. Storms and grid switching send surges through every circuit. A surge protector at the panel guards the AC, appliances and electronics together.
• Level 2 EV chargers. A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit and usually a panel check first. See Level 2 EV charger installation.
• Repairs. A breaker that keeps tripping is telling you something. See why your breaker keeps tripping.

7 questions to ask before you hire

• What is your TECL number, and what license does the person on site hold?
• Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?
• Will you pull the permit?
• Is the price upfront and in writing?
• Have you done this exact job in Houston homes?
• What warranty covers your labor?
• Who do I call if something is wrong after you leave?

Red flags

• No license number on the truck, the quote or the website
• "We can skip the permit"
• Cash only, with no written quote
• A price that is vague until the work is done
• Pressure to decide on the spot

Electrical work from a company Houston already trusts with its AC

Beede Electrical is the electrical side of Beede AC & Heating, family-owned in Katy since 2010 and serving Katy and West Houston homes. Panels, generators, surge protection, EV chargers and repairs. See electrical services or call 281-222-9591.