The following article is from an outfit located in San Diego, USA.  I was over there last year and know them to be a reputable firm and the information in this article is quite good and relevant to those looking for information on hiring an electrical contractor… so why reinvent the wheel and get carpal tunnel writing a big long article when the work has already been done for me? LOL

Anyway, there is good information here so give it a read:

As a homeowner, you are responsible for making sure that all the electrical wiring in your house is sound and up-to-date. Faulty writing poses several hazards, not least among them a potential fire, which should give you more than enough impetus to make sure that when you need an electrical problem fixed, you hire an experienced and qualified electrician. Poorly designed or poorly repaired circuits can cause damage to electrical appliance motors by delivering the wrong amperage. But how do you make sure that you get a qualified electrician to work in your home? If you know what to look for, it is not all that hard.

Licensing

One of the basic ways to assess the professionalism of an electrician is check to see if he has a state license. Master electricians have to pass a rigorous, standardized test and must provide proof of having been working as an electrician for at least two years. He must also be knowledgeable of the National Electrical Code and keep up to date with any modifications made to it. A sate license means that an electrician is qualified to plan, design, install and maintain electrical systems.

The other type of state licensing is that of the journeyman electrician. A journeyman electrician is one who has not yet qualified for a master’s license, but who (as required by the state) works with a master electrician. The law prohibits that journeymen electricians design electrical systems, but they are allowed to install wiring and equipment.

Permit

Before hiring an electrician, also think about asking if he has a valid permit issued by the local building department. Before a building inspector issues a permit, he checks the electrician’s work to see if it stands up to regulation standards and building codes, so this is a good way to gauge if an electrician you’re thinking of hiring is really reliable.

Choosing the Right Electrician for the Job

Like many other contractors, electricians usually specialize in a specific field. Some do new construction sites, others go out only on service calls and others concentrate on commercial property work. Electricians specializing in remodeling, for example, know certain techniques specific to working with pre-existing wiring and electrical systems, techniques like snaking wires through finished walls, evaluating the power of circuits already in place and deciding whether to add service panels to handle increased power demands.

Recommendations

Lastly, another good way to find a good, reliable electrician is to ask others. Contractors usually have a list of reliable electricians that they usually recommend to clients. So if you’re having a new room built and need an electrician, ask the contractor you used for the room to give you some recommendations. Another good place to find the contact info of recommended electricians is by going to your local home-builders’ association or an electrical-supply store near you.

When you sit down to interview an electrician, ask to be shown a copy of his state license and proof of insurance and check that they are current and that he has minimum liability coverage of $500,000. And remember to check his references.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Frank

You see, when a homeowner in Hastings needs electrical work done, be it a simple addition of a light fixture in their bathroom or a complete electric panel upgrade, there is a pretty good chance that you will log on to your computer and type in: Electrician Hastings… or maybe Hastings Electricians in order to find a company to handle your needs.

And, I wanted you to find my website because unlike other sites that may pop up, I do not own my own electrical repair company.

I’m actually an impartial consumer who was once in your shoes and had a bad enough experience looking for and hiring local electricians that it motivated me enough to create this site to help protect you.

It was kind of my civic duty to do so!

Now, I am not going to bash any electrical outfit out there but I will make a solid recommendation of one or two very good electricians that are licensed, insured and that you can trust to take care of you.

In addition to this, I want to educate home owners on how their electrical system works and give you enough knowledge to confidently make a few minor repairs, or, if you are like many homeowners and scared to death of electricity, make an informed decision should you need to hire an electrical contractor in Hastings to tackle a larger job.

So, if you have an electrical outlet that no longer has electricity coming out of it or a light that dims when the air conditioner comes on, or anything in between, this site is for you.

Before I got started in this epic quest to find a qualified electrician, I didn’t know a wire nut from my elbow. I did not know the difference between 120 volts and 240 volts, or what having a single phase electrical system meant… maybe you don’t either?

No worries! I will cover all of this at Electrician Hastings. We will look at your circuit panel box and discuss what those breakers do and how the electricity is routed through your home.

I will show you how to test an outlet, fix a broken doorbell, and even how to install a GFCI in your bath or kitchen. GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter and is actually an electrical outlet that should be used any where that you or an appliance can come into contact with water… You know, to protect you from the toaster in the bathtub scenario and all!

Most importantly though, this site will help you hire a Hastings electrician that is honest and professional.

The last thing you need is to have some backwoods mechanic messing around with your electrical system and put you and your family in danger.

Also, the prices electrical contractors charge for various repair work is all over the board. You can get ripped off very easily when hiring out electrical work because most homeowners have no idea how much these repairs should cost… it is just not something we deal with very often.

It is also important that you know what organizations an electrician should belong to like the Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand.

Is the owner of the company a Master Electrician or just a guy/gal who has run out of companies to get fired from and started his own business? If so, I doubt he/she has insurance and should something bad happen to your home you may be in for quite a “shock”.

Does your job require a permit and inspection? Will it be done up to city code? I could go on and on but you get the picture.

Hopefully after spending a few minutes at my site, Electrician Hastings, you will be able to make an informed decision on who to hire for your electrical job or have the confidence that you can do it your self…DIY!