Mike P., Author at Streamline Electric, Inc.

I’ve received a letter from FPL about my meter can. What do I do next?

May 21, 2021 By Mike P.

So you got a letter from FPL. There are many things it could be about, but the most common is that they came to inspect your meter and found a problem with it. Depending on the age, what type it is, and what the actual problem is, there can be several solutions. Let’s go with a problem we actually resolved recently: A customer was told by Florida Power & Light that when they removed the meter can, the “jaws” that hold it in place broke due to age. This equipment, although they are the only ones that really touch it, belongs to you, the homeowner. This means that when something happens to the meter can (or other outdoor equipment attached to it), it’s your responsibility.

In this particular case, FPL was kind enough to apply a device that would allow the homeowner to still have power. Then, they gave our client a set amount of time to have it fixed. The client called us, as we had done work for them before. A short visit told us everything we needed to know. We applied for a permit soon thereafter. However, there was a bit of a wait while the city processed the paperwork. In the meantime, we prepared the equipment we would need. This is where it became handy to have a bit of time allowed from FPL to have it done.

Finally, it was time. We installed a new meter can and an inspection was scheduled with the building department and FPL. The client was happy, FPL was happy, the city was happy, and we were happy. Drinks all around! (Just not near the electrical equipment) And this all started with a little letter from FPL!

So what if it’s something dangerous? Let’s say Florida Power & Light has issued a notice stating that there’s a problem. Because it must be repaired in order to avoid service interruption, then a serious issue must have occurred and needs to be addressed. Rusted out service lateral conduits, or otherwise unsafe or improper installations are other common problems. And of course, we already talked about the broken meter jaws.

Again, we will review the documentation that you’ve received and take the appropriate course of action. Our main goal is to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. We are very familiar with the processes for obtaining the necessary permits. And of course, communicating, coordinating, and scheduling of FPL for disconnection and reconnection of power when necessary. Also, an inspection by the building department is usually required.

If you’ve received a letter from FPL about hazardous equipment and/or a possible disconnection due to faulty equipment, give us a call. The consultation won’t cost you anything, and we make the process as Streamlined as possible!

Disclaimer:

We take great care to provide the most accurate information on this post. However, all content is for informational purposes ONLY and should be considered as general knowledge or even entertainment. It should not be relied upon, as every case and/or reader is different.

ALWAYS call and check with a qualified electrician before attempting anything you may have read on this site. Changes are always happening within the NEC, Standards and Regulations, and State, County, and City by-laws.

What are the risks of hiring unlicensed contractors?

March 24, 2021 By Mike P.

Homeowners sometimes want the cheaper or faster route, and will hire a handyman or the first contractor they come upon. But as you’ll read, there are many reasons why you should take your time and do a little research before hiring someone that will affect how the electricity in your home performs. Sometimes all it takes is asking a few questions. So here are the main risks of hiring an unlicensed contractor:

Insufficient Training

When choosing someone to perform electrical work, it’s critical that the person(s) performing the work know what they’re doing. The hiring of any person lacking the correct training to safely perform the work can pose serious consequences. Many times, if you ask an electrician where they were trained, you won’t want to hear the answer. Because we have so many state, county, and city by-laws and regulations now, “my dad taught me” is no longer an acceptable response. An unlicensed contractor is often so because they lack formal training.

Lack of Code Knowledge

If you’re hiring an electrical professional, there is a safe presumption that all the work would be performed in accordance with the National Electric Code (NEC). However, when you’re hiring a non-professional like a handyman, it would be safe to assume that they lack the code knowledge required to perform installations correctly. You should always hire a licensed professional to perform electrical work of any kind.

Substandard Workmanship

Good electricians that have worked in the electrical field for many years have honed their craft and learned the difference between performing amateur work and true craftsmanship. Any person claiming to be capable of performing electrical work without the appropriate credentials will almost certainly perform substandard workmanship. This could potentially cause you to pay double for the same work, which negates all the work you did to find the “best deal”.

Unsafe Practices

Part of the training that professional electricians receive is practicing safe working habits and knowing OSHA standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration established many of the protocols for performing both standard and non-standard installations. Someone could get hurt, or worse. In other words, saving a few bucks just isn’t worth the risk of hiring an unlicensed contractor.

No General Liability or Worker’s Compensation Insurance

A professional electrical company will have all of the necessary insurances to protect their clients and employees in the event an accident does occur. This is a legal requirement for contractors and this information should be made available to potential clients if you ask. Usually a lack of insurance denotes a non-professional.

Danger to your Property or Lives

In the event a person is hiring an unlicensed contractor, they are assuming a very high level of risk. If the unlicensed person happens to get injured or cause damage to the client’s property or the property of a third party, the client can and will be held liable for any and all damages.

Fines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) could issue a fine upon any person knowingly or unknowingly hiring an unlicensed contractor up to $5,000. Fines and jail time are also a possibility for the contractor.

How do I know whom to choose?

What questions might a person ask that would enable them to distinguish the difference between a professional electrician and a non professional electrician? Here, we’re going to give you some tips to find the right electrical contractor for whatever needs you have.

Where did you acquire your electrical training? You definitely don’t want to choose someone that “learned from their friend”. There are many trades where this is acceptable. But when your home and everything inside – including loved ones – are at stake, you don’t want to leave it to chance that they may not have been taught the National Electric Code.
How many years have you worked in the electrical field? Experience is the best teacher. The longer an educated electrician has worked in the field, the more likely they’ll be to be able to deal with whatever situation arises.
Have you worked solely in the electrical field or did you work with electrical within another profession, and if so how much? The reason this question is important is that sometimes, Handymen try to pass themselves off as electricians (or other professions). Handymen may know how to change a fan or chandelier, but they may not know how a new water heater affects the electrical load. Worse yet, they may cut corners because it’s “how they were taught”. Sometimes, you have people in other professions, like A/C or pools, that want to branch out. Because they’ve worked with electricity, they believe they can be an electrician, which is far from the case.
Have you performed the type of work I’m interested in having done? This kind of goes along with question number 2. The more times you’ve installed an outlet, the quicker and more efficiently you can do it. With experience comes speed while being safe.
Are you appropriately licensed to perform electrical work in Florida? This one is simple. If they’re not licensed, they shouldn’t be doing it. Period. But just because someone was licensed in New York or any other state, doesn’t mean they know the codes here. Yes, different states have different codes, mostly because the climate and topography are different from state to state. This affects the local by-laws.
What type of license do you hold? This might seem silly, but there are different types of electrical licenses.
Does that license permit you to legally perform electrical work which would include being the qualifier when pulling permits? Usually, a contracting professional who is also a qualifier has had extensive education in their field past what you would consider a “normal” education. Also, when your electrical contractor is also the Qualifier, you know you’ve hired the right company.
Are you properly insured for electrical contracting? It’s possible for an electrician to be insured, but not in the ways that benefit you should something actually happen.
Do you sub-contract your work? While this is popular for General Contractors to do, it means that they are choosing the person that has your lives and property in their hands, not you. Unless you trust your GC with your life, you should always try to choose your professional electrician yourself.

In Summary:

Property owners are liable for any injuries sustained by unlicensed contractors while working on their property or traveling for purposes related to their property. Essentially, the level of risk exposure is easily higher than the benefit of cost savings while receiving substandard work. Unfortunately for some this lesson is learned too late and they become part of a negative statistic. Protect yourself and hire a licensed contractor.

Disclaimer:

ALWAYS call and check with a qualified electrician before attempting or acting upon anything you have read on this site. Changes are always happening within the NEC, Standards and Regulations, and State, County, and City by-laws.

Should I replace my electrical panel?

May 21, 2020 By Mike P.

Introduction

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when you’re deciding if you should replace or upgrade your electrical panel. Everyone’s situation is different. Read more to find out if an electrical panel change is needed in your home or business.

“Hazardous” Panels

Example of a "stab lok" electrical panel.

First, let’s go through the list of known hazardous panels.

These are considered dangerous by many insurance companies. It can affect your new policy or renewal. The most problematic brands are FPE or Federal Pacific Electric. Its’ prior company, which made the “Stab-lok” type of panel – Federal Electric Products – is also on the list (seen on right). Then there’s Zinsco/Zinsmayer, Sylvania, GTE, or any combination of those names. Some others are Bulldog/Pushmatic, Edison Base Fuse Panels, and Challenger. They all have various issues that can cause hazardous situations for your home or business.

Rust or corrosion can be one of many reasons to replace your electrical panel.

Foreign Materials

There are lots of factors from everyday usage that contribute to the deterioration of electrical panels. Paint overspray and water damage can occur if you’re not careful. Heavy oxidation, corrosion, and burnt/scorched bus bars are dangerous as well. The National Electric Code (NEC) states that the integrity of electrical equipment, including wiring, shouldn’t be damaged. Paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, and corrosive residues are all included in this. There shouldn’t be any damaged parts that could affect safe operation. This includes broken, bent, corroded, or cut parts.

Similarly, there are also problems when internal components from one panel were retrofitted into an existing panel to make it look updated, even though it hadn’t been. Components should never be modified unless the manufacturer has said that it can be done. Those components were made for a certain purpose that may not be the same anymore.

Clearance

There may be an issue with clearance in front of, below, or above your panel. You may even have an improper location for it. Older houses that were designed with a lower electrical load in mind are most prone. As we progress, the way we used to do things become obsolete and we have to update our older homes to make them safe. Poor clearance can pose safety issues, especially where fires are concerned. Some of the most abundant clearance issues happen when the panel is located in a laundry room, behind a refrigerator, in closets or bathrooms, or in the attic. They might even be behind your A/C, behind bushes, or inside cabinets.

Why is clearance an issue?

To understand this, put yourself in the position of a service technician working on a piece of live electrical equipment. Something is impeding access to that equipment – perhaps a dryer for example – which is made of metal and highly conductive, the technician would have to lean over this piece of metal equipment essentially grounding themselves to work on a live circuit. This poses an electrocution hazard. Additionally, if a circuit in a panel requires immediate access to turn it off for the purposes of protecting your home and either shelving, cabinetry, boxes, or other things prevent access, those extra seconds or minutes could mean the difference between a possible fire and excessive damage or potential harm to the technician.

Overloading

Another common issue is overloading of panels. An overloading electrical system can pose a serious fire hazard. For instance: oversized breakers/fuses, excessive loads on an insufficient panel, undersized wiring, burnt/melting components, or tripping circuit breakers or fuses.

If you’re not sure if your electrical panel should be replaced, give us a call.

One of our experienced professionals will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your main or sub-panel. We can help you decide what your best course of action will be.