In short: most Perth electricians charge either a call-out fee plus an hourly rate, or a fixed price for the whole job. The call-out fee covers getting to you and the first block of time. Fixed pricing means the number you're quoted is the number you pay. The biggest things that change the price are after-hours work, what the switchboard is like, and how hard the cabling is to get to.
How much does an electrician cost in Perth? It depends on how they charge, and that's the part nobody explains. Here's how it works and what to ask so there are no surprises.
Call-out fee versus hourly rate versus fixed price
Call-out fee. A flat charge for turning up. It usually includes the first 30 or 60 minutes on site. After that, an hourly rate applies. It's fair for small, unpredictable jobs, but the total is open-ended until the job's done.
Hourly rate. Charged in blocks, often 15 or 30 minutes, on top of the call-out fee. The risk is a job that takes longer than expected, which you find out about on the invoice.
Fixed price. The electrician looks at the job, quotes one number, and that's it. If it takes longer than they thought, that's their problem, not yours. This is how we work: fixed price before we start, on every job.
For emergency work, most electricians charge a higher after-hours rate for nights, weekends and public holidays.
What Nexus Electrical Co charges
- Standard call-out during business hours: $324.50 inc GST, which includes the first hour on site.
- Every hour after that: $214.50 inc GST.
- After-hours emergency call-out (nights, weekends and public holidays): $704 inc GST for the first hour, then $275 inc GST for every hour after. After-hours work is billed at a four-hour minimum, so it's for the jobs that can't wait: no power, a burning smell, a switchboard that's tripping and won't reset, or anything that's a safety risk right now. If it can safely wait until the morning, we'll tell you that on the phone and book you at the standard rate instead, which saves you real money.
- Small fixed-price jobs, for a sense of scale: a new indoor power point is $286 inc GST, a weatherproof outdoor power point is $330 inc GST.
- Free switchboard inspection with every booked job.
- Same-day response for emergencies, and a same-day call-back to confirm every booking.
Most of our work is quoted as a fixed price after we've seen the job, so the numbers above mainly apply to fault-finding and emergency work where nobody knows the cause yet.
What makes an electrical job cost more
- After hours. The same fault at 9 pm on a Sunday costs more than at 9 am on a Tuesday. If it's not dangerous, it can usually wait.
- The switchboard. A modern board with spare space makes any new circuit a quick job. A ceramic fuse board turns a small job into a big one, because the board has to be upgraded before new work can be connected. We've covered what a switchboard upgrade costs separately.
- Access. A low or tight roof space, a two-storey home, or a rendered wall where cables need to be chased in all add time.
- Fault-finding. Fixing a known problem is quick. Finding an intermittent fault that trips the safety switch once a week can take longer, because it has to be tracked down circuit by circuit.
- Materials. Fittings range from budget to designer. The labour is the same, the fitting isn't.
How to avoid a bill bigger than the quote
- Ask for a fixed price in writing before work starts. If an electrician won't give one after seeing the job, ask why.
- Ask what's included. Does the price cover the certificate, the removal of old gear, and patching any holes?
- Ask if they're licensed. In WA, every electrical contractor has an EC number, and you can check it with Building and Energy. Ours is EC14149.
- Check the reviews for comments about the invoice matching the quote, not just the workmanship.
- Bundle jobs. If you've been meaning to add a power point, fix a light and replace a smoke alarm, doing them in one visit is much cheaper than three call-outs.
We've written a longer guide on how to choose an electrician in Perth that goes through the questions worth asking.
What you should get at the end
For most electrical work in WA, the electrical contractor has to provide an Electrical Safety Certificate. Keep it. You'll want it when you sell, when you claim on insurance, or when the next electrician asks what was done.
Nexus Electrical Co | Electrician Perth
Nexus Electrical Co is a licensed and insured electrician Perth homeowners have trusted for 6000+ jobs since 2019, based in Balcatta. Winner of Best Electrician, City of Stirling 2025. Fixed price before we start, lifetime workmanship warranty, 100+ Google 5-star reviews. Call (08) 9245 1362, or see our Emergency Electrician Perth page if it can't wait.
