FAQs

Do you do small jobs?

PTN Electrical is a full service electrical company. We undertake residential, commercial, industrial and institutional work, including low voltage structured cabling (networking) and thermal imaging.

From a simple call to install a light, receptacle or ceiling fan, to larger projects like a new kitchen, new addition or swimming pool, we are continually adapting and evolving our service to be the very best. No matter what the size of the job, every customer deserves the very best and we are here to help you.

Do you give free estimates?

Estimates are free within normal working hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm). We operate our appointments within a two-hour window, calling first to ensure you are home. Our estimates are professionally written and itemize all the required services, so there are no surprises down the line when it comes to paying the bill.

What are your fees?

Our hourly rates are competitive and compare favorably with other licensed electrical contractors in this area.

We charge by the hour, with the first hour including a service charge. After the first hour we charge in increments of 30 minutes.

The service charge covers the cost of operating the truck and the availability of materials on that truck. This ensures we have you fully operational in the quickest time frame possible, avoiding inefficient trips to the electrical wholesalers. Please read the case study section that details the benefits.

Why do you sometimes send two people to a job?

PTN Electrical has an excellent safety record. To maintain this, it is our company policy to ensure the health and safety of our customers and our employees. We send two people to undertake work in the following circumstances:

  • Working at heights. It is mandatory to have the ladders secured to avoid injury.
  • Working on live equipment. Arc flash policies are in place, which requires having the support of another trained person in case of an emergency.
  • Troubleshooting or installations requiring two people. This covers health and safety policy. It also keeps costs to minimum by ensuring that the work is completed in the shortest time frame possible (two pairs of hands work faster than one).
  • PTN is also committed to the Apprentice Training Program.
Do you clean up after you complete the work?

We always respect your home and leave it the way we find it, with high standards of housekeeping. Our teams use drop sheets and boot covers to protect your floors. Each truck is also equipped with a Shop Vac and dust pan and brush.

Do you do emergency work?

PTN Electrical provides a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week service for emergency situations, with a dedicated, rotated crew available on standby. We undertake work for a number of restoration companies that answer emergency calls for floods, wind, lightning strikes and fires. We also answer emergency calls for residential, commercial, industrial and institutions to minimize disruption to homeowners, businesses or services, and to protect an organization’s bottom line.

What are your regular hours of work?

PTN Electrical is open for business between 7.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you do have a requirement for out of hours work, arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs.

What payment methods do you offer?

We take many methods of payment including Visa, MasterCard, Interac E Transfers. We also offer financing options through our partnership with Financeit.

We have bought an older home and the home inspector highlighted that there is currently a combination of aluminum cables present, knob and tube and the original service. Our home insurance company is asking for an electrical contractor to verify that the home is safe before they will insure us. Where do we start?

PTN Electrical has extensive experience with older and newer homes. Recently the insurance industry has built a requirement into the purchase of newer and older homes to protect them from loss due to expensive insurance payouts.

New homeowners are now encouraged to have the home inspected by a licensed electrical contractor to verify that the home is safe, with no major wiring defects.

PTN Electrical can assist you with this electrical home inspection (existing or potential). We can determine what upgrades and repairs will be necessary to bring the property up to code and what it’s going to cost.

This service is an excellent way to enable home buyers to negotiate on price, or for home sellers to get the best possible price for their home. It also helps to avoid unnecessary and surprising electrical repair expenses down the road.

The cost of this service is $345, plus HST, and includes an electrical inspection, detailed report and an estimate for any necessary work to bring the property up to code.

See www.esasafe.com/contractors/flash-notices for further information.

Also see www.fsco.gov.on.ca/insurance (search electrical wiring) for further information regarding insurance coverage issues affecting older homes.

Help! My new home has electrical code violations. Why would this be?

Many do-it-yourselfers do not realize whilst conducting home renovations how easy it is for their work to result in code violations. This is usually due to electrical systems poorly installed without the correct electrical knowledge. Sadly, these violations can result in fire, injuries or death.

This photograph shows how a homeowner interprets the installation of a new receptacle. This installation is completely illegal and could cause electrocution or fire. A big no-no. This was removed immediately.

This is the reason why the electrical code is very stringent. All too often homeowners cut corners to save money, which is not a safe thing to do. To keep your home safe it is very important to ensure that any electrical work performed in your home is by a certified electrician, working for a licensed electrical contractor.

All homeowners should ensure that the necessary permits are taken out by the licensed electrical contractor with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Please see www.esasafe.com for further information.

How is the electrical industry governed?

PTN Electrical Solutions Limited is an independent and full-service, licensed electrical contractor, governed by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). The following statement in an excerpt from their website.

"The ESA has administrative authority, mandated by the Government of Ontario to enhance public electrical safety in the province.

They are both a safety regulator and advocate. Their powers and duties derive from The Electricity Act and The Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act including responsibility for four regulations:

  • The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (Regulation 164/99) which defines how electrical work will be done;
  • Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Regulation 570/05) which sets requirements for those doing electrical work;
  • Electrical Distribution Safety (Regulation 22/04) which defines safety accountability for Ontario’s Licensed Distribution Companies (LDCs); and
  • Electrical Product Safety (Regulation 438/07) which addresses approval of electrical products before their sale, and response to unsafe industrial and commercial products in the marketplace.

The ESA’s primary activities include identifying and targeting leading causes of electrical safety risk; ensuring compliance with regulations; promoting awareness, education and training; and collaborating with stakeholders to improve the state of electrical safety in Ontario.

The ESA is a private, not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with staff deployed across the province.”

For further information, please visit their website www.esasafe.com.

Another organization that governs the licensing of electricians and apprentices is the Ontario College of Trades. The Ontario College of Trades is an industry-driven, professional regulatory body that protects the public by regulating and promoting the skilled trades.

One of the main responsibilities of the College is to ensure that individuals performing the skills of compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practice this trade in Ontario.

For further information, please visit their website at www.collegeoftrades.ca

Are you a licensed electrical contractor, registered with the ESA and in the Authorised Contractor Program (ACP)?

Yes. To check the validity of this, please check out the ESA website and search for PTN Electrical Solutions Limited under the Hire a Contractor section, Find a licensed electrical contractor in my area.