Before you hand over a key
How to hire an emergency electrician here
This directory lists crews. It does not employ, bond, or guarantee them. You call them. Ask these yourself.
Emergency or scheduled?
Ask if they take night and weekend calls, and what the after-hours rate is in writing.
License and insurance?
Ask for the WA electrical contractor license number and a certificate of insurance. Confirm them yourself.
Panel, circuit, or whole-house?
Name the job. Get a scope and a not-to-exceed number before they open a wall or pull a meter.
What happens if they cannot finish today?
Ask about temporary power, return windows, and who pays for parts already ordered.
Watch-outs
- No public phone — only a form.
- Will not name a license number.
- Vague about after-hours rates.
Who to call for an electrical emergency?
Neighborhood outage: your electric utility. Downed lines or fire: 911 / utility. House-only no power, sparking outlet, or breaker that will not reset: a licensed electrician. Open our Puget Sound list, pick a row with a phone, and call. Verify credentials on WA L&I Verify. We list operators. We do not book jobs or invent ratings. For house-side outages, see No power.
Are there emergency or after-hours electricians near me?
Some shops advertise after-hours or same-day electrical work. Ask on the call: who answers after hours, trip fee, and whether they are licensed for the work. Our directory lists shops with phones. We do not promise 24-hour coverage or invent hours. Confirm on their Google profile or site, then call.
Back to the list No power guide
Problems: No power · Breaker tripped · Sparking outlet
Verify the license before anyone starts
Washington electrical contractors are licensed by L&I, and electricians hold L&I certificates. Look up both on Washington L&I — Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business.
Power out or something sparking? Utility first, electrician second
| Seattle City Light | Outages: (206) 684-3000. Have your account number or the account phone number ready. (Seattle City Light — View and report outages) |
|---|---|
| Puget Sound Energy | 24/7 outage and emergency line: 1-888-225-5773. (Puget Sound Energy — Report a power outage) |
| Tacoma Power | Report outages, broken lines or broken poles: 253-502-8602. (Tacoma Public Utilities — Outages & Safety) |
| Who issues the electrical permit | L&I issues most Washington electrical permits. Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac and Sammamish run their own. In Tacoma Power’s service area (Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife, parts of Steilacoom and Lakewood, and unincorporated Pierce County), Tacoma Power issues permits and inspections. (Washington L&I — City electrical permits & inspections) |
Checked against the official pages linked above on 2026-10-08. Numbers change, so confirm on the utility’s site.