What electricians actually do (and when to dispatch one)
Electricians install, troubleshoot, and repair every wire, breaker, outlet, switch, and panel in your home. Modern electricians also handle the rapid wave of new installs hitting U.S. homes — EV chargers, solar disconnects and inverters, whole-home battery storage, smart-home wiring, dedicated circuits for induction ranges and heat pumps, and panel upgrades to support all of the above. If your home was built before 1990 and you've added an EV, an induction range, or a heat pump, there's a meaningful chance your service panel is undersized for your current load.
Call an electrician for: flickering or dimming lights, a panel that buzzes or feels warm, breakers that trip repeatedly, an outlet that no longer holds a plug, two-prong outlets you want grounded, knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring, any project requiring a new dedicated circuit, EV charger or solar work, and any repair that involves the meter base or service entrance.
What a typical electrical job costs
From recent FixNearMe quotes: a single outlet or switch replacement runs $120–$250; whole-home surge protector $300–$600; new dedicated 240V circuit for an EV or appliance $600–$1,800; service panel upgrade to 200-amp $2,200–$4,500; whole-home rewire on a 1,500 sq ft home $9,000–$18,000. Permits and inspection are required for almost anything past a like-for-like outlet swap; never hire an electrician who tells you a permit isn't needed for panel or service work.