Electrical and Gas Bid

[krueges3]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to get a gut check to see if this pricing looks good. Just finished up my garage this winter and I still need to run electrical and gas. I got a bid for just under $7k for the following

New panel in home (I am maxed out)
60 amp panel in garage
Trench 75 feet
3 exterior lights
10 outlets
Run gas to garage as well.

Sound reasonable?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Prices vary from area to area

No way we can advise of that

Best thing to do is get 3 quotes if you want to know if its reasonable

 

[sberry]

What is the home panel? I just did one added a panel for more spaces. It was too many to double up, was tripping a circuit for kit counters. They really didn't need "more" power, just more spaces. The service was in very good condition.
Most panels are 100A, wire feeding them might be 60.

 

[Aceman]

Sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Terry D]

As Wylies already mentioned, prices vary across the country. And each individual job is different. Is the trenching going to be easy or is there tree roots or rocky soil. Are you getting a good quality main and sub panel. Do you need a outside disconnect or roof riser for your main service. 200 amp services here go around $ 1800 to $ 2000, but that's just here. I cant comment on the gas line, I don't have a license for that. I do believe some of the material can be quit expensive for that. Do get the 3 bids, make sure they are all bidding on the same scope of work. Are they going direct burial or installing PVC. Be leery of a bid that comes in super low.

 

[u2slow]

I got a bid for just under $7k for the following

New panel in home (I am maxed out)
60 amp panel in garage
Trench 75 feet
3 exterior lights
10 outlets
Run gas to garage as well.

Sound reasonable?

Sounds reasonable.

But can you afford it? That's the leading reason I end up doing things myself as much as possible. How about only contracting out part of the work?

 

[ard]

New panel in home (I am maxed out)
?

A new subpanel in the home? Or replace the old panel with a new panel?

Everything always seems too expensive to me....the curse of DIYing.

 

[krueges3]

Thanks guys - I am in the works of trying to get some additional quotes.

Home breaker is 150/30 space. All spaces are full.
Gas - I was expecting $2,500 - $3K based on a few discussions I had.
Soil - Clay/Dirt Mix and the plan was direct Burial.

Based on the gas estimate, even if that wen't high it would mean I would be paying $4,300 for a new main breaker, Sub panel in the garage at 60A and the trench which seems a bit high.
I will see where the other quotes come in at.
Thanks again!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I would use conduit instead of direct burial

 

[u2slow]

Thanks guys - I am in the works of trying to get some additional quotes.

Home breaker is 150/30 space. All spaces are full.
Gas - I was expecting $2,500 - $3K based on a few discussions I had.
Soil - Clay/Dirt Mix and the plan was direct Burial.

Based on the gas estimate, even if that wen't high it would mean I would be paying $4,300 for a new main breaker, Sub panel in the garage at 60A and the trench which seems a bit high.
I will see where the other quotes come in at.
Thanks again!

I do a lot with my 150A main. I would break a handful of circuits out into a 16-20 space subpanel next to the main. Feed that sub, and the new garage sub from the spaces you freed up in the main.

If you have a shovel & pick-axe, and willing to use them, trenching is free.

 

[James-W]

I don't know about Minnesota gas and electric, but here in Wisconsin they will will run up to 100 feet of gas line, and/or electric wire, for free. But then you have a separate gas and a separate electric meter and there is a charge every month. On the other hand, the $7K that you save will pay for a lot of years worth of meter charges. It might be worth your while to check into it.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^
The two meter fees will add up ..........$50 per month or more.
Many locations residential service is limit to one meter per property.

 

[James-W]

^^^^^^^^^^^

I have a separate gas meter and separate electric meter for my garage. The cost for the two meters is less than $25 per month. But even if you use $50 per month as the cost, that's $600 per year, not quite 12 years before you reach the $7,000 he would spend to run the lines from the house. If he were to take that $7,000 and invest it, it would take even longer.

Anyway, it is just something to consider. I find it best to consider all options by running the numbers and then deciding which is the better way to go.

 

[Fasthotrod]

For what it's worth, I had a quote from a local company here in Oklahoma for a gas line that ran from the meter at the house over to the shop. Underground feed right at about 100 feet, 1.25" poly pipe with risers and valves on each end. The quote was $883 all in.

 

[u2slow]

I have a separate gas meter and separate electric meter for my garage. The cost for the two meters is less than $25 per month.
....
I find it best to consider all options by running the numbers and then deciding which is the better way to go.

Agreed.

You have to balance the base fee with what tier consumption you are getting charged for. If two services lets you get all your electricity (& gas) at a tier 1 rate (i.e. 8 cents per kWh) instead of digging hard into tier 2 (i.e. 13 cents per kWh) there's likely some advantage to splitting it up.