Frequently Asked Questions

We’re so happy you’re considering working with us! If you have questions about our services, please read our list of frequently asked questions, or call (586) 473-6119 if you don’t see your question listed here.

Yes! Budget Electric offers easy financing through Synchrony for all electrical services and generator installation projects.

Budget Electric does not install appliances. Our licensed electricians can run electrical for all appliances, including but not limited to smoke detectors, refrigerators, water heaters, surge protectors, security system lighting, garage door openers, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, generators, and entertainment systems.

After you submit a project consultation, one of our schedulers will contact you within 24 hours to schedule an appointment.

On the day of your appointment, our consultant will sit down with you to discuss your overall goals, whether that’s improving safety or boosting curb appeal. If you’re not sure which lighting would work best for your home, our consultant will perform a site assessment and provide recommendations based on our expertise and your overall goals.

After your consultation, we’ll send an email outlining our recommendations with pricing. Once you accept the quote, we’ll get you scheduled with our master electricians!

Our master electricians install all interior and exterior lighting fixture types, including under-counter, track, accent, recessed, flood, path, and post lighting.

When you contact us to schedule an electrical repair, a licensed electrician will come out to perform an evaluation and diagnosis. To speed up this process, please provide us with the following information when you submit an online request:

  • The symptoms you’re experiencing (flickering lights, no lights, circuit breaker tripping, etc.)
  • If this is the first time this has happened or if it’s a recurring issue
  • The location of the problem
  • If there are any special access requirements for your electrical panels, outlets, or fixtures
  • The approximate age of your electrical system (if known)
  • If any recent electrical work was performed
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Our electrical capabilities are extensive and cover appliance installations, lighting design and installation, lighting repairs, re-wiring, EV charging station installations, circuit installations, outlet installations, GCFI repairs, surge protection installation, smoke detector installation and maintenance, AFCI installations, pool and spa work, home automation and smart home wiring, electrical panel upgrades, and more.

The generator installation process may take up to 8 hours. The exact timeframe will vary based on factors like location access, the type of system we’re installing, the required electrical modifications, and more. Keep in mind that before we can install any standby generator, we have to obtain one or more permits, depending on your location.

Between $9,000 and $15,000. Installation fees are included in this price range. The exact price will vary based on the size of the generator you need and if you need anything installed on the generator, such as air conditioning. We do not require payment up front and provide financing through Synchrony to qualified customers.

Permits are required to install standby generators. The number of permits required varies based on your municipality. Our experts will obtain any necessary permits before installation.

Our generator installation always starts with a site assessment. During this assessment, our team will determine the size of generator you need and where it should be installed to ensure compliance with local codes. If we’re installing a whole-home generator, we will need to acquire the correct permits, which could take anywhere from one day to 2 weeks. Once the project is approved to begin, the next step is preparing the site and pouring the pad.

The actual installation process will only 8 hours (which can be spread out through multiple days) and involves:

  • Installing wiring
  • Connecting fuel lines
  • Connecting the generator to the home’s main power supply or breaker box
  • Testing the new system and all connections
  • Training on how to operate and maintain your generator

You can visit this article to learn more about the installation process.

We determine the appropriate location for your generator by:

  • Verifying local building code requirements, which dictate minimum distances from windows, doors, and structures
  • Determining where your home’s electrical panel and natural gas line are
  • Finding a spot on your property that can support a concrete pad

Ideally, our team will find a spot that doesn’t impact your home’s aesthetic and ensures easy accessibility for future maintenance or repairs.

It depends on your needs! If it’s for your entire home, you’ll want a standby generator because it can support most or all of your home’s systems. A portable generator is best for outdoor activities, so if you have an RV or camp often and need backup in the event of an outage, a portable one will be the most cost-effective choice.

You can read this article for more insight.

We recommend scheduling maintenance at least once a year.

If your generator is under warranty, there is no service call fee unless the repair request is after hours. If your generator isn’t under warranty, our standard price is $185, not including any necessary replacement parts. We do not charge an hourly fee for repairs.

Maintenance refers to any proactive or preventive work, like changing the oil, checking and replacing filters, testing the generator, and performing general inspections. Repair work would be any response to an active problem or failure, like replacing broken or failed components or troubleshooting electrical or mechanical failures.

Our maintenance plans, available at $210 for one year or $330 for two years, include:

  • Oil changes
  • Filter changes
  • Spark plug replacements
  • Battery testing
  • Control panel connection and wire inspections
  • Running load tests
  • Cleaning the unit

Winter generator maintenance tasks include:

  • Checking hoses and connections for signs of leaks or cracks from freezing
  • Removing snow and ice that has built up around the enclosure
  • Running the generator at least once a week to circulate fluids and prevent gelling and sludge formation.

You can read our blog here for more information, or sign up for a maintenance plan today.

Yes, but only if it’s a Generac generator. We do not install other generator brands.

We proudly service homeowners and businesses throughout the following cities in Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties:

  • Addison
  • Algonac
  • Allen Park
  • Armada Township
  • Armada Village
  • Auburn Hills
  • Belleville
  • Berkley
  • Beverly Hills
  • Bingham Farms
  • Birmingham
  • Bloomfield
  • Bloomfield Hills
  • Brandon
  • Brown City
  • Bruce Township
  • Canton
  • Capac
  • Center Line
  • Chesterfield Township
  • Clarkston
  • Clawson
  • Clinton Township
  • Commerce Township
  • Croswell
  • Dearborn
  • Dearborn Heights
  • Eastpointe
  • Ecorse
  • Emmett
  • Farmington Hills
  • Fenton
  • Ferndale
  • Flat Rock
  • Franklin
  • Fraser
  • Garden City
  • Grosse Ile
  • Grosse Pointe
  • Grosse Pointe Farms
  • Grosse Pointe Park
  • Grosse Pointe Shores
  • Grosse Pointe Woods
  • Groveland
  • Hamtramck
  • Harper Woods
  • Harrison Township
  • Hazel Park
  • Highland
  • Highland Park
  • Holly
  • Huntington Woods
  • Huron
  • Huron Township
  • Independence
  • Inkster
  • Keego Harbor
  • Lake Angelus
  • Lake Orion
  • Lake Township
  • Lathrup Village
  • Lenox Township
  • Leonard
  • Lincoln Park
  • Livonia
  • Lyon
  • Macomb
  • Madison Heights
  • Marine City
  • Marlette
  • Marysville
  • Melvindale
  • Memphis
  • Milford
  • Mount Clemons
  • New Baltimore
  • New Boston
  • New Haven
  • Northville
  • Novi
  • Oak Park
  • Oakland
  • Orchard Lake
  • Orion
  • Orionville
  • Oxford
  • Pearl Beach
  • Pleasant Ridge
  • Plymouth
  • Pontiac
  • Port Huron
  • Ray Township
  • Redford
  • Richmond City
  • Richmond Township
  • River Rouge
  • Riverview
  • Rochester
  • Rochester Hills
  • Rockwood
  • Romeo
  • Romulus
  • Rose
  • Roseville
  • Royal Oak
  • Sandusky 
  • Shelby Township
  • South Lyon
  • Southfield
  • Southgate
  • Springfield
  • St. Clair
  • St. Clair Shores
  • Sterling Heights
  • Sumpter Township
  • Sylvan Lake
  • Taylor
  • Troy
  • Utica
  • Van Buren Township
  • Walled Lake
  • Warren
  • Waterford
  • Wayne
  • Washington Township
  • West Bloomfield
  • Westland
  • White Lake
  • Wixom
  • Wolverine Lake
  • Woodhaven
  • Wyandotte 
  • Yale