If you are comparing electrical bids on a project, the exclusions list is where the real comparison happens. Two bids can look close on price and be nothing alike once you read what each one leaves out.
Why exclusions matter
A low number with a long exclusions list can end up costing more once everything left out gets added back in as a change order. Reading exclusions carefully, before award, is how you compare bids on the actual scope rather than the headline number.
Common exclusions worth checking
Watch for exclusions on permit fees, utility connection charges, temporary power during construction, low voltage and controls wiring, fire alarm devices, and final cleaning of installed equipment. Some subcontractors also exclude core drilling, fireproofing repair after penetrations, and painting or patching after their work. None of these are unreasonable exclusions on their own, but they need to be assigned to someone in the overall budget.
Utility and metering
Confirm who is responsible for coordinating with the electrical utility, paying connection fees, and scheduling the utility's own work such as a new transformer or service drop. Related underground infrastructure work is one of the most commonly excluded items and one of the most commonly forgotten until the project is ready for power and nobody arranged it.
Temporary power and construction power
Temporary power for tools, lighting and hoists during construction is a real cost that someone has to carry. If it is excluded from the electrical bid, find out whether it sits with the general contractor or another trade, and make sure it appears somewhere in the overall budget rather than falling through the gap between exclusions.
Permits and inspection fees
Confirm whether the electrical permit fee is included in the bid or excluded as an owner cost. Also check whether the bid assumes a single inspection or accounts for the possibility of a deficiency requiring a re-inspection. These are usually modest costs, but they should be assigned rather than assumed.
Fire alarm and low voltage boundaries
Fire alarm devices are sometimes wired by the electrical contractor and sometimes by a specialty fire alarm contractor, with the electrical scope limited to conduit and power only. Low voltage systems, data cabling, access control, security, follow a similar pattern. Confirm exactly where the electrical scope stops and the specialty scope starts, since this boundary is a common place for something to fall between two subcontractors with neither pricing it.
Red flags beyond exclusions
An exclusions list that is unusually short compared to other bidders on the same project is worth a second look, not automatic reassurance. It can mean the bidder is genuinely including more, or it can mean they have not thought through the scope as carefully. Ask the bidder directly to walk through how they arrived at a shorter list before assuming it reflects a more complete price.
Comparing bids apples to apples
Before comparing prices, build a simple list of the ten or so items most commonly excluded and check each bid against it. Where two bids differ on inclusion of the same item, add the missing scope back into the lower bid at a reasonable estimate before comparing totals. This turns a comparison of headline numbers into a comparison of actual project cost.
Asking for a scope clarification meeting
For a larger project, a short scope clarification meeting with the top one or two bidders before award is worth the time. Walk through the exclusions list line by line and get written confirmation of anything discussed verbally. This catches misunderstandings that a written exclusions list alone might not surface, and it gives both sides a shared, documented understanding of scope before the contract is signed.
Talk to Puffin Power
If you want a second read on a set of electrical bids before you award, contact Puffin Power or call (709) 769-9713. We can also bid the work directly through our turnkey electrical service with a clear, itemized exclusions list.
Published 2026-09-23 · About 3 minute read