How to Find a Licensed Electrician in Plano, TX (And What to Watch Out For)
Finding a good electrician in Plano shouldn't be complicated — but between the franchise companies, the unlicensed handymen, and the guys who don't return calls, it can feel like a gamble. This post walks you through exactly how to find a licensed, reliable electrician in Plano and what red flags to watch for before you let anyone touch your home's wiring.
I'm Cody Moran, a licensed electrician and owner of Moran Electric. We serve Plano and all of Collin County. I'm writing this because I genuinely want Plano homeowners to make good decisions — even if they don't end up calling me.
Why It Matters That Your Electrician Is Licensed in Texas
In Texas, electrical work performed by an unlicensed contractor is illegal — and more importantly, it's dangerous. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses electrical contractors through a system called TECL (Texas Electrical Contractor License). Every electrical company working in your home legally must hold a TECL license.
Here's why this matters to you practically:
Insurance claims can be denied if electrical work was done by an unlicensed contractor and that work contributed to a fire or damage
Home sales can fall apart when inspectors find unpermitted or improperly done electrical work
You have no recourse with an unlicensed contractor if something goes wrong — you can't file a complaint with TDLR because they were never registered
The good news is verifying a license takes about 30 seconds.
How to Verify an Electrician's License in Texas
Go to tdlr.texas.gov and click on License Search. Enter the company name or license number. You'll see:
Whether the license is active or expired
The license classification (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, or Contractor)
Any complaints or disciplinary actions on file
Every legitimate electrical contractor in Texas will have a TECL number they're happy to share. If someone hesitates when you ask for it, that's a red flag.
Moran Electric's license number is TECL #40604 — you can verify it right now at tdlr.texas.gov.
6 Ways to Find a Good Electrician in Plano
1. Ask your neighbors on Nextdoor Plano neighborhoods are active on Nextdoor and homeowners share contractor recommendations constantly. A recommendation from someone in your specific neighborhood who had similar work done is worth more than any online review.
2. Check Google reviews — but read them carefully Look for electricians with reviews that mention specific work — panel upgrades, EV chargers, specific neighborhoods in Plano. Generic five-star reviews that just say "great service" tell you less than a detailed review describing the actual job.
3. Ask your real estate agent Plano real estate agents work with electricians constantly — pre-listing inspections, repairs before closing, and panel upgrades for home sales. They know who shows up, who does quality work, and who creates problems.
4. Get referrals from your HVAC or plumbing contractor Trades people refer each other constantly. If you have an HVAC company you trust, ask them who they recommend for electrical work. That referral carries real weight because tradespeople stake their own reputation on who they send to their customers.
5. Check the Better Business Bureau Search the BBB at bbb.org for electricians in Plano. Look at complaint history — not just the rating. A company with an A+ rating but three unresolved complaints tells a different story than the letter grade alone.
6. Search TDLR directly At tdlr.texas.gov you can search for licensed electrical contractors by city. This gives you a list of every legally operating electrical contractor in Plano — a useful starting point before you start making calls.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Electrician in Plano
Once you have a few names, here's what to ask before you book anyone:
"Can I have your TECL license number?" A licensed contractor answers this immediately. If they pause, change the subject, or give you a number that doesn't check out on TDLR — move on.
"Do you pull permits for this type of work?" For any significant electrical work — panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, generators — a permit is required in Plano. A good electrician pulls it automatically. If someone offers to skip the permit to save you money, that's not a favor — it's a liability.
"Can you give me a price before you start?" Reputable electricians provide a firm price before work begins. Be cautious of anyone who insists on an hourly rate without being able to give you a realistic estimate — you deserve to know what you're committing to.
"Are you insured?" Ask for general liability and workers compensation. A contractor working in your home without insurance means you could be liable if something goes wrong or someone gets hurt on your property.
"How long have you been doing electrical work in the Plano area?" Local experience matters. An electrician familiar with Plano's permit process, Oncor requirements, and the common electrical issues in Collin County homes will be more efficient and less likely to run into surprises.
Red Flags to Watch For
No license number or hesitation to share it This is the biggest red flag. Walk away immediately.
Offering to skip the permit Unpermitted work is illegal and creates problems for you as the homeowner — not the contractor. They move on to the next job. You're stuck with it when you sell.
Unusually low bids If one quote is dramatically lower than others, ask why. Sometimes it means they're cutting corners on materials, skipping permits, or planning to add costs once work begins.
No written estimate Always get the scope of work and price in writing before anyone starts. Verbal agreements are hard to enforce and easy to misremember.
High-pressure sales tactics A good electrician gives you a straight price and lets you decide. If someone is pressuring you to sign immediately or creating urgency that doesn't exist — trust your instincts.
Can't provide references Any established electrical contractor should be able to point you to Google reviews or provide references from past customers in Plano.
Unmarked vehicles Professional electrical contractors have marked vehicles with their company name and license number. An unmarked personal vehicle isn't automatically a red flag — new companies exist — but combine it with any of the above and it matters.
What Good Electrical Service Actually Looks Like
Here's what you should expect from any reputable electrician in Plano:
They show up on time or call ahead if they're running late
They give you a firm price before starting — not after
They explain what they're doing and why in plain English
They pull the permit and schedule the inspection — you don't have to manage that
They clean up after themselves
They're reachable if you have questions after the job
This shouldn't feel like a high bar. It's just what professional electrical service looks like.
A Note About Franchise Electricians vs. Local Companies
You've probably seen the big franchise names — the ones with national advertising and trucks on every highway. They're not necessarily bad, but there are a few things worth knowing:
Franchise electricians are often paid on commission — meaning they're incentivized to recommend additional work whether you need it or not. Their pricing is typically higher to cover franchise fees and national advertising. And the person who shows up may be a different technician every time.
A locally owned electrical company like Moran Electric has a different dynamic. Our reputation in Plano is everything — we live and work here. If we do bad work or treat a customer poorly, we hear about it through the neighborhood Nextdoor group within 48 hours. That accountability produces different behavior.
Neither is automatically better — but it's worth knowing the difference when you're making your decision.
Moran Electric Serves Plano and All of Collin County
We're a locally owned electrical company based in McKinney serving Plano, Allen, Frisco, Richardson, Murphy, and all of Collin County. TECL #40604. Licensed, insured, and not a franchise.
What we offer Plano homeowners:
Flat-rate pricing — know the cost before we start
3-hour arrival windows — no waiting all day
We pull all permits — always
5-star service guarantee
Free estimates on larger projects
Ready to Talk to a Local Plano Electrician?
Call 945-237-2820 or book online at moranelectrictx.com. We'll answer your questions honestly and give you a straight price — no pressure, no commission-based sales, no runaround.
