Cole Electric Inc logoApproved Pro
Approved Pro

Cole Electric Inc

4.9(
386
)
Electrical Service, Lighting Service, Ceiling Fan Service,

About us

Cole Electric Inc. is a full service electrical contractor serving the Southside area of Hampton Roads Virginia. We specialize in upgrading or repairing your electrical service, whether it is something major, like a fuse box to breaker box conversion, or a simpler improvement like installing a new ceiling fan. Your home's wiring, breaker box, and all its components, must be reliable and safe. Free estimates, no dispatch fees, and available for emergencies 24/7. By choosing Cole Electric, you are getting a team with decades of experience improving and repairing existing electrical systems. We pride ourselves on a quick response time, customer safety, excellent service and top quality work at a fair price.

Business highlights

Family owned & operated
Emergency services offered
36 years of experience

Services we offer

Residential & commercial professional electric & installation including, emergency repairs, upgrades, panel box replacements, room additions, fuse box replacements, custom recessed lighting & rewiring.

Services we don't offer

HVAC or Plumbing

Amenities

Eco Friendly Accreditations

Yes

Emergency Services

Yes

Free Estimates

Yes

Warranties

Yes

Senior Discount

5%

Accepted Payment Methods

  • Check
  • CreditCard
Reviews
4.9386 Reviews
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Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
96%
4
2%
3
1%
2
0%
1
1%
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Showing 376-386 of 386 reviews
Carolyn P.
Oct 2009
3.0
Electrical Service
Work has not been completed. Initial inspection was completed, however contractor never followed through with job.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"Dear member I apologize for my actions. I will try to explain? When I came out to meet with you we discussed several options regarding your panel box replacement or service upgrade. Since the power lines hung low over your deck and your meterbase was installed prior to the deck being built we needed to get the power company's ruling prior to pricing your job. I explained that if you met the engineer at your home they could let you know what your choices are. I did give you some estimated verbal prices as we discussed the different scenarios. I don't like to just estimate the worst case option because that usually cost you more than if we let the power company tell us their ruling. In hindsight I could have done that but sometimes it becomes too confusing resulting in information overload. When the engineer called me to discuss it I then knew what I was pricing to send you your estimate. When you called I said I would mail it right out since I don't really have "official" contracts by email yet? I have always just hand written them & mailed them out. I should have but did not mail yours out as I said I would .I am sorry for that. I am a very small owner/operator company that tries to do everything for everyone when it comes to my job. I personally answer the phones , give the estimates & schedule the material & work. I failed this time. If that wasn't bad enough after you sent me your email I lost my computer service this past week ? I did just get it back up & retrieved your proposal & sent it out with an apology as well as an additional discount for your patience for what it's worth prior to seeing this post. Please accept my apology knowing that I mean well yet fall short sometimes. It was no reflection on you as a customer, you did everything right we just came up short. The good news is you will not have to spend extra money now we know what Dominion will require. Please call if you can still consider us for your project .Respectfully, Scott F. Cole , President.."

Peter A.
Oct 2009
3.0
Electrical Service
$225
Repair was good but customer satisfaction was not. The cost was given affter completion of work. When asked the next day how cost was determined (no estimate was ever given) he did not have an answer. He reduced price by $30 but would not say how charges are deterimined. Since Cole Electric was originally contacted and recommended the electrician that did the work, they have responsibility for overall satisfaction.
Donna L.
Sep 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$175
Scott Cole called at 8:30 a.,m. to let ua know they were on thier way He was to be here at 9am. Arrived on time. This was on a Saturday. Because I was a Angie List member I was charged the Monday through Friday Rate of $125. I was greatful. Went right to the problem solved it was out by 10:30 a.m.. Even replace some screw to my electrial panel box cover that I had lost. That was very thoughtful. Took time to explain all he had done. I feel so much safer with the knowledge he left with us.
Steven Z.
Jul 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
We had lost power in about half the rooms on our second floor. I called Cole Electric about 8:30AM, spoke to Mr. Cole, who said he would have an electrician out by 10:00. When noon came and the electrician had not arrived, I called back. Mr Cole apologized and explained that one of their trucks had broken down and had to be towed, but that he himself was on his way to my house. He arrived, in fact, barely 5 minutes later. Mr. Cole quickly eliminated the obvious culprits (circuit breakers, bad switches, etc.), did some preliminary tests on the upstairs circuits, and said there was a break somewhere in the upstairs wiring, and he would need to send a pair of people out later to trace the wiring and find the problem He promised to have them there by 4:00. About an hour later (before 2:00) , he called and said one of his electricians had finished a job early and, with my permission, would come out and get started immediately. The electrician arrived (in his own car), surprised both me and, I think, himself by almost immediately finding the broken connection near an overhead light fixture. There wasn't enough loose wire for a straightforward repair, so he would have to go into the attic (in July, in Virginia Beach - I didn't envy him) and install a junction box. He didn't have a box or a full set of tools in his own car, so he had to leave (to go find that truck that had been towed with the tools and supplies) and come back. Once he returned, the repair was done very quickly, he cleaned everything up, and we were done.
Linda T.
Jul 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
We had a lighting strike to our home on Sunday July 12, we were on a short vacation and did not know it had happened until we returned on July 18th. I found that my two fridges and one freezer had completely stopped working and everything had thawed out. A/C not working, Hot water heater not working, and other problems. I called Cole Electric the next morning and within ONE hour they were out here; It was amazing how they got us back up and running and were very professional. I will never use another electrician but Cole from now on.
Sandra M.
Jul 2009
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
I called Mr. Cole the day prior to let him know the jobs that I would like to have done and he said he could come out the next morning to give me an estimate. While I was at work, he checked everything out and called me back with an estimate. I asked him about several other things that needed to be done and his crew was so quick that they were able to fix everything in one day. He explained everything to my husband prior to leaving and called me back that night since I wasn't home when he finished the job. He stayed on the phone for over 10 minutes explaining everything in detail and made sure I was satisfied with the job. His crew were very nice and more importantly, I didn't have to do anything.
Gene W.
Jul 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,875
This was a major job involving removal and replacement of the panel and the entire wiring for the house. The workment were prompt, efficient, and kept me informed about the progress of the job. It took about 6 hours to complete the job from start to finish.
NICOLE G.
Jun 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$125
I called Scott Cole on June 16th because some of the lights in my kitchen had suddenly stopped working. I wasn't able to locate the problem myself and decided I needed a professional. Scott came out that same day and after about an hour found the problem, which was a loose wire in one of our wall switches. He fixed it and also checked out all the connections in our circuit breaker panel. There he found another wire that had almost come out and re-attached it. He was done with everything in little over an hour. I was very happy with the quick response Scott provided and the great, professional service. He noticed I was in the middle of preparing a big dinner and offered to come back the next day if he didn't find the problem soon. (He located the loose wire a minute after he said it) All in all, I am very happy with the great service. He might somewhat pricier than his competitors but I just wanted a reputable electrician who knows what he's doing. I found Scott Cole on Angie's List and I was not disappointed.
David W.
May 2009
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$550
Overall, I am very pleased with the experience. Scott Cole promptly responded to my initial call and had one of his men out the same day. He wired up the attic fan and determined that the doorbell transformer would need to be replaced (he did not have one on the truck). Three days later two men came out and worked well over 3 hours running the new circuits and putting in the new phone jack. They also replaced the transformer and while they were at it, they rerouted some wiring through a new junction box they installed in the attic because the old one was overloaded. The electricians were friendly, polite and professional. I was very pleased with the quality of their work. I will say that, while I have nothing specifc to base it on, I thought that their price may have been a little high, which is why I didn't give them an "A" in the price category. That said, I would rather pay a little more and get quality service and workmanship, and that is what I believe I received from Cole Electric.
Donna B.
Dec 2008
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service + 1 more
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,400
When our 30-some-year-old two story home was built, ceiling lights were not put in the living room or in any of the upstairs bedrooms, and electrical outlets were scarce in the family room. Not to mention that there were no more slots available in the electrical panel. Mr. Cole's crew upgraded the electrical panel and ran wire to the attic, where they installed new ceiling fans and lights. They also put an electrical outlet and light fixture into a closet that one day will house the computer/home office. A ceiling light was also installed in the formal living room and they also relocated/centered a new ceiling fan/light in the breakfast nook. Mr. Cole's crew was very punctual, arriving to start work when they said they would and put in 2 long days to finish my little project within the estimated time frame. They took care of all permits and arranged to have the city inspector check out the electrical panel while they were on site. Oh, they also did a good job of cleaning up after they completed the work.
Brad H.
Dec 2008
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
Scott was professional and very accommodating. He visited the house to estimate the scope of work and a day later give an estimate. Once the price/scope was agreed upon, they started the work the following Tuesday and completed it on Thursday. The crew cleaned up at the end of each day, were professional/respectful, and were great with my dog that wanted to sit right where they were working the whole time. Not all of the lights would go where they were planned, but Bob/Mike/Keith were great with finding places they could go while minimizing the "holes" that were put in the ceiling. Mike even patched the few holes that they made to run the wire. Nice touch!
Ellen C.
Oct 2008
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
I reviewed every evaluation for all electrical contractors. Cole Electric sounded great so I called. Mr. Cole discussed the symptoms with me and told me that he could charge me to come out and tell me to check first with Dominion Virginia Power but that wasn't part of his business plan. He invited me to call him back - and he would come out and charge me to troubleshoot the mystery - if checked everything out and the problem persisted. Within four hours, DVP had restored full power to my home at no cost; one of the relays on the pole behind my house had gone bad! I am so appreciative of and impressed by Mr. Cole's business ethics. It's his company I will recommend if anyone ever asks me for a good electrician! It also was an excellent, if rueful, reminder that we have nothing to fear but fear itself!
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"THANK YOU FOR CALLING US TO HELP WITH YOUR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'M GLAD WE COULD HELP. YOUR PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON. THE POWER COMPANY HAS ISSUES ON THEIR SIDE OF DELIVERY TO HOMES THAT GIVE ALL TYPES OF WEIRD SYMPTOMS. IN SIMPLE WORDS THERE'S THREE WIRES COMING TO MOST HOMES. IF 1 OF THE 3 FAIL YOU GET PARTIAL SERVICE WHICH CAN RESULT IN BROWN OUT OR NO POWER SERVICE. AFTER 20 YEARS OF FIELDING CALLS LIKE YOURS I'VE FOUND OUR COMPANY GAINS MUCH MORE BY LETTING YOU KNOW TO CHECK WITH THE POWER COMPANY FIRST THEN CALL US IF NEEDED RATHER THAN COME TO YOUR HOME, CHARGE FOR A SERVICE CALL THEN TELL YOU WE CAN'T FIX IT, CALL THE POWER COMPANY LEAVING YOU WITH THAT EMPTY FEELING "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT"? SURE WE LOSE A CALL BUT GAIN A CUSTOMER'S TRUST WHICH MONEY CAN'T BUY. I'M GLAD YOU HAD A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AT SOME POINT IN YOUR FUTURE IF NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR SHARING."

Gene W.
Sep 2008
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$150
My alarm system, garage door opener, and several circuits went out after the last storm. It looked like the circuit braker might be defective. I call Cole Electric and within 30 minutes I got a reply and set up an appointment for an inspection/repair. The service was fast and efficient. No major problems were found. The whole thing was triggered by a wet exterior receptacle that was causative. They were a little late due to another emergency. I would have liked a call to tell me that.
Jill S.
Aug 2008
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000
He was very professional when he was there. He did a very good job at getting the job done on time. He showed up on time to do the work for us. He did call to tell us that he was on his way over to do the work.
ERIK H.
Apr 2008
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
We had a deck installed last summer and apparently the company that installed the deck didn't make the hole big enough in the new support structure for the wires to fit through. The wires were all bare and touching and so when the rain came in through the switch cover, it blew up. Cole diagnosed the problem quickly. They had to remove the decking material, make the hole bigger in the supporting structure and in the decking material (as the deck company failed to do). They had to crawl under the deck (it had been raining, so the ground was soaked!) to check the wiring. I lent him some tarps for under the deck, and he rinsed them off and hung them to dry before leaving. Rather than charging me to rewire, he found that there was sufficient slack in the existing wire to pull through and fix. While under the deck, he also found another outlet in our sun room that needed fixing, which he did at no extra cost. He also did a complementary inspection of the fuse box.
Jim O.
Mar 2008
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$395
I contacted their answering service which said they would call back in 10 minutes and the did! We discussed the job and he provided a recommendation on where to purchase the fixtures. I checked with them and they were too expensive, so I hit the web and found the exact lighting fixtures at a significant discount. The store met the prices I found on the web. I contacted Scott again and we talked through price estimates and agreed on a price with the caveat that it might change if they discovered any big issues. I scheduled the work. His crew showed up on time and installed the fixtures exactly like I asked. The crew was courteous and efficient and completed the work in minimum amount of time. They cleaned up and left the kitchen just like they found it. After they left, we discovered one small problem area. I called Scott the next day and he sent one of his people over to fix it at no charge. Great experience -- I would recommend Cole Electric.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"I'M GLAD EVERYTHING WENT SO WELL! SUPPLY HOUSES ARE OUT OF MY CONTROL BUT I'M HAPPY THEY MET YOUR NET PRICING. THANKS FOR CALLING US & YOUR POSITIVE FEEDBACK."

BILL W.
Feb 2008
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
The work was started at 8:30, and finished at 4:30. I was given the option to furnish the materials...as a materials list was furnished to me by Mr. Cole. A nice money saving option. The installers were gentlemen. Just an all-around good experience. A+, truly professional.
Angie M.
Jan 2008
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
We called Cole when our circuit breaker kept tripping. They immediately determined that our meter was burned out and showed us the scorching to back that up. They replaced the meter and we elected to have them upgrade our service at the same time. The work went smoothly and the electrician was extremely pleasant and straightforward. The problem causing the partial power outage in our home was trickier. Another contractor we had called previously had not even attempted to sort it out, but Mr. Cole and his team crawled into the attic and after much trial and error traced wiring from the box to a burned out switch. After replacing the switch, the lights were back on and everything was back in order. For all of that extra effort, I was charged only $100 above the cost of the other work! They were outstanding. Since then, I had them come out to repair a range hood and install a porch light, which they did for only the cost of the service visit! I love these guys!
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"LET ME SAY " THANK YOU " FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN BACK TO YOUR HOME FOR ANOTHER REPAIR CALL. WE TRY HARD TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS COMING BACK & COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING US TO THEIR FRIENDS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY FUTURE NEEDS YOU MAY HAVE .."

Helen M.
Aug 2007
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
I had a really good experience with them. They do very professional work and they seemed to be very knowledgeable when it comes to electrical work. I would highly recommend them to anyone in our area.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"IT WAS OUR PLEASURE REPLACING YOUR OLD OUTDATED FUSE PANEL. MOST OWNERS DON'T REALIZE THEY HAVE ISSUES UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO POST YOUR THOUGHTS."

Jeanie C.
Apr 2007
5.0
Electrical Service, Lighting Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$795
Phoned Cole Electric early in the week and scheduled for an estimate. Evening before appointment received call from Scott confirming our 8 am next day appointment. Cole arrived on schedule. Showed the men the work I wanted done but did not receive estimate (my fault that I didn't ask either). Work was completed within 3 hours of arrival. Work areas were cleaned and men were very polite. I felt the price to be extreme. I will use Cole again but will be more aware of cost.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"I AM GLAD WE WERE POLITE & CLEANED UP OUR MESS BUT CAN ONLY APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR NOT SHARING THE COST W/ YOU PRIOR TO STARTING. SINCE WE ARE NOT HANDYMEN OUR PRICES CAN BE SURPRISING IF NOT DISCUSSED FIRST. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW HOW MANY CUSTOMERS DO NOT REQUEST AN ESTIMATE PRIOR TO BEGINNING A PROJECT. WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HIDE ANYTHING & ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS PRICING BEFORE STARTING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE W/ US..."

LYNN S.
Mar 2007
5.0
Ceiling Fan Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$225
The work went very well. The fan made more noise than I thought it should, and he worked hard to duct tape the connections to minimize the noise. Some noise could not be avoided because the way the wires had to be connected dictated that there would be a "turn" in the vent hose. Unfortunately, the electrician broke the cover for the fan. He told me right away, said that I would not be billed until they got a replacement, and that he didn't know how it happened, but that he was sorry that it did. Within the week they called to say that the new cover had arrived, and that they would come at my convenience to install it.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"YES THAT BATHROOM EXHAUST FAN ( OWNER SUPPLIED ) WAS CHALLENGING TO INSTALL . THE OLD EXPRESSION " TO MAKE AN OMELET YOU HAVE TO BREAK SOME EGGS " SOMETIMES APPLIES TO OUR WORK? WE TRY OUR BEST BUT SOMETIMES PARTS BREAK & MUST BE REPLACED @ OUR EXPENSE. I'M GLAD YOURS WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE."

LINDA B.
Jan 2007
5.0
Lighting Service, Ceiling Fan Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
The price quote was good, the workers were prompt and polite. The work was done quickly and accurately and everything was clean and dust free when they left. I will always use them for my electrical needs and recommend them to my friends.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"DEAR MEMBER, IT WAS OUR PLEASURE TO ADDRESS YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS. ANYBODY CAN REPLACE LIGHTS & CEILING FANS BUT OUR EXPERTISE CAME IN THE INSTALLATION OF YOUR RECESSED LIGHTING TO AN EXISTING HOME WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE CEILING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE ELECTRICAL NEEDS & I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN YOUR HOME."

THOMAS W.
Dec 2006
5.0
Electrical Service
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,300
Scott gave me an estimate on Tuesday and his crew of three showed up at 8 on Thursday as promised. The crew was respectful and friendly and completed the work at about 4PM. They protected floors before starting and cleaned up afterwards.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER! AS IT JUST SO HAPPENED WE WERE CAUGHT UP OR EVEN AHEAD OF OUR SCHEDULE AND WERE ABLE TO GET RIGHT TO YOUR JOB. THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT IT IS NICE WHEN IT DOES. THAT OLD SPLIT BUSS PANEL WAS OUTLAWED YEARS AGO DUE TO A POOR DESIGN THAT LENT ITSELF TO FAILURES RESULTING IN FIRES. NOW MAIN BREAKER PANELS GIVE YOU THE PROTECTION YOU NEED AS WELL AS THE SPACE TO ADD THE WIRING FOR THAT GREAT WORKSHOP YOU HAVE. IT WAS A PLEASURE & I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOUR FUTURE NEEDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE."

CHERRY K.
Aug 2006
2.0
Electrical Service
He was late to the appointment but did call to let us know.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"I CAN ONLY APOLOGIZE FOR THE LACK OF SERVICE YOU RECEIVED. I AM GLAD TO HEAR MY EMPLOYEE CALLED WHEN HE COULDN'T BE THERE AT THE SET TIME & WAS THOROUGH IN HIS ESTIMATE. I AM SORRY TO HEAR WE WENT THAT FAR YET DID NOT COMPLETE THE ESTIMATE WITH YOU. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A FAN OF SOME HOMEOWNERS DOING THEIR OWN WIRING TO A BUILDING WE PUT POWER TO I ALSO DON'T LIKE IT WHEN WE FAIL TO MEET SOMEONES NEEDS. TRY AS WE WILL I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY."

ROBERT C.
Aug 2006
1.0
Electrical Service
I never received a call back from Cole Electric. That is very unprofessional.
Response from Cole Electric Inc

"I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE A RETURN CALL. I AGREE THAT'S THE LEAST WE SHOULD DO. NOT TO MAKE EXCUSES BUT DUE TO THE VOLUME OF CALL WE RECEIVE ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER SOME DO FALL THRU THE CRACKS. WE USE STATE OF THE ART 24 HR. VOICE MESSAGING SO OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T GET BUSY SIGNALS WHILE I'M FIELDING PREVIOUS CALLS. IT'S NOT PERFECT NOR AM I. I'M SORRY YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS NOT POSITIVE & THANK YOU FOR YOUR INITIAL CALL & SHARING YOUR RESULT."

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Licensing

Bonded
Insured
Licensed*

Trade License Number

2705009702

Trade License Locale

Virginia

Trade License Authority

Va DPOR

Trade License Expiration

03/31/2018

State Contractor License Requirements

All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our Find Licensing Requirements page.

*Contact business to see additional licenses.

FAQ

Cole Electric Inc is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed
Cole Electric Inc accepts the following forms of payment: Check, CreditCard
Yes, Cole Electric Inc offers free project estimates.
Yes, Cole Electric Inc offers eco-friendly accreditations.
Yes, Cole Electric Inc offers a 5% senior discount.
Yes, Cole Electric Inc offers emergency services.
Yes, Cole Electric Inc offers warranties.
Cole Electric Inc offers the following services: Residential & commercial professional electric & installation including, emergency repairs, upgrades, panel box replacements, room additions, fuse box replacements, custom recessed lighting & rewiring.
HVAC or Plumbing