The short answer
Most electricians charge small jobs as a call-out fee plus time, then parts. A Perth electrician publishes call-outs from $120 including GST and labour from $140 an hour in business hours. The only South West business we found publishing its rates charges $99 + GST to attend within 15 km of its branch (discounted from $139 + GST), and a $220 + GST minimum for fault finding that includes 45 minutes to diagnose.
Published call-out fees and hourly rates
Few electricians publish their rates. These are the business-hours prices we could find, quoted exactly as each business publishes them. Where a price excludes GST, the amount including GST is in brackets.
Published business-hours rates
| What's charged | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out, business hours | From $120 incl. GST | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Hourly rate, business hours | From $140 an hour | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Service charge, within 15 km of the branch | $99 + GST ($108.90), discounted from $139 + GST | NIXON, Bunbury and Busselton |
| Minimum fault-finding call, includes 45 minutes to diagnose | $220 + GST ($242) | NIXON, Bunbury and Busselton |
| Fault finding after the first 45 minutes | $150 + GST ($165) per 30 minutes | NIXON, Bunbury and Busselton |
Prices as published by each business, checked 27 September 2026. Dr Sparky's hourly rates don't say whether GST is included. Your electrician confirms their charges before the visit.
What a call-out fee covers
A call-out or service fee covers getting to you, and some include a set amount of time on site. The Bunbury and Busselton price list above builds 45 minutes of diagnosis into its minimum fault-finding charge, then charges in 30-minute blocks. None of the published prices we found say the call-out comes off the job if you go ahead, so ask.
Not everyone charges one. At least one Dunsborough–Busselton electrician doesn't charge to come out and quote in its core area, and a fixed-price job such as a switchboard upgrade can include the service call.
After hours, weekends and emergencies
Rates go up outside business hours. One Perth electrician publishes these:
Published after-hours rates
| What's charged | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out, weeknights | From $180 incl. GST | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Call-out, weekends | From $220 incl. GST | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Call-out, public holidays | From $280 incl. GST | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Hourly rate, after hours | From $210 an hour | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
Prices as published by each business, checked 27 September 2026. Dr Sparky's hourly rates don't say whether GST is included. Your electrician confirms their charges before the visit.
If it's an emergency
Online requests aren't monitored for emergencies. If there's a fire or anyone is in danger, call 000. For sparking, burning smells or a hot switch inside the home, switch off at the main switch if it's safe to do so and keep clear. For fallen power lines or a problem at the meter or street connection, call Western Power's 24/7 faults line on 13 13 51. If the whole street has lost power, it's a network fault for Western Power, not a job for an electrician.
Busselton compared with Perth
Busselton rates can differ from Perth, mostly because of travel. The one local price list we found charges its service fee within 15 km of the branch and adds travel beyond that, so a job in Dunsborough, Yallingup or out past Vasse may cost more to attend than one in town. When you ask for a price, say exactly where the job is.
How to keep the cost down
- Put several small jobs into one visit, so you pay one call-out instead of several. See home electrical work.
- List everything and add photos, so the electrician brings the right parts first time
- Make sure they can get to the switchboard, the roof space and the job itself
- Book in business hours unless there's a safety risk
- For installation work, ask for a fixed price instead of hourly. See switchboard upgrade costs.
What a written quote should show in WA
WA Consumer Protection says a written quote from a tradesperson should include:
- Their licence number and ABN
- Labour charges and any call-out fee. If the call-out fee isn't in the quote, you don't have to pay it
- Any weekend or public holiday rates
- The total, preferably including GST. Ask if GST is included or extra
A quote is binding once you accept it; an estimate can change. Tradespeople must get your permission before doing extra work, and a deposit is generally no more than 10 per cent.
Check the licence
All electrical work in WA must be done by a licensed electrician working for a licensed electrical contractor. Contractor licence numbers start with "EC", and you can check one on Building and Energy's licence search. For installation work, other than maintenance or like-for-like replacements, the contractor must give you an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days.
Common questions
How much does an electrician charge per hour in WA?
A Perth electrician publishes business-hours rates from $140 an hour and after-hours rates from $210. A Bunbury and Busselton business charges fault finding at $150 + GST per 30 minutes after the first 45 minutes (checked 27 September 2026). Parts are extra, and installation work can be quoted as a fixed price instead.
What does a call-out fee cover?
It covers getting to you, and sometimes some time on site. What's included varies: one Bunbury and Busselton business's $220 + GST minimum fault-finding call includes 45 minutes to diagnose the fault. Ask what the fee includes, and whether it comes off the job if you go ahead.
Do all electricians charge a call-out fee?
No. At least one Dunsborough–Busselton electrician doesn't charge to come out and quote in its core area, and a fixed-price job can include the service call. Small repairs and fault finding are usually charged as a call-out plus time.
Do I have to pay a call-out fee that wasn't in the quote?
WA Consumer Protection says a written quote should list call-out fees, and if the call-out fee isn't included in the quote you don't have to pay it. Weekend or public holiday rates should be listed too.
Are after-hours rates higher?
Yes. One Perth electrician publishes call-outs from $180 on weeknights, $220 on weekends and $280 on public holidays, including GST, and after-hours labour from $210 an hour. Unless there's a safety risk, booking in business hours costs less.
Is GST included in the rates electricians quote?
Not always. Some publish prices including GST and some add it on top. WA Consumer Protection says it's best practice to show the total including GST, so ask if it's not clear.
Where these figures come from
The prices and rules on this page come from these published pages, checked on 27 September 2026.
- Dr Sparky Electrical · Perth electrician, published call-out and hourly rates
- NIXON terms and conditions · Bunbury and Busselton electrical business, published service and fault-finding charges
- Shockwave Electrical: Busselton · Dunsborough–Busselton electrician, published call-out policy for quotes
- Westside Electrical · Perth electrician, fixed switchboard prices
- Consumer Protection WA: estimates, quotes and deposits · WA Government consumer guidance, updated 4 September 2026
- Building and Energy: having electrical work done · WA Government guide to licences and Electrical Safety Certificates
