There are awesome electricians out there, smart guys who cut corners, and morons. Believe me, I've had all three in MY house!

The guy who did my pool was awesome, recommended by a builder I know and trust.

The smart corner-cutter came with the kitchen renovator. He enjoyed the challenges of unusual lighting and dimming equipment, but cut corners on the boring stuff (the inspector caught most of it).

Our most recent guy was our GC's back-up electrician, and dumber than dirt. We just installed a similar dimming system to what we did in the kitchen and the moron couldn't figure it out, despite my diagramming it. Since the kitchen system is 11 years old, it ain't like it's new-fangled equipment. He managed to cost me a ruined keypad and dimmer because he couldn't figure out what the fourth wire was for (First wire: Hot. Second wire: Neutral. Third wire: Ground. Fourth wire: Data bus. Connect the data bus to the key pads and the dimmers and VOILA! a programmable system.

But you gotta be able to count to four...The GC finally figured it out for him.

This electrician suggested I move the garage lights from just above the doors to much higher to cast more light. Everything was open and accessible--maybe an hour's work if he gold-bricked. Then he said it would cost $600! I guess I must just look like a sucker--until I said "no". He can't count to four but he can count to 600--if there's a $ in front of it!

I wouldn't trust this guy to put a new plug on a lamp.