

Most electrical problems don’t announce themselves until something stops working or starts smoking. By then, you’re dealing with an emergency instead of a planned fix.
Working with a licensed electrical contractor means the job gets done to North Carolina code the first time. No callbacks because something wasn’t wired correctly. No failed inspections that delay your project. No wondering if your family is safe when you flip a switch.
You get flat-rate pricing before work starts, so there’s no surprise when the bill comes. Our trucks show up fully stocked, which means fewer delays waiting on parts. And when the work is done, your electrical system does exactly what it’s supposed to do without you thinking about it again.
ESP Electrical Service Providers has been serving Bells and the surrounding Chatham County area for years. We’re a local electrical company, which means when you call, you’re talking to someone who knows the area and the specific electrical challenges homes and businesses face here.
Our electricians hold North Carolina licenses, carry full insurance, and show up in uniform with stocked trucks. We’re not trying to be the cheapest option in Bells. We’re trying to be the one you call when the work needs to be done right and you don’t want to deal with it twice.

You call or submit a request online, and someone from our team gets back to you quickly to understand what’s going on. We ask questions about your electrical issue or project so we can send the right technician with the right equipment.
When our electrician arrives, they assess the situation and give you a flat-rate price before starting any work. No hourly guessing games. You know what it costs, and you decide if you want to move forward.
Once you approve, the work gets done. Our trucks carry most common parts and materials, so we’re not making multiple trips or telling you to wait three days for an order to come in. When the job’s finished, we test everything, clean up, and walk you through what we did. You get documentation for your records, and if an inspection is required, the work passes.

Homes in Bells built before 2000 often need panel upgrades to handle modern electrical loads. The average home now requires 50% more capacity than homes built just 15 years ago, and older panels weren’t designed for the number of devices, appliances, and systems we use today.
We handle panel upgrades, circuit additions, outlet and switch installations, lighting upgrades, GFCI and AFCI protection, generator hookups, and EV charger installations. For commercial clients, we cover maintenance contracts, code compliance work, tenant improvements, and emergency electrical repair.
If your home was built in the 1960s or 70s and still has aluminum wiring, that’s a fire hazard most insurance companies won’t cover without remediation. We can assess your system and give you a clear answer on what needs attention now versus what can wait. North Carolina code requirements change, and older homes in Chatham County weren’t built to today’s safety standards. Bringing your electrical system up to code isn’t just about passing inspection—it’s about making sure your property is safe and insurable.

In North Carolina, anyone doing electrical work for hire must hold a valid license from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. It’s not optional, and it’s not just a formality.
Unlicensed electricians create real problems. The work often doesn’t meet code, which means it won’t pass inspection if you’re selling your home or pulling a permit. Insurance companies can deny claims if they find out unlicensed work caused a fire or injury. And if something goes wrong, you have no recourse because the person who did the work wasn’t operating legally in the first place.
Hiring a licensed electrical contractor costs more upfront, but it protects you from failed inspections, insurance headaches, and safety hazards. The license means the person doing the work has proven they understand the code and can perform the job safely. It’s not about paying more—it’s about not paying twice.
If your panel is more than 25 years old, you’re frequently resetting breakers, or you’re adding new appliances or an EV charger, it’s time to have someone look at it. Panels don’t last forever, and older panels weren’t designed for the electrical load modern homes require.
Signs you need an upgrade include flickering lights when you run multiple appliances, warm or discolored outlets, a burning smell near the panel, or breakers that trip repeatedly. Some older panels—like Federal Pacific or Zinsco brands—are known fire hazards and should be replaced even if they seem to be working fine.
A panel upgrade typically costs between $2,000 and $4,000 depending on the size and complexity of the job. That might sound like a lot, but it prevents thousands in potential fire damage, and many insurance companies offer discounts for homes with modern electrical systems. If you’re in Bells and your home still has a 100-amp panel, upgrading to 200 amps gives you the capacity to handle everything you’re running now and anything you add in the future.
Most EV chargers require a dedicated 240-volt circuit, similar to what an electric dryer or oven uses. The charger itself gets hardwired or plugged into a special outlet, and the circuit needs to be sized correctly based on the charger’s amperage requirements.
The first step is evaluating your existing electrical panel to make sure it has enough capacity to add the circuit. If your panel is already maxed out, you might need an upgrade before the charger can be installed. Then we run the circuit from the panel to wherever you’re parking the car—garage, carport, or driveway—and mount the charger.
The whole process usually takes a few hours to a full day depending on the distance from the panel and whether any upgrades are needed. You’ll need a permit, and the work has to pass inspection to meet North Carolina code. Once it’s done, you can charge your vehicle overnight without worrying about whether your electrical system can handle it. EV charger installations are one of the fastest-growing services we’re seeing in Bells, and getting it done right the first time means you’re not dealing with tripped breakers or failed inspections later.
Electrical work costs depend on what you’re having done, but we use flat-rate pricing so you know the cost before we start. A simple outlet or switch replacement might run $150 to $300. Adding a new circuit for an appliance typically costs $300 to $800 depending on the distance and complexity.
Panel upgrades generally range from $2,000 to $4,000 for a standard 200-amp service. Generator installations vary widely based on the size of the generator and whether you need a transfer switch installed. EV charger installations usually fall between $800 and $2,500 depending on your panel capacity and how far we’re running the circuit.
Emergency service costs more because you’re paying for availability outside normal hours, but if your power is out or you’re dealing with a safety hazard, waiting until Monday morning isn’t always an option. We’ll always give you the price upfront, and you decide whether to move forward. No surprises, no hourly rates that climb while we’re troubleshooting.
Yes. We’re licensed for both residential electrical company work and commercial electrical services throughout Bells and Chatham County. The license requirements are the same, but the scope and complexity of commercial jobs are usually larger.
For residential clients, we handle everything from troubleshooting a single outlet to whole-home rewires and service upgrades. For commercial clients, we work on tenant build-outs, code compliance upgrades, lighting retrofits, maintenance contracts, and emergency repairs. Commercial work often involves coordinating with other trades, working around business hours, and meeting stricter code requirements depending on the occupancy type.
Whether it’s your home or your business, the approach is the same: show up on time, give you a clear price, do the work to code, and make sure everything works when we leave. We’re not a residential-only outfit that dabbles in commercial work or vice versa—we’re set up to handle both.
If you’re seeing sparks, smelling burning plastic, or dealing with a complete power loss, shut off power at the main breaker if it’s safe to do so and call an electrician immediately. Don’t try to troubleshoot it yourself, especially if water is involved or you’re seeing visible damage to wires or outlets.
Electrical emergencies are serious. Most homeowners have never experienced a major electrical malfunction, but when it happens, it can escalate quickly. Fires can start inside walls where you can’t see them, and shock hazards aren’t always obvious until someone gets hurt.
We offer emergency electrical services in Bells because these situations can’t wait until morning. When you call, we’ll ask questions to assess the severity and get someone out as quickly as possible. In the meantime, don’t use any outlets or switches near the problem area, and keep everyone away from the affected part of the house. Once we arrive, we’ll identify the issue, make it safe, and give you options for a permanent fix.
Other Services we provide in Bells

Electrical Service Providers (ESP) has been in business since 2002. ESP started out performing wiring services to new construction, remodeling projects and residential homes. Our company’s president identified a market for electrical services to be performed in homes and businesses independent of new construction. Read More about Electrical Service Providers>>
Chapel Hill, Burlington, Carrboro, Durham, Gibsonville, Hillsborough, Graham, Pittsboro, Morrisville, Cary

Electrical Service Providers (ESP) has been in business since 2002. ESP started out performing wiring services to new construction, remodeling projects and residential homes. Our company’s president identified a market for electrical services to be performed in homes and businesses independent of new construction. Read More about Electrical Service Providers>>