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Sample electrical estimate

Generator inlet and interlock estimate example

Customers ask for this after every outage. Put the limits of a portable setup on the bid so nobody expects the whole house to run.

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What the electrician typed

"30a generator inlet box outside near panel, 10/3 to panel, interlock kit on main panel, 2 pole 30a breaker, customer has portable generator, permit"

What the customer got
Reyes Electric
Proposal #2474 · September 13, 2026
Prepared for Sara Ellis
Scope of work
• Install a 30-amp generator inlet box on the exterior wall near the panel.
• 10/3 cable from the inlet to the panel.
• Interlock kit on the main panel and a two-pole 30-amp breaker.
• Walk the customer through startup and transfer.
• Permit and inspection included. Customer supplies the portable generator and cord.
Total
$1,250
Timeline
Half a day
Payment
Due on completion
Warranty: 1 year on all labor and workmanship
Type your full name to accept this proposal. This is a legally binding electronic signature.
Full name
Accept proposal

Example figures for a typical generator inlet and interlock job. Not a quote. Every line on the estimate came from the notes above. Nothing was added.

What to spell out on a generator inlet and interlock bid

  • Amperage of the inlet and that it matches the generator.
  • That an interlock means picking circuits by hand, not a whole-house transfer.
  • Who supplies the cord and the generator.
  • That the generator must sit outside, away from windows, and that you will show them where.

Most panel and service work needs a permit and an inspection. Put the inspection timing on the bid so the customer knows the power schedule.

The parts of this estimate

  • Scope of work. 5 lines, one thing each, in the order the work happens. What is not included is on the list too.
  • One price. $1,250. Not a formula, not a range. The scope explains the number.
  • Timeline. Half a day. Including dry time, cure time, or permit time, so the customer plans around it.
  • Payment terms. Due on completion. Nothing down. The customer pays when the work is done.
  • Warranty. 1 year on all labor and workmanship.
  • A way to accept. The customer types their name and signs with a finger on their phone. Legally binding under the E-SIGN Act, and recorded with the date, time, and the exact estimate they agreed to.

Questions electricians ask about this bid

Interlock or transfer switch?

Interlock is cheaper and fine for a portable unit. Put a transfer switch on the bid as a second package if they want selected circuits automatic.

Is a permit really needed?

Yes. Backfeed safety is what inspectors care about most, and the interlock is what they check.

Is this a real quote?

No. The numbers are example figures for a typical job so you can see how a complete estimate reads. Your price is yours.

Can my customer sign this on their phone?

Yes. An estimate sent from BidWriter Pro opens as a link. The customer reads it, types their name, signs with a finger, and pays the deposit by card. You get an alert when they open it and when they sign.

Write your own generator inlet and interlock estimate

Type the job the way you would text it. It comes out like the one above, in about five seconds. No account needed.

Only what you type goes on the estimate. Nothing gets added.
No account needed to try it.

30 days free, then $29 a month. No card to start. Electrical estimate template · BidWriter Pro for electricians

More electrical estimate examples

Guides: what to include in an estimate · how to price a job · how to follow up · how much deposit to ask for · the warranty line

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