Mindtrick, my question to you is what the reasoning is behind replacing the existing electrical? Is it inadequate service or a code issue driven by the renovation? Have the conduits or direct burial cables been compromised in some way? Is there some other driver? I'm not a pool builder, but I deal a lot in electrical work, and it is not generally something that is viewed as disposable...unless there is a specific code, service, safety or upgrade need driving the swap out, or if it is extremely old (leading to potential brittleness of the conductor or insulation, which makes it a safety issue).

Also, is this just the main service run from the house to sub-panel that will be replaced, or all of your 110v runs (exterior lighting, feeds to all equipment, pool lights, etc)? If the latter, what do you have?

mindtrick,
That seems a little high. If your existing electric is in conduit, why change it? If you need a larger wire size you have a couple options: 1) repull larger wire through the existing conduit if the conduit is large enough 2) install new conduit and wire to accommadate new and existing equipment. This is probably what should have been bid to begin with. I would assume you are replacing existing time clocks with an EZ touch or similar control to automate your spa?

There is nothing wrong with the existing electrical service, it was just suggested to take the opportunity to do it while the concrete was already up, to avoid having to do it later if it was needed and having to tear up the new stamped concrete. Now this seems like a scare tactic.

Heck, for all I know the demo guys hacked it up and now it needs replacing. I don't have any way of knowing that.

He is replacing the electricity to the existing pool equipment, as we are keeping all of that. No exterior lights are involved, other than the lights in the pool itself. He is using a larger wire than what is already there.

The pump had been replaced a few months ago and the heater was in good working condition, so I did not want to replace those at this time. I am not sure what spa timer will be used.

Before bidding he agreed that the heater was in good shape and would service the spa and pool adequately. But then a new heater was one of his suggestions along with the electrical. I declined that upgrade, mainly because I was then becoming annoyed with his $13K in additional suggestions. If I need a new heater later, I'll buy it separately from someone else.

So, am I not out of line thinking that this separate electrical work either should have been included to begin with, or at the very least, could have "piggybacked" onto the spa electricity for a somewhat nominal amount?

Thank you for your responses

Mindtrick, sometime sounds very fishy. I agree with golfgeek. The electrician charged my PB $800 as we just had a pool and he normally charges $1200 if you have a spa in addition. We had 100amp service run from our main panel about 80 ft in the attic to the pool equipment pad, a 32 thin breaker GE sub panel and about 6 breakers supplied. He hooked up the timer, pool light, SWG and pool pump. He charged my PB $800. I recommend that you upgrade to at least 100amp subpanel which would mean pulling larger wire in your existing conduit and then having him hook up the pool and spa equipment. I cannot possibly see how that costs $2300. I am attaching a pic of our pool equipment. I purchased the pool heat pump and plumbed and hooked it on my own.

If you are doing it properly with all of the GFCI breakers. Depending on how many items you have installed the breakers and panel can run you $800-1000.

I'm probably missing most of the particulars, but I would think that the existing wires would already be in conduit to the locations that it needs to be, and the new wires would probably fit in it. So why would he have to dig any trenches or replace conduit? I would think that all he would have to do is remove old wire and install new. What size is the existing conduit?

Maybe it comes with all new electrical equipment/automation? Relocating any equipment?

Sorry if my explanations seem vague, I am just not that well versed in the terminology and the mechanics of the job. The trenches I presumed were to get to the wire, or lay the conduit for them.

In any event, it does seem like I was charged too much. He did offer to let me have my own electrician do it, but since that person wouldn't also be doing the spa, it would have defeated the argument.

It is too bad because I had some other work I wanted done but now it will not go to this contractor.

Thanks everyone for your insights.