Thank you for the info. The next time I lose my alleged mind and want an electric fireplace instead of something real, I will remember this. Especially with today's electric rates continuously going up.

We have two electric fireplaces and we love them! If you are painting the fireplace/bookshelves you could have it caulked together and then painted, if you're not painting though just bring the bookcases right next to the fireplace or cover any gaps with molding. They plug in right behind themselves so if you can put it in front of an outlet you won't see a cord or anything. Some people even make hearths out of tile. Dimplex is the best brand in general, though neither of ours are dimplex and they are just as believable as can be (make sure if you get a different brand that you see it working with the lights off, some of these things are crazy tacky!) good luck!

Well, all it not quite lost. If there is 120V going to the fireplace (most likely is the case) and you can use something else to turn on and off the fire place (many come with an optional remote control or such), you may be able to abandon this as a remote control for the fire place and reuse that piece of wire to feed the receptacle. Of course, it's probably as easy to run a proper receptical. If you can get in to the attic above or craw/basement below, it's not even likely to be beyond the means of a competent DIYer.

David Cary wrote, above: "I built with a tract builder and it was $40 to add an outlet at the beginning. That was a few years ago and I maybe added one or two that was not easy to do later." Hubs and I bought our tract home just under 30 years ago when it was in the framing stage. The builder gave all buyers the option to add additional electrical outlets, phone jacks, cable jacks, and ceiling fans (2 fans were standard - master bedroom and family room); as well as adding gas log lighters to the wood burning fireplaces (our model has two fireplaces - master bedroom and family room). The cost for each additional electrical outlet, phone jack, and/or cable jack was $40. Gas log lighters were $160 each. We added 2 gas log lighters, 3 electrical outlets (one of which is an outdoor outlet), 3 cable jacks, and 6 phone jacks. We also added two sets of security floodlights for the backyard (we have a very large backyard). I can't recall the exact cost for those, but I think it was $200+ each, which included the fixtures, bulbs, and the additional light switch inside the house to control them. The cost for those additions had to be paid in full in cash before the work would be done. At the time, 30 years ago, it seemed like it was a lot to hand over $1,200+ for those things. Now, 30 years later, it's an insignificant drop in the bucket, especially considering that those extras have made living in this house a lot easier/more convenient. As Greg_2015 said, above: "I'd suggest not looking at the individual prices of the modification to your plan. Look at the big picture number for the design change and decide if it's worth the price. If it isn't, don't do it. It doesn't matter what the itemized prices are."