COI requirements by trade / Electrical
Electrical COI requirements
Electrical subs carry a mix of injury risk and property risk: a bad connection can cause a fire long after the electrician has left. Licensing and completed operations coverage both matter.
What makes electrical risky
- Fire and property damage from faulty wiring, which can appear long after completion.
- Electrocution and burn injuries to workers or others on site.
- Damage to equipment or tenant property during tie-ins and shutdowns.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. Confirm products-completed operations is included and not excluded. |
| Products-completed operations | Matters because electrical fires can surface years later. Ask for completed operations AI wording. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability (often $1M/$1M/$1M). |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit for service vans and trucks. |
| Umbrella / excess | Often required on larger commercial work; $1M to $2M is common for small and mid-size jobs. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on electrical certificates
- The insured name doesn't match the licensed electrical contractor on your contract.
- No completed operations coverage.
- Limits that are fine for residential service work but short of your commercial contract requirements.
Tip
Check the electrical license alongside the COI. The licensed entity, the insured on the certificate, and the party you contracted with should all match.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any electrical exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a electrical subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, products-completed operations, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and umbrella / excess. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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