PE Electrical Power Schedule of Fees 1

[PE56]

What are your current charges as a Senior/Experienced PE for PE Electrical Power Work?

1. Monthly Retainer (Being a qualifying agent for a firm or other work. One-time or monthly?)
2. Per Page Charges for reviewing work under direct supervision.
3. Expert Witness (day or hour, upto # hours?) Standby Time Charge?
4. Investigations, Reports, Portal-to-Portal?
5. Cancellation Notice?
6. Travel Expenses (At Cost or with Markup?)
7. Other categories...

Do you use a contract or agreement? Would you like to share that agreement by uploading a copy with your reply "without" personal or client info and data? It would be much appreciated...

Thanks for your kind help and suggestions.

 

[Ron]

PE56...I'm not a sparky, so any numbers I could share would be irrelevant; however, I would like to respond to each of your questions, disregarding the fees....

Let's assume first, that you are practicing in the US as a licensed professional engineer...

1. If you are the "qualifying agent" in an engineering firm, you must usually be an officer. For example, my primary license is in the state of Florida and I am the qualifying engineer for my firm. The state terms that "Engineer as Officer" and requires such to qualify the Certificate of Authorization to practice. It might vary a bit by state, but generally that prevails. The point here is that you are not intended to be the qualifying agent for multiple firms and you must have intimate involvement and decisive power within the firm.

2. It would appear that you are trying to subcontract your services to some firm and be their "engineer". Keep in mind that you must meet the test for "responsible charge" in order to do that. Reviewing drawings on a per page basis can be done, but don't put yourself in a position of being only a plan checker with no authority to make changes to those plans as you see fit. If you do not have that authority, do not do it.

3. Expert witness fees are like any other....whatever you want to charge within reason for the market and what the client is willing to pay. I do not differentiate between expert witness fees and regular consultation. Time is time to me. I don't care if it is time in consultation or time in deposition/trial. It is all the same to me, so I charge my hourly rate for whatever service I provide. Keep in mind that you will often be asked, under oath, your fee structure and why you charge certain fees. If you surcharge your expert witness fees, be fully prepared to explain why.

4. Again...time is time. I charge the same for all activities, including travel. If I'm traveling for one client, it is time I can't devote to another client, so my standard fee prevails.

5. Cancellation notice. I only charge for time expended up to the point of cancellation. This rarely occurs, but when it does, you are entitled to charge for the time spent for whatever reason up to that point.

6. All expenses should be marked up. Keep in mind that your professional liability premiums will be based on gross revenue, including reimbursable expenses, so you must account for that and other administrative expenses when billing for reimbursables.


An "agreement" is a contract. I would suggest that you know the differences in types of contracts and how to review them. You should develop your own terms and conditions that you deem relevant to your practice.

I am attaching a booklet that I've written on contract review for engineers, architects and contractors...I hope you find it helpful..

 

[PE56]

Thanks, Ron, I appreciate your comments and very helpful advice (wisdom), and for being a guiding light...
By the way, I had read your contract paper and I had found it to be extremely useful to my understanding of contracts and legal matters...much obliged.
Moreover, I would not mind at all, I welcome, further advice or answers to my questions, from any sparkies (as you call PE Electrical Power Engineers) out there...

Respecfully, PE56.