How to Build an Electrical Schedule of Rates for Construction Projects
An electrical schedule of rates gives you a consistent set of unit prices for common work items, so you are not rebuilding a price from scratch every time a variation, provisional item or tender clarification comes up. It only works if each rate is built the same way, clearly defined and kept current.
This guide shows how to build the schedule, what goes into each rate, a worked example, and how to use it on live projects.
What Is a Schedule of Rates in Electrical Work?
In schedule of rates construction work, a schedule is a list of unit rates for defined work items, priced per point, metre, fitting, circuit or hour. It is not a replacement for project-specific estimating. It is a reference you apply where the scope and conditions genuinely match.
Many contractors keep two versions: an internal cost schedule and a client-facing selling schedule. Whichever you keep, label it clearly. For how this differs from takeoffs and BOQs, see Electrical BOQ vs Takeoff vs Estimate.
What Goes Into an Electrical Rate
A reliable electrical rates build-up has the same components every time:
Labour: hours per unit multiplied by a loaded hourly cost. In Australia, “loaded” means including superannuation, workers compensation, leave loading, payroll tax where applicable and allowances, not just the base wage. Productivity assumptions matter as much as the hourly cost.
Materials: everything needed for one unit, including accessories, fixings and waste. Use current pricing, not old catalogue prices.
Plant and consumables: access equipment, test gear and small plant, where they have a real cost impact.
Overheads: supervision, administration, insurance and office costs, allocated consistently. Our guide to calculating overhead and profit margins in electrical estimating covers how to set these.
Margin: applied last, using the same method for every rate.
State whether each rate is ex-GST and whether it is a cost rate or a selling rate. Mixing the two is one of the most common errors.
How to Build the Schedule, Step by Step
1. Decide what the schedule is for.
A schedule for variations needs tighter definitions than an internal reference list. Purpose drives the level of detail.
2. Set the categories.
Group items the way you work: power, lighting, cabling and containment, switchboards, communications, emergency systems, testing. A consistent structure makes gaps easier to spot.
3. Define each unit precisely.
“Install lighting” is too vague. “Supply and install recessed LED panel, 600 x 600, in accessible ceiling, up to 3 m height” is a rate someone can apply correctly.
4. Build up the rate.
Work through labour, materials, plant, overhead and margin in the same order for every item. The worked example below shows how.
5. Document inclusions and exclusions.
State what the rate covers (supply, install, connection, testing) and what it does not (builder’s work, after-hours work, unusual access, design changes). This is what protects you when the rate is later used on additional work.
Worked Example: One Electrical Unit Rate
The figures below are illustrative only and are not market rates. They show the method.
Item: Supply and install a double general power outlet, standard conditions, ex-GST.
Component | Basis | Amount |
Labour | 0.75 hrs at $95/hr loaded | $71.25 |
Materials | Outlet, plate, mounting block, cable allowance, fixings | $28.00 |
Plant and consumables | Small allowance | $4.00 |
Direct cost | $103.25 | |
Overhead | 12% of direct cost | $12.39 |
Margin | 10% of cost plus overhead | $11.56 |
Example selling rate | $127.20 |
Your overhead and margin percentages, labour cost and productivity will differ. The point is that anyone reading the build-up can see where the number came from and challenge it.
A simple electrical rate schedule template then looks like this:
Ref | Work item | Unit | Inclusions | Exclusions | Rate (ex-GST) | Last reviewed |
P-01 | Double GPO, standard conditions | Each | Supply, install, connect, test | Builder’s work, after-hours | $XXX | MM/YYYY |
L-04 | LED panel, accessible ceiling | Each | Supply, install, connect | Access equipment above 3 m | $XXX | MM/YYYY |
C-02 | Cable, specified type | Metre | Supply, install, terminate | Core drilling | $XX | MM/YYYY |
The “last reviewed” column is easy to skip and very useful.
If you would rather not build and maintain a full set of electrical unit rates in Australia yourself, our electrical estimating services can help with rate build-ups and tender pricing.
Keeping Rates Current
A schedule built once and left alone becomes unreliable within a year or two. Set a review cycle based on how quickly each cost moves:
Monthly or as prices change: volatile materials such as copper cable
Quarterly: commonly used rates
Six-monthly or annually: stable items and productivity assumptions
Immediately: after a wage change, a major supplier price change or a significant project overrun
Compare your assumed labour hours against actual job data. If a rate keeps proving too tight or too generous, change it. Avoid rewriting rates from one isolated quote. Check the specification, quantity and validity period first, as covered in How Supplier Quotes Affect Electrical Estimates and Tender Pricing.
Using the Schedule on Live Projects
Variations.
A schedule of rates for variations gives you a consistent, defensible basis for pricing additional work, provided the contract allows agreed rates. Check that the scope and conditions match. Restricted access, work at height, out-of-hours work, different equipment or extra testing can all justify an adjusted rate.
Provisional work.
Where quantities are unknown at tender, an agreed unit rate lets the work be valued once the final quantity is known. Make sure the rate definition matches the provisional item, or the numbers will not line up later.
Tender clarifications.
When a tender asks for unit rates for potential additional work, your schedule lets you respond quickly and consistently. Treat it as a supplement to project-specific pricing, not a substitute. For the wider pricing process, see How to Price Electrical Tenders.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Outdated material prices.
Old costs make the whole schedule unreliable. Flag high-volatility items for frequent review.
One labour allowance for everything.
Installing a GPO and pulling cable through a congested riser do not share a productivity figure.
Vague units and missing exclusions.
If a rate cannot be applied the same way by two different people, it is not defined well enough.
Applying a rate outside its scope.
A standard rate used on a restricted-access or after-hours job underprices the work, and it is hard to recover later.
Never reviewing.
Treat the schedule as a maintained commercial tool, with an owner and a review date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an electrical schedule of rates?
It is a structured list of unit prices for defined electrical work items. Each rate is built from labour, materials, plant, overheads and margin, and is used to price variations, provisional work and tender clarifications consistently.
What should an electrical rate include?
Labour (on a loaded basis), materials with waste, consumables and plant, applicable overheads and margin. It should also state its inclusions, exclusions, unit and whether it is ex-GST.
Can a schedule of rates be used for variations?
Yes, where the contract permits agreed rates. The rate should only be used when the scope and site conditions are genuinely comparable. Otherwise, adjust it or build a new rate.
How often should a schedule of rates be updated?
There is no single answer. Review volatile materials monthly or whenever prices move, common rates quarterly, and stable items and productivity at least annually. Update immediately after major wage or supplier changes.
Final Takeaway
A good electrical schedule of rates is consistent, documented and maintained. Build every rate the same way, write down what it includes and excludes, and review it on a set cycle. It then becomes a fast, defensible tool for variations, provisional work and tender clarifications.
Want help building rates or pricing your next tender? Contact our estimating team to discuss your project.
