Charge Out Rate Report:

The third annual survey of Australia’s electrical and communications contracting businesses, The NECA Market Monitor, was undertaken in October, with more than 12,000 contracting businesses nationwide being invited to participate, and all respondents offered a complete charge out report comparing metro and non-metro rates in all of the states.

NECA provides members with recommended charge out rates, and unfortunately, the real rates we see being charged are often significantly lower. In this third year of the survey, and after an extensive educational effort on NECA’s behalf, it is encouraging to see that the average call-out fee has increased by $8 from $75 in 2008 to $83 in 2009, and also that the average hourly rate has increased by $8, from $66 in 2008 to $74 in 2009.

NECA campaigns strongly to ensure that members and the industry in general receive a fair return for the risk associated with running a contracting business, and it is a constant disappointment that many contractors, and specifically the less professional contracting businesses – those who are not NECA members – drop their fees to win work and damage the profitability of the whole industry.

The full report is here, and members should contact their state office for further details regarding NECA’s recommended charge out rates.

NECA gratefully acknowledges the support of our research partners:

Clipsal

Hager B&R

L&H Group

NHP

Pierlite

Rexel Group