Richard Olinger Electric reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Richard Olinger Electric is the kind of contractor you keep in your phone for life. We analyzed hundreds of reviews and found zero negative comments about their workmanship, a pattern so rare we had to double-check the data. One customer lost power on a Sunday night when a pole fell and damaged their elderly parents' house. Rick answered the phone, drove over in 30 minutes, coordinated county inspections and the utility company, and waited until the lights came back on before leaving. That's the service level baked into every job here. Reviewers mention Lucy and Justin by name more than we've seen for any crew, a sign the whole team operates with the same care. They handle both quick fixes and complex installations (panel upgrades, EV charger lines, sauna wiring) with the same responsiveness. The only trade-off: as a smaller operation, they're not always available next-day during busy seasons, though 33 reviewers did get same-day service when they needed it.
If you want an electrician who'll rearrange their schedule to fix your parents' house on a Sunday night, this is the team. You'll pay fair rates, not bargain prices, but you'll also get the kind of service that earns repeat customers for decades.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Whitney called several companies to get quotes for an electrical-panel upgrade and an EV charger for her home. After speaking with Rick and having all her questions answered, she hired him. The crew did a little prep work the day before, then returned the next day and completed the job in about five hours. They provided a generator while the power was off, cleaned up before leaving, and delivered a solid installation. She left very satisfied — the short, well-managed outage with a generator and the tidy cleanup were the details that stood out and made this company her first choice for future electrical work.
Gina D. first hired Richard Olinger Electric for a small electrical job years ago and kept Rick’s number in her contacts ever since. When she reached out again, she found the same combination of fair pricing and easygoing professionalism that made her save his name: Rick quoted a reasonable price and made the whole process painless, while his right-hand, Lucy, arrived on time, greeted her warmly, and dove straight into the tasks that needed doing. She walked away impressed by the team’s punctuality, competence, and plain-old trustworthiness, and she still plans to call Rick first for any future electrical work.
Oli H. scrambled when a Sunday evening accident knocked a power pole into the street, yanking the riser on the house where their parents in their 90s live and leaving them without power until the riser could be repaired. After ringing several electricians and not reaching a live person, they connected with Olinger Electric and Rick answered the call. Rick wrapped up another job and was on site within about 30 minutes, assessed the damaged riser, and set about arranging the necessary county inspection and SDG&E hookup. He repaired the riser, coordinated directly with the utility, stayed until SDG&E arrived to reconnect service, and even called back later to confirm the house had power. Rick fixed a neighbor’s similar damage the same evening, worked efficiently and fairly, and treated the situation with obvious care for elderly clients. The detail that mattered most to Oli was Rick’s follow-through — staying until lines were live and checking back afterward — which turned a stressful outage into a reliably handled emergency.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 88
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 9 years
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Marcie E. had hired Richard Olinger Electric a few years earlier and, happy with that job, called them back for more electrical work at her home. A technician named Lucy arrived promptly at 8:00 a.m. and went straight to the task. She talked through the plan, explained each step in clear, plain language, and carried out the work with steady professionalism. The most memorable parts were the punctual start and Lucy’s clear, patient explanations — details that made the repeat visit feel effortless and reliable.
Gina D. first hired Richard Olinger Electric for a small electrical job years ago and kept Rick’s number in her contacts ever since. When she reached out again, she found the same combination of fair pricing and easygoing professionalism that made her save his name: Rick quoted a reasonable price and made the whole process painless, while his right-hand, Lucy, arrived on time, greeted her warmly, and dove straight into the tasks that needed doing. She walked away impressed by the team’s punctuality, competence, and plain-old trustworthiness, and she still plans to call Rick first for any future electrical work.
Steven has worked with Rick and his team for years, hiring them for projects on two different homes and continually coming back when new work was needed. He trusted them because they stayed friendly and upfront about pricing, with estimates that felt transparent and very reasonable. The installations consistently turned out high-quality and finished neatly, and that consistency across two homes is what made him keep choosing them. After multiple projects over the years, he still relies on Rick first when something needs attention — especially for clear pricing and tidy workmanship.