By Rachel Dutil • Photos by Jessica McCafferty
Electricity is an integral part of our daily lives and ensuring that it is properly installed and
functioning correctly is an important part of the building and remodeling process.
To get a perspective on how the electrical component fits into our SB remodeling project,
we reached out to Cliff Berg, owner and CEO of CB Electric.
Berg is a North Country native who learned his trade while a student at Saranac Central School where he participated in an electrical program at Champlain Valley Education Services (CVES). “That is where I learned how to be an electrician,” he noted.
After high school, Berg went on to become a New York State corrections officer. The schedule of that job allowed him to start CB Electric and work as an electrician on his days off, but then the pandemic helped him rethink his career path. In 2020, “I made the decision to jump ship from a stable job to chase my dream of owning my own business. It was the best decision I ever made,” he said.
CB Electric specializes in residential and commercial electrical services. “We work on new construction, remodels, electrical repairs and troubleshooting, data installs, EV charging stations, rewires, and panel upgrades,” Berg explained. “If it gets power, we put it in.”
Berg estimates that 15-20% of his business volume is new construction, while the majority is remodeling projects and upgrades to existing electrical service to suit changing usage needs.
Berg may be one of the youngest business owners in the area, but he is extremely knowledgeable about electrical usage issues and household needs. “Appliances are more powerful today,” he offered. “A kitchen that used to be on one breaker can’t keep up with today’s technology. A layout with multiple new appliances may require five to six breakers. Every appliance should have its own circuit,” he explained, emphasizing how important it is to not overload outlets.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, electrical problems in homes cause an estimated 51,000 fires each year, around 500 deaths, 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage. Berg advises homeowners to take seriously the experience level of electricians they hire to work in their homes. “As a customer you have the right to ask for a contractor’s proof of insurance, vocational training, Workers Compensation, or any other qualifications you see fit,” he said. “Do not be afraid to ask for referrals. You want to hire someone who is qualified and experienced.”
Berg generously shared his expertise with SB, explaining, “All projects — new construction and remodeling — have stages that need to be completed with the customer, other contractors and local code enforcement officials. The first stage is the planning and design phase. This is done with the customer to get their vision for the project and come up with a plan, blueprints, and project schematics. At this stage, a permit from the local municipality may be needed as well, and, depending on the project, coordination with the utility company may be needed. An electrical inspector may also be consulted as part of phase one.
Phase two is what Berg referred to as the “rough in” phase. “After framing and before dry wall, we run all wires and lay out all boxes according to the schematics. Then, we make sure the wiring and electrical installed meets all code requirements.”
Phase three brings in local building and electrical inspectors to check the work and make sure everything is safe and in compliance. After the walls are finished and painted, electricians come back and install and connect electrical devices such as light fixtures, outlets, switches, appliances, and service panels. Inspectors will then make a final walk through to ensure that everything is in line with code and working as it should.
Berg coordinates with customers and with other contractors to make sure the timing is right when his team shows up on a job site. It increases efficiency and ensures that no one contractor is in another’s way. The scope of each job varies, but Berg said that for an average size one-story addition the electrical portion of the project might take three days to a week from rough in to finish.
Costs vary too, as the price of materials has been inflated since the pandemic he admitted. The cost of building is “very expensive to do,” he said. If you are not doing a renovation, but looking to cut costs on your electric bill, Berg suggested swapping light bulbs for LED, replacing mercury thermostats, and not running air conditioners all day long. Some customers have also opted to put timers on their pool pumps to decrease energy usage.
According to Berg, mini splits — ductless heating and cooling systems — have become increasingly popular because of their energy efficiency. They have an outdoor compressor that is connected to indoor units that move around cool or warm air.
New York State is moving toward electric vehicles, with an anticipated all electric mandate by 2036. Berg said that, in anticipation of the trend, many commercial and some residential properties are choosing to having electric vehicle charging stations added to their properties.
“Electrical is part of everyday life,” Berg said. “It is something that everyone needs and when it goes down, it is not something that everyone knows how to fix.” For him, the most rewarding part of his job is helping people and making customers’ visions come true. The flexibility of running his own business allows him to focus some of his time and energy on involvement in the community which is important and meaningful to him.
Cliff Berg, young, hugely talented and ambitious, is one more of the group of small entrepreneurs Strictly Business is proud to recognize in this issue.
CB Electric
12 Booth Dr., Suite 6
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 633-9288
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