Electricians in Voters Eyes

I am a 15-year resident of Vermont, homeowner, taxpayer and voter. I am writing to encourage the Vermont Senate to vote yes on bill H.132, requiring that single and two-family residences be wired by a licensed electrician.

Over the past few years I have added 1,750 square feet of living space to my home and hired, what I believed to be, a licensed electrician. When interviewing the electrician, he assured me that he met all of the requirements of the state of Vermont. This I wrongly assumed to mean that Vermont had a licensing requirement and that he met that requirement. In actuality, it was his way of skirting the issue, wording it in such a way that I wrongly concluded that he was licensed. I could not imagine that, as a serious safety issue, Vermont would not require an electrician to be licensed to work in our homes.

I eventually heard through the rumor mill in town that he did not have a license, which led to a falling out. This was two years and over $10,000 into the relationship. I was angry, not just with the electrician, but I was angry at the state of Vermont for not taking a responsible position on licensing requirements, in protection of the consumer and the voting public.

In the best interest of the safety of all Vermonters and the vast number of second homeowners who invest in this state, I urge our senators to follow the House of Representatives' lead and protect us all by voting yes on H.132.

WENDY MANNERS

Wilmington