About the Internet Electrician
Terry
Peterman, the “Internet Electrician”
The Entrepreneur
My background in business began back in 1981 (18 years old) when I
purchased the assets and operations from the company that I was
working part time for, and helped to establish, “Canadian D.J.
Services”, a mobile disc jockey service providing music and
entertainment for all types of functions from school dances (rock &
roll) to 50th wedding anniversaries (old time waltzes and
polkas).
My
Work
Experience
I began my career as an electrician the Monday morning following
graduating from high school, with a company in Edmonton Alberta. The
field of work was residential electrical construction, and I stayed
there for 8 months, riding out the end of the economic boom of the
late 70’s. It was then back home to Olds Alberta, working where I
could in everything from farm labour, to oilfield maintenance and
construction until I was able to get back in to the trade with a
larger oilfield electrical contractor in the oil and gas industry as
a maintenance and construction apprentice electrician.
I
completed my Journeyman certification and inter-provincial “Red
Seal” accreditation in 1988, qualifying me to work as an electrician
anywhere in Canada. I continued to own and operate Canadian D.J.
Services on evenings and weekends until selling the business in
1990. I successfully challenged the first year exam for
Instrumentation Mechanic and began the process of entering the
corporate world with Shell Canada Ltd., at the newly constructed
Caroline Gas Plant near Spruceview Alberta. I was hired as a
“Craftsmen 1” (which is their term for a tradesman). My role was
technical and electrical support to an operations team, and was
expected to learn plant operations and to operate a unit as part of
the team. I continued to pursue my Instrumentation Mechanic
certification (achieved 4th year apprentice status), and
also successfully challenged the 4th class Steam
Engineer’s exam.
Reviving the
Entrepreneur
In 1996
I accepted a voluntary buy-out package in a corporate downsizing
effort and used that money to start up an agency for Autonet, an
on-line used vehicle listing and selling venture. I purchased the
rights for the City of Airdrie Alberta, and started up business
there until the concept ran out of momentum in early 1997. It was
then back in to the electrical trade as an employee until I
gradually moved towards my own business as a sole proprietor. It
was around this time (1997) that an associate and I got the idea for
the website, and started electrical-online.com. We worked
together developing the website for a couple years, at which time he
approached me to buy out his interest in the venture, and I obliged.
The Politician
In
the fall 1998, I put my name forward for the position of a
Councillor, in my hometown of Olds, Alberta. I was successful, and
was also re-elected in 2001. After 2 terms (6 years), I chose not
to run in the 2004 election.
The Road to the
Present
My work
as a sole proprietor grew to a point where I needed more equipment
and employees, and in the year 2000 my wife Sandy and I established
the corporation of Olds Electric & Lighting Ltd., the largest and
most successful electrical contacting business in our trading area.
During this time we accumulated some commercial properties to house
our operations. Sandy and I operated that business until September
4, 2008, when we sold our shares to Jeremy and Cindy Tookey, long
time employees of ours. We also sold them the properties, and this
left Sandy and I mostly un-encumbered.
About the Website
The website, electrical-online.com, is designed to share my
knowledge and experience with the home handyperson, do-it-yourself
type in performing small and medium sized home electrical repairs,
renovations, or additions to existing home electrical systems. One
question and / or criticism that seems to come up quite often, and
usually from fellow contractors or tradesman is: “Why would you
help someone do their own electrical work? Isn’t that
counter-productive to encouraging people to hire professionals, and
furthermore, isn’t that a huge liability”?
Once I
point out the facts to them, it usually ends the conversation rather
quickly and effectively.
FACT:
In most areas of Canada and the United States, homeowners can
legally work on their own electrical systems within their own
dwelling to varying degrees of complexity, providing that they
obtain a “Homeowners Electrical Permit”. A surprisingly large
number of municipalities do not even regulate electrical work,
performed by a licensed electrical contractor or anyone else.
FACT:
People are doing their own renovations, additions and repairs,
including the electrical work, in staggering numbers.
To
ignore this fact would be denying the existence of the large section
of most home improvement centres that are dedicated to electrical
work (and plumbing, heating, air-conditioning to name a few). These
stores cater far more to the do-it-yourself home handyperson than
they cater to licensed contractors, so that alone speaks volumes.
The “Home Handyman” is here to stay!
Now
given this information, and understanding that I’m not doing
anything illegal or immoral, I felt that there was a huge need to
help with some well intended advice and assistance to help people do
this work correctly, to advise them of the requirements of the
permit process (if one exists), and the need to comply with
applicable electrical codes. I always stress the ramifications of
not respecting electricity, and stress the proper installation of
the devices and systems. When I encounter someone who clearly does
not have the aptitude for such projects, I’m quick to recommend the
hiring of a professional, and they are usually appreciative of the
advice and take it to heart.
As far
as the liability issue goes, I always attach legally drafted
disclaimer statements and God willing, I hope to avoid any
litigation over well-intended guidance. There are pages on the
Internet that will describe in detail how to make bombs and weapons
of mass destruction. I would hope that they would be targeted by
litigation before myself, or any of my many other colleagues on the
net who provide helpful advice on any subject that they feel
qualified to assist with.
What Matters Most
On a
more personal note, I am happily married to my wife and business
partner, Sandy, and have one son, Lyle, who is a great kid, and
active in the amateur equestrian show jumping world. He graduated
from High School in June of 2008, and in September he went to
Germany to work and train for 9 months. Sandy and I now are
following the dream.
We
have moved in to our 40 ft. diesel motor coach and we are now free
to follow the sun, and to work full time on electrical-online.com.
Our plan is to live at Carefree Resort on Glennifer Lake for the
summer months, and then spend the rest of the year between British
Columbia, and warmer climates south.
Thank
you for visiting, and I hope you find our site informative and
helpful!
Terry Peterman,
The Internet Electrician
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