PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A new amendment to the Rhode Island General Law will require homebuyers to hire a professional electrician to inspect the home's electrical system if they want to make sure the wiring is in good condition. Beginning Jan. 30, any inspector or contractor who is not a licensed electrician will be prohibited from performing any electrical work on a home, from opening the panel of a home's circuit breaker to examining, altering or physically interacting with the wiring. Joe Walsh, a member of the electrical workers' union IBEW Local 99, was a champion of the bill, saying it adds protection for the homebuyer. "There's a great value to any inspection," he pointed out. However, Rhode Island Realtors Association President Chris Whitten tells 12 News this new law could cause setbacks for buyers hoping to close on a home. "The hardest thing to get over is the timeframe," Whitten said, referencing the 10-day period Rhode Island buyers have to get a home inspection and negotiate with the seller after signing a purchase and sale agreement. He said his overall concern is the time it might take to book an appointment and the associated cost, as prospective homebuyers who choose to get an electrical inspection will have to pay for one, along with a regular home inspection. "If they can't, within that 10-day grace period, actually get the electrician in there, then they have to ask the seller to extend that," Whitten explained. "The unintended consequences are a major safety concern for that first-time home buyer who's finally got the American dream." According to the Department of Labor, there are 1,938 licensed electrical contractors in Rhode Island who can perform electrical inspections. There is no standardized cost for an electrical inspection, as contractors set their own rates. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Special Coverage & Notices SIGN UP NOW