[catmanjan]

This is very surprising, in Australia I understand we have strict codes and I have never heard of it taking this long

What exactly does the electrician spend all that time doing in California?

[pkaye]

Personally I think they are exaggerating how long the actual work takes. However trades are in high demand due to significant remodels and commercial construction so it might long time to find someone.

[antattack]

Some state codes require use of galvanized steel piping (called EMT) for electrical conduit.

[Schroedingersat]

On an unclad, sanely sized house that's still like two days for the apprentice to install and pull cable, tops. $200 for the poor sod doing the work, $80p for his boss, and $2k for the company is still nowhere near 2 electrician months of labour.

[CapitalistCartr]

Every state requires pipe in many places, industrial, most commercial, large multi-unit buldings. The only place in the USA that I know requires pipe in resi is Chicago.