Editorial standards
Short answer: Every number on this site links to the public source it came from, usually an official city, utility or government page. If we can't find a source, we say "data pending" instead of guessing. Brands and advertisers never decide what a page says, and every page shows when it was last updated.
Last updated:
Our rules
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Primary sources first | City fee schedules, utility rebate pages, DOE/AFDC, EIA, BLS, IRS and manufacturer manuals. Third-party figures (such as Qmerit's national cost range) are labeled as such. |
| Cite every figure | Each number links to its source, with the date we accessed it. |
| No invented numbers | Missing data is shown as "data pending" or "see city page". We don't estimate a city figure from a national one and present it as local. |
| Show the math | Calculated figures show the formula and the inputs (see methodology). |
| Quality before quantity | Pages without enough real data are kept out of search results until they have it. |
| Independence | Affiliate or sponsor relationships are disclosed (disclosure) and never change a figure or ranking. Sponsored content, if any, is labeled. |
| Freshness | Each page shows a last-updated date; changes to data are logged in the data changelog. |
| Corrections | Errors are fixed and noted in the changelog with the date. |
| Safety | We don't give electrical how-to steps beyond what manufacturers publish for owners; wiring is a job for a licensed electrician. |
How a page gets made
- Find the primary source and save the URL and access date.
- Enter the figure exactly as published, with its unit and conditions.
- Run automated checks (broken links, sitemap, structured data).
- Decide whether the page has enough real data to be indexed.
- Recheck sources on a schedule and log changes.
Do brands pay for coverage?
No paid placement changes our data. Any sponsored page would be clearly labeled and kept separate from our figures.
How do I report an error?
Use the contact details on the About page; corrections are logged in the data changelog.
Why do some pages say data pending?
Because we couldn't find a reliable public source, and we won't guess.
Last updated: Oct 25, 2026.