1 · The friction
What owners assume
We tested these beliefs instead of guessing.
“Lead sites are the only way”
Many tradies believe they need paid lead sites to be found.
Source: What owners tell us
“The big franchises always win”
Owners assume the biggest ad budget wins every search.
Source: What owners tell us
“Nobody asks ChatGPT for a tradie”
Some believe AI tools don't matter for local trades.
Source: What owners tell us
“Nobody asks ChatGPT for a tradie”
Many tradies believe AI tools don't matter for local work.
Source: What owners tell us
2 · The numbers
What we found
38
Electricians named across 10 suburbs
Tift field test, 10 Nov 2026
10/10
Top picks that advertised 24/7 emergency service
Tift field test, 10 Nov 2026
0/10
Answers that cited a guide or magazine
Tift field test, 10 Nov 2026
10/10
Answers that asked what the emergency was before choosing
Tift field test, 10 Nov 2026
For emergency trades, AI answers read your Google profile and your own website. Saying 24/7, your suburbs, your licence and your callout terms clearly is what gets repeated.
3 · How we tested it
The method
Pick 10 suburbs
A spread across Sydney: inner city, east, west, north and south. Surry Hills, Newtown, Bondi, Parramatta, Manly, Chatswood, Marrickville, Cronulla, Penrith and Balmain.
Ask ChatGPT the same question
“Who's a good emergency electrician in your suburb?” in ChatGPT on 10 Nov 2026, from a free account in a temporary chat.
Record who was named
Every electrician named, in order, with screenshots kept as evidence.
Check what they had in common
Google rating and review count, and which details from the electrician's own website or profile it repeated.
The raw results, 10 Nov 2026
Surry Hills
ABX Electrical, AGT Power, Surry Hills Electrical, High Demand Electrical
Signals: Google ratings, 24/7, phone
Newtown
Powertech Electrical Group, Braytech Electrical, Empire Electrical Contractors
Signals: Google reviews, $0 callout fee
Bondi
Ambient Electrical, Bondi Electrician, Bright Force Electrical, Dr Emergency Electrician
Signals: licence number, owner name, 1-hour attendance
Parramatta
Amazed Electrical, Electric Air Services, Quick Time Electrical, SBS Electrical Service
Signals: hipages ratings, NearMe
Manly
AB Electrical & Communications, Electric Express, Manly Electrical, Whale Shark Electrical, Daniel Scope Electrical
Signals: Master Electricians, 2-hour response
Chatswood
North Shore Electrician, Sparkfix Electrical, Ruttley Services, 360 Degrees Sydney Electrical
Signals: licence number, street address
Marrickville
Marrickville Electrical Services, Mr Sparky, ETS Electrical
Signals: local address, Level 2 ASP
Cronulla
SOS Electrical, Cronulla Electrical, Skyco Trades
Signals: Google reviews, upfront pricing, NearMe
Penrith
Flash Electrical & Data, Leonay Electrical, Penrith Electrical
Signals: map card, licence numbers
Balmain
Protech Maintenance Electrical, Innerwest Electrical Solutions, Lightning Electrical Group, Balmain Electrical, Empire Electrical Contractors
Signals: Google profile, suburb page on own website
4 · The decision
What the named electricians had in common
Almost all had
24/7 emergency service stated clearly
A Google rating of 4.7 or higher, where one was shown
A phone number and suburb on the profile
Most had
A licence number, address or owner name to quote
A response-time or callout-fee promise
A page naming the suburbs they cover
Didn't seem to matter
Lead site subscriptions, for most picks
Being a big franchise
Guides and magazines, none were cited
5 · From our work
The short version
Challenge
Which electricians do AI tools recommend in Sydney, and why?
Action
Same question, 10 suburbs, one day, every answer recorded.
Result
10/10
Top picks that said 24/7 clearly. The electrician's own details did the work.
6 · Quick answers
Questions owners ask us
Can I see the raw data?
Yes. The names and sources for every suburb are listed above, and we'll share the screenshots on a call.
Will you run this for my business?
Yes. Tell us your business and suburb and we'll check what AI tools say about you.
Will you run it again?
Yes. Gemini and Perplexity are next, then we repeat every few months, because AI answers change.