There was a post about plugmold from way back when I was perusing these forums for the first time. Found it on google.

Plugmold in a kitchen

People seem to be talking about it as an option - no mention of it being illegal. Maybe things have changed? Not really something I know much about.

Make Sparky quote the code that bans it. It's certainly allowed by the NEC, though you need a GFCI breaker. NEC requires the counter top receptacles to be within 20" of the counter top, typically.

What state are you in? Perhaps someone on this forum from your state has installed them and can advise you better.

I can't believe it is illegal anywhere if you keep the correct distances from the sink, etc. FWIW, a lot of GWers have had problems with electricians (myself included) because they either have no experience or just don't want to do it. Any code obstacles can probably be resolved with the proper work-arounds.

Don't take no for an answer. Call a couple of other electricians as well--you may need to go to larger firms.

Try posting on the electrical forum - there are electricians and other very knowledgeable people there. It's possible there's something in your local code that prohibits them - if not, your electrician may just not want to be bothered or isn't familiar with it.

It's not illegal but according to the new NEC code (Jan 2008) all outlets (including plugmold) that are lower than 5 feet high have to be tamper resistant. Not all states are quick to adopt all of the NEC (I am in MA which adopted all of it already). So what did I do? I installed my angled plug molding anyway!

Wiremold does have a tamper resistant plugmold if your electrician is a stickler though...

My GC refused to install plugmold because he didn't want to deal with crabby subs who didn't want to deal with it. Never said it was illegal or against code, just didn't want to deal with it. (Texas, three years ago)

I can believe that electricians wouldn't like it because Plugmold is just so easy and fast to install. You can install a strip w/ 8 outlets in about the same or less time that's required to wire up a single 2 ganger.

Here in Oregon, it's not illegal. We have it and it passed inspection. BUT if I could do it over, I would go with outlets. If installed properly, they can look fine and are easier to use.

Our KD was insistent about using plugmold because the entire wall is tile and she didn't want outlets interfering. But low placement of 2 outlets would be far preferable to the plugmold IMO.

"I can believe that electricians wouldn't like it because Plugmold is just so easy and fast to install. You can install a strip w/ 8 outlets in about the same or less time that's required to wire up a single 2 ganger."

I thought that too and did a search on the internet. I found an electrician's forum where they were discussing it and it wasn't that easy.

I had it installed here in MA just a month or so ago.

I do know that to be a substitute for other outlets it must be 20A. And yes, it needs a GFI. I have GMIs in my breaker box.

I had asked for aluminum plugmold. My electrician tried to accommodate me, but ultimately he couldn't get it in 20A. I finally decided the regular cream color would be fine given that you can't see it anyway. He certainly made no complaint about installing it.

In MD, it only needs to be "after" a GFI outlet so it's protected. But that's true of any outlet in the kitchen. It either needs to be GFI itself or follow after a GFI outlet. (I hope I'm explaining this correctly.)

Be sure your electrician is looking at Plugmold (or other, similar brands), not "raceway". Plugmold has individual outlets each with the 3 "holes," including the ground third hole necessary for 3-prong plugs and used by many kitchen appliances; the "raceway" is just 2 "slots" that you stick a 2-prong plug into anywhere along the strip. You want the individual outlets, not the raceway.

I also recommend you post on the Electrical Forum and tell them your state & county.

Here is a link that might be useful: Electrical Wiring Forum

Plugmold® and similar outlet strips are not only "OK", they are specifically detailed in the NEC in Article 380, "Multioutlet Assembly."

Article 380 is referring to the hardwired stuff. Any outlet strip that plugs in is not allowed for permanent wiring. (That includes "Mockett grommets.")

As was mentioned earlier, areas that have adopted the 2008 revision of the NEC require tamper-resistant outlets in residences. Plugmold® strips do not escape this requirement.

I thought that too and did a search on the internet. I found an electrician's forum where they were discussing it and it wasn't that easy.

Oooh, I see & stand corrected. In a lot of situs, it clearly isn't easy. Fortunately, in the one situ where we have installed a stick of it, it was easy. We just put up a stick of it in a bedroom/ sewing room and now I can have all three sewing machines and all the lights plugged in at once. Don't have to crawl around on my hands & knees & underneath stuff to plug & unplug & plug as needed.

In situs like that, whatever it takes to wire it is easy when you throw in the usefulness factor.

You know Plugmold is not all it's cracked up to be. After all the hassle of getting ours installed I can say that it wasn't worth the effort.

We have it in the butlers pantry as well as all around the kitchen. We mounted it at an angle and you can see it past the light rail when sitting at the kitchen table. Also some items which are plugged in 24/7 like the stereo and telephone have long BLACK dangling cords against our cream backsplash. A better bet IMO if you don't want to mar the backsplash would be the grommet outlets that mount in the counter or to install the plugmold at counter height under the backsplash. Just my opinion based on how it's used and looks in our house.