Switchboard Upgrades in Sydney
There are a few common reasons you might need a switchboard upgrade. Your existing board may be old or constantly tripping, you might be installing a new oven or cooktop, or you may be adding solar, an EV charger or other equipment that needs more power than your current supply can handle.
We upgrade your switchboard and, if needed, the consumer mains and incoming power supply so your electrical system can safely handle the extra load.
- ASP Level 2: Ausgrid, Endeavour, Essential
- NSW Contractor Licence 381215C
- Established 2016
- Fully insured
- We are available Monday to Friday, 7am–5pm, and Saturdays by appointment.
Call 0422 631 213 →
Why switchboards get upgraded.
Brilliant Electric is an ASP Level 2 accredited electrical contractor working right across Sydney. We upgrade domestic and commercial switchboards to current NSW standards, and because we are Level 2 we can also do the service, consumer mains and metering work at the connection point that a general electrician cannot.
Replacing a multi-occupancy meter panel, working through the night to keep the outage short.
What NSW compliance actually requires.
This is the part most sites get wrong, so here it is precisely.
RCD protection
AS/NZS 3000:2018 requires 30mA RCD protection on all final subcircuits in domestic and residential installations. Not some circuits. All of them.
The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council, the joint body of state electrical regulators, published an advisory note on exactly this question. Its position: additional protection by RCDs shall be provided in existing installations where alterations or a switchboard replacement is completed.
- Replacing the switchboard. Every applicable final subcircuit supplied from that board must have RCD protection.
- An alteration or extension, such as adding a socket outlet to an existing circuit. RCD protection is required on that circuit only. The whole board does not have to be brought up.
- A like-for-like repair, such as replacing a socket in the same position with no change to the circuit. This does not trigger an RCD requirement.
Certificate of Compliance
The person who carries out the electrical test must submit a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work no later than seven days after the test. Since 1 July 2026 all CCEWs must go through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal. A lot of published guidance has not caught up with this.
Ceramic fuses
Here is the accurate version, which differs from what several Sydney electricians’ websites tell you. Rewireable ceramic fuses are not illegal in NSW. You are not breaking any law by having them in your home right now. What is true is that a rewireable fuse cannot provide RCD protection, and because replacing the switchboard triggers RCD protection on all final subcircuits, ceramic fuses cannot be carried over into an upgraded board. They go when the board goes.
The honest argument for replacing a ceramic fuse board is not that it is illegal. It is that a fuse protects the cable and an RCD protects the person, and a fuse cannot be made to do the second job. That is a better argument anyway, because it is true.
Type AC devices are no longer permitted
Since 1 May 2023, Type AC RCDs have not been permitted for installation in NSW under Amendment 2 of AS/NZS 3000:2018. Type A or Type B must be used, and Type B is required where a circuit has higher DC leakage risk, which includes EV chargers and solar inverters. Type AC devices have been removed from the NSW declared articles list and can no longer be sold here. Worth knowing before you accept a cheap quote using old stock.
When your board needs upgrading.
- Rewireable ceramic fuses instead of circuit breakers
- No RCD protection, or RCD protection on only some circuits
- Type AC RCDs, which can no longer be installed
- Flickering lights, buzzing or crackling at the board, or a warm board or meter panel
- Breakers tripping repeatedly with no obvious fault
- An original panel in a home 25 years or older
There is also a capacity rule worth knowing. Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules, a maximum demand not exceeding 100 amps per phase can be supplied by one, two or three phases and neutral, but a maximum demand exceeding 100 amps per phase requires three phases and neutral, and so does any motor above 2 kilowatts. Separately, existing services, consumer mains and service equipment must be replaced where their current carrying capacity is exceeded by the calculated maximum demand.
That is often the real answer to why a quote includes more than a board.
Assessing an existing meter panel before quoting the upgrade.
- Adding an EV charger, induction cooktop, ducted air conditioning or a heat pump
- Installing rooftop solar or a home battery
- No space left on the board for new circuits
- A renovation, granny flat or extension adding circuits
- A board with an asbestos backing panel that has to come out safely
Why a Level 2 ASP matters for this job.
Plenty of licensed electricians can replace a switchboard. Fewer can do everything the job frequently turns out to need.
The dividing line is the connection point. Work inside the installation, the board itself, the circuits, the RCDs, is ordinary licensed electrical contracting. Work at and beyond the connection point is Accredited Service Provider work, and only an ASP authorised by the distributor may do it.
Jobs that cross that line regularly:
- Disconnection and reconnection of the service so the board can be worked on safely. Class 2A.
- Consumer mains replacement or upgrade. Ausgrid requires consumer mains upgrades on overhead supplied premises to comply with the Service and Installation Rules and AS/NZS 3000 as though the installation were new.
- Service mains work, overhead or underground. Classes 2B and 2C.
- Metering changes and energising service equipment. Class 2D.
- Single phase to three phase conversion, which requires a connection application to the network operator.
- Main switchboards above 100 amps, which require an Ausgrid Switchboard Compliance Statement.
Above 100 amps is our specialty
Anything above 100 amps has to be reviewed by the distributor, and it is not granted freely. The cable sizing has to be designed for the load, because undersized cable burns out.
It is the part of the trade a lot of contractors avoid. Other electricians, and other Level 2 contractors, call us in to do their above 100 amp work. Apartment buildings, large commercial properties, bigger poles and bigger boards. If that is your job, you are talking to the right people.
This is where the money goes on a lot of switchboard jobs. A general electrician can do part of the work, but has to bring a Level 2 in for the disconnection and the network side, then marks up our work on top of their own. Deal with us directly and there is one contractor and one margin.
Worth noting that accreditation alone is not enough under the NSW ASP Scheme Rules: personnel must also be authorised by the individual distributor. We hold Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy authorisation.
Asbestos in older meter panels.
If your home was built before 1990, the meter board or fuse panel may contain asbestos. NSW Government guidance identifies bituminous electrical backing boards, sold as Zelemite, Lebah, Miscolite and Ausbestos, manufactured before 1987. They are usually dark brown or black with a stiff, rough, fibrous surface, and they may smell like tar. Asbestos rope was also commonly used in power boxes as a heat resistant seal.
These boards are classified non-friable. SafeWork NSW permits unlicensed removal of non-friable asbestos containing material up to 10 square metres, provided the Code of Practice is followed, which a domestic meter panel comfortably falls under. SafeWork NSW nonetheless says it always recommends engaging a licensed asbestos removalist to remove any amount of asbestos.
A Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos and a Class A licence covers friable and non-friable.
We handle it, in house
We remove the panel ourselves. It goes into sealed asbestos bags and is disposed of at a licensed asbestos tip. It is charged as an additional cost on top of the board, and we tell you at quote stage if we expect to find it, so it is not a surprise on the day.
You do not need to arrange a separate removalist, and you do not need to be out of the house.
What our customers say.
How we do a switchboard upgrade.
Assessment
We look at the existing board, the consumer mains, the meter panel, the incoming service and the number and type of circuits, and we calculate maximum demand for what you have now plus what you are planning.
Quote
Itemised in writing. If the job needs consumer mains, service work or a phase change, that is on the quote up front, not discovered on the day.
Network application where required
For a phase change, a load increase or metering work, the connection application goes to Ausgrid before we book.
Installation
Old board out, new enclosure and gear in, all final subcircuits brought under 30mA RCD protection, Type A or Type B devices selected by circuit type, circuits identified and labelled, and everything tested.
Certification
The CCEW is lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within the required period, and where network service work was involved the Notification of Service Work goes to Ausgrid.
Handover
You get the certificate, a labelled board, and an explanation of what tripped what.
½day
For a standard switchboard upgrade
We confirm the exact window with you when we book.
Fullday
Where we are doing everything from the overhead service through to the switchboard
Allow for a full day without power.
New metering and protective devices laid out and checked before the board goes on the wall.
What it costs.
| Work | From |
|---|---|
| Switchboard upgrade | $3,500 |
Plus whatever else needs to be replaced or added once we have looked at the board, the consumer mains and the incoming service.
What $3,500 covers
A standard residential board. That includes the service protection devices and fuses, the meter, the earthing and neutral systems and neutral links, the main switch, the meter panel and board, disconnection, re-terminating the cables, and lodging the CCEW and the Notification of Service Work. It does not include RCDs, because the number of RCDs a house needs varies with how many circuits it has. Quoting a fixed number would mean overcharging some customers and undercharging others, so we count the circuits and give you the figure before we start. It also does not include consumer mains or overhead work. Boards get bigger and prices move with them. A board above 100 amps is a different job again, and one we specialise in. A 200 amp board can reach $20,000 against $3,500 for a standard one. That is not a markup, it is a different job: different equipment, a different approval pathway and a different amount of network involvement. What moves the number on a real quote: the number of circuits, whether consumer mains need replacing and how long the run is, whether the service has to be disconnected and reconnected, whether the meter panel contains asbestos, whether you are converting single phase to three phase, whether the meter box is being relocated, whether the board is above 100 amps, and access.Included
- Assessment and maximum demand calculation
- Written itemised quote
- Supply and installation of the new board and protective devices
- Service protection devices and fuses
- Meter, meter panel and board
- Earthing and neutral systems, and neutral links
- Main switch
- Disconnection and re-terminating the cables
- Circuit identification and labelling
- Testing
- CCEW lodgement
- Meter box relocation or replacement
- Removal of the old board
Not included unless quoted
- Rewiring of existing circuits
- Consumer mains replacement
- Service mains work
- Additional metering and meters
- RCDs, quoted against your circuit count
- Overhead work. Overhead service starts from $2,000
- Phase upgrades
- Asbestos removal, which we do in house at an additional cost
- Making good to wall finishes beyond the board footprint
- Testing and tagging, which is not a service we offer
We publish the exclusions alongside the inclusions deliberately. A starting price with the exclusions hidden is how disputes start on site. We quote each board after looking at it rather than publishing a price list, because no two boards are the same. The starting price tells you the order of magnitude, and the written quote tells you the number.
Rebates, loans and rental properties.
The NSW Home Energy Saver loan, and what it does not cover
Switchboard upgrades appear on the eligible technology list for the NSW Home Energy Saver loans program: a zero interest loan of up to $15,000 per property, available to NSW homeowners and landlords with a combined annual taxable household income up to $210,000.
There is a condition that is easy to miss. Under the loan guidelines the switchboard upgrade must be required to safely support the completion of another eligible activity, such as rooftop solar, a battery, an EV charger, a heat pump water heater, an air conditioner or insulation. A standalone switchboard upgrade is not eligible. Check current eligibility on the NSW Government energy site before relying on it, since programs change.
Rental properties
If you are a landlord or a tenant, the NSW position is narrower than commonly assumed. There is no NSW requirement that a rental property must have RCDs installed. What the law does require is that the safety switch is tested at the start of a tenancy and the result recorded on the condition report by both parties, and that a faulty safety switch is treated as an urgent repair under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
If you have seen a claim that NSW requires RCDs on sale or lease of a property, that is a Queensland rule. It does not apply here.
Our credentials.
- ASP Level 2, accredited and authorised with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy
- NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 381215C
- Public liability and workers compensation insurance
- Member, National Electrical Contractors Association
- Established 2016, with a combined 20 years of trade experience across residential homes, warehouses, cafes and restaurants, and industrial premises
- Project history including TAFE NSW Miller Campus, Mona Vale Hospital, Wet and Wild Blacktown and PARKROYAL Parramatta
- Regular safety and compliance training to AS/NZS 3000, the NSW Service and Installation Rules and network standards
- Warranty: 12 months on items and materials, lifetime on workmanship, provided no other contractor has worked on it since
Domestic board, finished and labelled.
Commercial main switchboard, on test
What our customers say.
From our Google Business Profile, quoted as written.
★★★★★
“The guys at Brilliant Electric did a switchboard upgrade at my place, was referred to them by a friend. Reasonably priced, very polite, efficient and the whole experience was terrific from first point of contact up to completion. They even took the time to explain how the new protective devices work and operate.”
Jason Oguzhan Oren | Read on Google
★★★★★
“We just purchased our new home, and as the pre-purchase report stated, it needed some electrical work. In our case, it required extensive rewiring and updated switchboards. From the moment the team from Brilliant Electric arrived and provided a quote, everything went smoothly. Their advice was helpful, and the pricing was very fair.”
Mark Trpenoski | Read on Google
★★★★★
“The guys at Brilliant Electric recently installed a Phase 3 connection to my home. They were professional and hard working and also very friendly. They worked tirelessly to complete the job in spite of the wet weather. Thank you Rex and Co.”
Carol Hartwell | Read on Google
Where we work.
Brilliant Electric works right across Sydney from a base at ASP Level 2 , 76-84 Karne St N, Riverwood NSW 2210. Most of our work sits in four areas.
Ryde and Eastwood
Including Marsfield, West Ryde, Denistone, Meadowbank and Macquarie Park.
Chatswood and the lower North Shore
Including Willoughby, Artarmon, Northbridge, Lane Cove and Roseville.
Randwick and the eastern suburbs
Including Coogee, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra and Clovelly.
Hurstville and the St George area
Including Bexley, Oatley, Peakhurst, Carlton, Beverly Hills, Kingsgrove, Mortdale, Penshurst and Riverwood.
We also work regularly through East Hills, Panania and Revesby in the Canterbury-Bankstown area, and out toward Liverpool.
Why the network operator matters here. Almost all of that footprint is in Ausgrid’s distribution area: Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai, Randwick, Georges River, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown are all Ausgrid council areas. Liverpool is Endeavour Energy. We are accredited and authorised with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, so we can work either side of that boundary without handing your job to another contractor. We confirm the network operator against Ausgrid’s network area check before quoting.
A note on older housing stock. Much of the housing across Ryde, Eastwood, Willoughby, Randwick and the St George suburbs predates 1990, which is why ceramic fuse boards and asbestos backing panels come up as often as they do in this part of Sydney. If your home is from that era, the board is worth looking at before you add anything to it.
Frequently asked questions.
Are ceramic fuses illegal in NSW?
No. Ceramic rewireable fuses are not illegal, and you are not required to replace a working board you are not otherwise altering. What is true is that they cannot provide RCD protection, and because replacing a switchboard requires RCD protection on all final subcircuits under AS/NZS 3000, ceramic fuses cannot be carried over into an upgraded board.
Do I need to upgrade my whole switchboard if I am only adding a power point?
No. The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council advisory note is clear that an alteration or extension requires RCD protection on the altered circuit only. Replacing the switchboard is what brings every final subcircuit into scope.
My switchboard keeps tripping. Does that mean I need a new one?
Not necessarily. Occasional tripping under load can be normal, and a single faulty appliance can cause repeated tripping on an otherwise sound board. Frequent tripping with no obvious cause usually means the board cannot carry what the house is drawing. We will tell you which one you have.
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost in Sydney?
Our upgrades start at $3,500 for a standard residential board, which covers the service protection devices and fuses, the meter, the earthing and neutral systems, the main switch, the board and panel, disconnection and re-terminating the cables. RCDs are quoted separately because the number needed varies with your circuit count, and consumer mains and overhead work are also quoted separately. For context, the NSW Government publishes an indicative range of $1,500 to $4,000, noting cost varies with the scope of work and the complexity and capacity of the board. A board above 100 amps is a different job again and can reach $20,000.
How long does it take and will my power be off?
Yes, power is off while we work. Around half a day for a standard upgrade, and a full day where we are doing everything from the overhead service through to the switchboard. We agree the window with you before the day.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade to install solar or an EV charger?
Often yes, and it is one of the more common calls we get, usually after the solar or charger has already been paid for. The NSW Government lists rooftop solar, home batteries, EV chargers, induction cooktops and heat pumps as upgrade triggers. Circuits with higher DC leakage risk, including EV chargers and solar inverters, also require Type B RCDs. If you are still at the quoting stage, get the board assessed before you commit.
What is the difference between single phase and three phase, and do I need to convert?
Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules, a maximum demand exceeding 100 amps per phase requires three phases and neutral, as does any motor above 2 kilowatts. Below that threshold single phase may be sufficient. Conversion requires a connection application to the network operator and Level 2 ASP work at the connection point. Three phase is a significant cost and it is not always necessary, so we will tell you honestly whether single phase will carry what you are planning.
Can an old switchboard be upgraded without rewiring the whole house?
Usually yes. Upgrading the board and bringing circuits under RCD protection is a different job from rewiring. That said, testing sometimes finds existing circuits that will not hold, and we tell you if that is the case rather than energising something that should not be.
My meter panel might contain asbestos. What happens?
Homes built before 1990 may have asbestos in the meter board or fuse panel, typically a non-friable bituminous backing board manufactured before 1987. SafeWork NSW permits unlicensed removal of non-friable material up to 10 square metres but recommends engaging a licensed removalist for any amount. We handle these in house, sealed in bags and taken to a licensed tip, at an additional cost we tell you about before we proceed.
Do I need a Level 2 electrician for a switchboard upgrade?
Not always for the board itself, but yes for anything at or beyond the connection point: disconnection and reconnection, consumer mains, service mains, metering, energisation and phase changes. Because we are Level 2 accredited, one contractor covers both sides, rather than a general electrician bringing a Level 2 in and marking that work up.
What paperwork do I get?
A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work, submitted no later than seven days after the electrical test. Since 1 July 2026 these go through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal. Where network service work was involved, a Notification of Service Work is also lodged with Ausgrid. Keep the CCEW with your property records: it is your evidence the work was done lawfully, and you will want it if you sell or if you are a landlord.
Are RCDs required in NSW rental properties, or before I sell?
There is no NSW requirement to install RCDs in a rental, and no requirement to install them before sale. The rule that RCDs must be fitted on sale is a Queensland one and is frequently misreported as applying here. What NSW does require for rentals is that the safety switch is tested and the result recorded on the condition report at the start of a tenancy, and that a faulty safety switch is treated as an urgent repair under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
Is there a rebate for a switchboard upgrade?
Not a rebate, but switchboard upgrades are eligible under the NSW Home Energy Saver zero interest loan of up to $15,000, subject to a combined household income cap of $210,000. The upgrade must support another eligible activity such as solar, a battery or an EV charger. A standalone upgrade is not eligible.
Can Type AC RCDs still be installed in NSW?
No. Type AC RCDs have not been permitted for installation since 1 May 2023 under Amendment 2 of AS/NZS 3000:2018. Type A or Type B devices must be used, with Type B required for circuits with higher DC leakage risk such as EV chargers and solar inverters.
Do you work after hours or on weekends?
No. We work business hours and we do not run a 24/7 or emergency service. If you have sparks, smoke or a burning smell at the board, treat it as an emergency and call your distributor. Ausgrid’s emergency line is 13 13 88 and operates 24 hours a day. For urgent but not dangerous concerns, call us in business hours and we will tell you honestly when we can get there.
Not sure whether your board needs upgrading?
Call and describe what you have. We will tell you honestly whether it is a job now or a job later. Planning solar, an EV charger or a new cooktop? Get the board assessed before you commit to the rest.
0422 631 213
If a pole is down or a wire is on the ground, call 000 first, then Ausgrid on 13 13 88. That line operates 24 hours. We work business hours and do not run an emergency service.
Brilliant Electric ASP Level 2
ASP Level 2 , 76-84 Karne St N, Riverwood NSW 2210
0422 631 213
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Saturday by appointment. For urgent concerns, call and we will tell you where you sit. We do not run a 24/7 emergency service. For sparks, smoke or a burning smell at the board, call Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
Accreditation
- ASP Level 2, accredited with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy
- NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 381215C
- Public liability and workers compensation insured
- NECA member, established 2016
Our guarantee
12 months on items and materials, and a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship, provided no other contractor has worked on it since. During business hours we answer the phone straight away. How quickly we can get someone on site depends on the run that day, and we will tell you honestly when we book.
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