We do not publish a single price for a consumer unit change because the honest answer depends on the installation behind it. What we can do is set out exactly which variables move the number, so you can compare quotes on the same terms rather than on the headline figure alone.
What drives the price
The board itself is a modest part of the cost. The bigger variables are how many circuits you have, whether they pass the pre-change tests, what bonding exists, and how accessible the position is.
- Number of ways and whether RCBOs are used per circuit
- Condition of existing circuits found during pre-change testing
- Main protective bonding to gas and water, if absent or undersized
- Whether the existing board position is workable or must move
- Surge protection and arc fault detection, if specified
Why testing comes first
A new board with modern protection will find faults an old rewireable box tolerated silently. Testing beforehand means we can tell you about a borderline circuit before your supply is off, rather than halfway through the day. Any electrician who skips that step is transferring risk to you.
What you should receive
An Electrical Installation Certificate with schedules of inspection and test results, notification of the notifiable work, labelled circuits and a board you can actually read. If a quote does not mention certification, ask why.
Common questions
- How long is the power off?
- Most of the working day for a standard domestic change. We will agree a start time so you can plan around it.
- Do I have to upgrade?
- No. But rewireable fuse boards offer no earth-leakage protection, which is why they are commonly coded on an EICR.
- Are RCBOs worth the extra?
- For most households, yes. One fault then affects one circuit rather than half the house.
- Will bonding always need doing?
- Only where it is missing or undersized. We check and tell you before quoting.
Send a photo of your existing board and we can outline the likely scope before booking a survey.
Related guides
- Metal and Plastic Consumer Units ComparedThe move to non-combustible enclosures was a response to real failures, not a fashion.
- RCD vs RCBO: What the Difference Means at HomeThe difference is not protection quality — it is how much of your house goes dark when something leaks.
- Surge Protection Devices in a Domestic BoardAn SPD protects connected equipment from transient voltage spikes — not from every electrical mishap.