Consumer Unit Upgrades
The consumer unit is the box that distributes electricity around your property and protects each circuit. Older fuse boxes often lack RCD protection or enough capacity for modern appliances — an upgrade replaces it with a modern board, correctly sized and load-calculated, with RCD/RCBO protection on every circuit.
When You Need Consumer Unit
- Your fuse box still uses rewireable fuses or a single old-style RCD covering everything
- You're adding circuits (an extension, EV charger, or outbuilding) and the existing board has no spare capacity
- An EICR has flagged the consumer unit as a fault or safety risk
- Fuses or breakers trip repeatedly and the board is the suspected cause
- You're renovating and want full RCBO protection so one fault doesn't cut power to the whole house
Consumer Unit Cost
£670–£1,000
This is a typical range, not a fixed price — we'll confirm an exact quote after a short site visit.
What affects the price?
- • Number of circuits/ways in the new board
- • Whether the existing wiring needs any remedial work to pass testing
- • Access to the current board and any additional bonding required
- • Whether a surge protection device (SPD) is added
How Long Does It Take?
A standard consumer unit upgrade usually takes half a day to a full day, including testing and certification.
Regulations & Standards
Consumer unit replacements are notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be installed and tested to BS 7671, including full RCD/RCBO protection on relevant circuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a consumer unit?
A consumer unit is the modern name for a fuse box — the box that distributes power around your property and protects each circuit with a breaker or RCD.
How much does a consumer unit upgrade cost?
A typical consumer unit upgrade costs around £670–£1,000, depending on the number of circuits and any extra work the inspection reveals — we confirm a fixed price after a site visit.
How do I know if I need a new consumer unit?
Signs include rewireable fuses instead of switches, no RCD protection, frequent tripping, or a fault picked up on an EICR — if in doubt, we can check it as part of a safety inspection.
Will I lose power while the work is done?
Yes, briefly — the supply needs to be isolated while the old board is removed and the new one connected, typically for most of the working day.
Get a Quote for Consumer Unit
No obligation. Free, fixed quote after a brief site visit or a quick chat about your job.