At Ocean City Electrical, we have carried out consumer unit upgrades for households and businesses throughout the South West. We install high quality 18th Edition consumer units designed to provide long term safety, reliability, and compliance. Our electricians are experienced, qualified, and focused on delivering neat, professional workmanship.
As NICEIC contractors, our clients also benefit from the NICEIC Platinum Promise, which provides additional protection of up to £25,000 should anything go wrong.
A modern consumer unit plays a critical role in protecting your property by disconnecting the electrical supply quickly if a fault occurs. If your fuse box is outdated, lacks RCD or RCBO protection, or is struggling to cope with modern electrical demands, an upgrade can significantly improve safety and compliance with current wiring regulations.
In many cases, the need for a consumer unit upgrade is identified during an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), where older fuse boards often fail to meet modern safety standards.
A consumer unit upgrade may be required where the existing fuse box no longer meets current safety standards or is unsuitable for modern electrical use. This is common in properties with older rewireable fuses, insufficient circuit protection, or limited capacity for additional circuits.
Upgrades are often required following EICR observations coded C1, C2, or FI, particularly where the fuse board lacks adequate fault protection or shows signs of overheating or deterioration.
Important to note
An older consumer unit does not automatically mean a property is unsafe. Recommendations are always based on testing results, condition, and current standards, not age alone.
Most consumer unit upgrades can be completed within a single day. The process involves isolating the electrical supply, removing the existing fuse box, installing a new metal consumer unit, and carrying out full testing before re energising the system.
Power will need to be switched off during the work, which we will always explain in advance. Once complete, all circuits are tested, labelled clearly, and certified.
Professional installation
Every upgrade includes safety checks, full testing, and clear documentation, ensuring the installation is safe before power is restored.
A consumer unit upgrade does not automatically mean a full rewire is required. In many cases, existing wiring remains in good condition and only the fuse board needs updating to improve protection.
Where wider issues are identified with cabling or accessories, this will be discussed clearly and may involve rewiring work in specific areas rather than unnecessary full property rewires.
There are a few variations on cost, such as the size of the consumer unit and whether new bonding needs to be installed. However, the average cost of a consumer unit upgrade is between £400 and £550 including VAT.
In short, the biggest benefits of a fuse board replacement are safety and convenience. Consumer units have advanced quite a lot over the last few years to include such parts as RCDs and more recently, surge protection. These parts add additional protection to protect both the property and its occupants.
Whilst there are many opportunists out there offering to change consumer units at a very cheap price, it is essential that you use a qualified electrician to carry out projects such as this. Besides, there is a danger if the work is carried out incorrectly, the work must also be notified to building control. This can only be done by a Part P electrician.
If you’re a private homeowner or landlord looking for a domestic electrician near me, Ocean City Electrical can help. From our offices in Plymouth, we offer a comprehensive range of domestic electrical services including installations, fault finding and repairs. Our domestic electrical services include:
Looking to enhance your home with new and improved lighting? Or are you looking to save on energy bills? Whatever your reason, our team of professional electricians are experienced in all elements of house lighting design and installation.
At Ocean City Electrical, our team of professional electricians come highly trained with the skills and expertise they require to handle every part of the electrical rewiring process. We’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure minimal disruption.
At Ocean City Electrical, we install high-quality 18th edition consumer units. Our highly skilled electricians boast decades of combined experience installing and maintaining consumer units and will strive to complete your installation to the highest possible standard.
An EICR determines whether or not the electrical system within your home is up to date and safe to use. If you own your home, it is recommended you receive a valid EICR from a registered electrician to ensure you, your home and your family aren’t at risk.
If you have an issue with your lighting circuits or consumer unit, Ocean City Electrical can help. Our team of experienced electricians can identify and diagnose all kinds of electrical faults, and resolve the issue with efficiency and professionalism.
