Consumer Unit & Fuse Box Upgrade in City of London

14 qualified electricians available for consumer unit & fuse box upgrade in City of London, London. Upfront pricing, book online.

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14 electricians for consumer unit & fuse box upgrade in City of London

Blox Solutions Ltd

City of London, EC2V 7AE

Dalkia Facilities Limited

City of London, EC2R 7HJ

Evo Digital Technologies Limited

City of London, EC3M 5JD

G3 Contracting and Solutions Ltd

City of London, EC4M 7JN

Harrison How Ltd

City of London, EC2M 5QQ

KCS Electrics LTD

City of London, EC3V 9BQ

MJZ Electrical Services Ltd

City of London, EC2N 1HN

OCS UK&I Limited

City of London, EC3V 0AS

Pemberton Global Ltd

City of London, EC2M 5QQ

Roman Electrical Limited

City of London, EC4N 6NP

SGE Group Ltd

City of London, EC2V 7HY

Strucktor UK Ltd

City of London, EC4N 6AP

T Clarke Contracting Ltd

City of London, EC3A 8BF

Vital Energi Utilities Limited

City of London, EC1N 2LE

About consumer unit & fuse box upgrade in City of London

A consumer unit upgrade replaces your existing fuse box or outdated consumer unit with a modern metal-enclosed unit that meets the 18th edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022). Modern consumer units use RCBOs or dual RCD protection to provide individual circuit protection, meaning a fault on one circuit does not trip the entire house. The metal enclosure is now mandatory under Amendment 3 to reduce fire risk. This is one of the most common electrical upgrades in UK homes and is often required before other work such as EV charger installation or adding new circuits.

If your home still has a rewirable fuse box with porcelain fuse holders, a plastic consumer unit, or an older board without RCD protection, it does not meet current safety standards. Without RCD protection, there is no automatic disconnection in the event of an earth fault — increasing the risk of electric shock and electrical fires. A consumer unit upgrade is also required if you need additional circuits (e.g., for an EV charger or electric shower) and your existing board has no spare ways. It is notifiable work under Part P and must be carried out by a registered electrician.

What's included

Removal and disposal of old fuse box or consumer unit
Supply and installation of new 18th edition metal consumer unit
RCBOs or MCBs with dual RCD protection for all circuits
New meter tails if existing ones are undersized or damaged
Main earth and bonding conductor upgrades where required
Supplementary bonding checks and upgrades
Full testing of all circuits to BS 7671 standards
Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
Part P Building Control notification via competent person scheme
Circuit chart and labelling of all ways

Typical cost

Consumer Unit & Fuse Box Upgrade in City of London typically costs £350–£800 per installation. Every job is different — describe what you need and a qualified electrician will quote you directly.

See full pricing breakdown →

Regulations & standards

Part P of the Building Regulations (Approved Document P): Consumer unit replacement is notifiable electrical work. It must be carried out by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) or inspected and certified by Building Control.
BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition): The national standard for electrical installations in the UK. Specifies requirements for circuit protection, earthing, bonding, and the type and rating of protective devices in the consumer unit.
Amendment 3 to BS 7671 — Metal Consumer Unit Enclosures: Since January 2016, all new or replacement consumer units in domestic premises must be enclosed in a non-combustible (metal) enclosure. This was introduced to reduce the risk of fire spreading from a consumer unit fault.
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR): Governs the connection between the DNO supply and your installation. If the main fuse seal needs breaking during the upgrade, your electrician must arrange reinstatement with the DNO.

Consumer Unit & Fuse Box Upgrade FAQs

How do I know if I need a consumer unit upgrade?

If your home has a rewirable fuse box with porcelain fuse holders, a plastic consumer unit, or a board without RCD protection, it should be upgraded. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) will identify whether your board meets current standards. Common signs include blown fuses, no residual current protection, and insufficient spare ways for new circuits.

How long will the power be off?

Typically 4-8 hours. The electrician needs to isolate the supply, remove the old board, install the new one, and test every circuit. Plan to be without power for most of a working day. Your electrician can usually energise critical circuits (like the fridge) first.

What is the difference between RCBOs and a split-load board with RCDs?

A split-load board uses two RCDs, each protecting half the circuits. If one RCD trips, you lose half the house. An RCBO board gives every circuit its own individual RCD and MCB protection in one device — so a fault on one circuit only trips that circuit. RCBO boards cost more (typically £100-200 extra) but are more convenient.

Will a new consumer unit fix my tripping problem?

Not necessarily. A new consumer unit provides better protection, but if circuits are tripping frequently, there is likely a fault on the circuit itself (such as a damaged cable, faulty appliance, or moisture ingress). The electrician should identify and fix the underlying fault as part of the upgrade.

Do I need to upgrade my meter tails at the same time?

If your existing meter tails are 16mm² (common in older properties), they should be upgraded to 25mm² as part of the consumer unit replacement. This ensures adequate capacity for modern electrical loads and complies with current regulations. Your electrician will assess this during the initial inspection.

Is a consumer unit upgrade the same as a fuse box change?

Yes — a consumer unit upgrade, fuse box change, fuse board upgrade, and distribution board replacement all refer to the same work. The modern term is consumer unit. The key difference is that modern units use circuit breakers (MCBs/RCBOs) instead of rewirable fuses, and have RCD protection and a metal enclosure.