Fuse board
Fuse Board Upgrade in Ireland
A new fuse board (consumer unit) costs €350 to €1,400 fitted, tested and certified. A straight swap is the low end; bringing the earthing up to standard or fixing faults found on old circuits pushes it to the top.
When a new board is enough, and when it's the first sign of a bigger job.
Free, no obligation. One registered electrician prices it, not five.
- €350 to €1,400a new board, fitted and certified
- Half a day to a dayon site
- €100 to €450earthing and bonding, if needed
- Restricted worka registered electrician only
When it's enough
A new board or a rewire?
The board protects the circuits; the cables carry the power. A new board with RCD protection fixes old fuses and missing RCDs, but it doesn't make old cables new. If the cables are PVC and test sound, often the case in houses wired from the 1970s on, a new board can be all it needs. If they're rubber-insulated, or the test shows faults across the house, it's a rewire.
An RCD can also expose a weak circuit: a new board that keeps tripping is often telling you about the wiring, not the board.
The day
What happens on the day
Changing the board is restricted electrical work, so it's a Registered Electrical Contractor, with a completion certificate at the end. The power is off for part of the day. Where the cables from the meter (the meter tails) also need upgrading, ESB Networks has a service for that: the electrician certifies the new tails, and ESB Networks and the electrician do the work at the meter and the board.
Price guide
Fuse board prices
A new board, and the jobs it can lead to.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| New fuse board (consumer unit) | €350 to €1,400 | A straight swap is the low end. Earthing and faults found push it up |
| Earthing and bonding brought up to standard | €100 to €450 | Often needed with a new board in an older house |
| Electrical inspection and report | €150 to €350 | The size of the house and the number of circuits. Up to €600 for big houses |
| Partial rewire | €1,200 to €4,000+ | A kitchen, an extension or a few circuits, priced after testing |
| 3-bed house | €7,000 to €14,500 | Dublin and bigger houses sit at the top. More sockets and lights add to it |
Typical prices for the whole job, materials, testing and the certificate included. Most of a rewire is at 13.5% VAT: ask that every written price says it's included. Light fittings, plastering and painting are usually extra.
Services
Rewiring jobs we take requests for
Every job is done and certified by a Safe Electric registered electrician.
Full rewireEvery circuit replaced, a new board, tested and certified. €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.More on full rewire →
Partial rewireA kitchen, an extension or a few circuits, when the rest tests sound. €1,200 to €4,000+.More on partial rewire →
Electrical inspectionA Periodic Inspection Report on every circuit. €150 to €350 for most houses.More on electrical inspection →
Rewiring an old houseRubber cable, ceramic fuses and period ceilings: what changes in an older house.More on rewiring an old house →CertYour completion certificateSafe Electric certOnly a Registered Electrical Contractor can issue it. Keep it with the deeds.More on Safe Electric cert →RCDThe test button that mattersRCD protectionWhat an RCD does, why old boards don't have one, and how to test it.More on RCD protection →Counties
House rewiring in every county
One registered electrician per county. Pick yours for local housing figures, prices and the council grants.
- Carlow38% of homes built before 1981
- Cavan35% of homes built before 1981
- Clare40% of homes built before 1981
- Cork44% of homes built before 1981
- Donegal33% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin49% of homes built before 1981
- Galway33% of homes built before 1981
- Kerry40% of homes built before 1981
- Kildare29% of homes built before 1981
- Kilkenny41% of homes built before 1981
- Laois33% of homes built before 1981
- Leitrim37% of homes built before 1981
- Limerick44% of homes built before 1981
- Longford37% of homes built before 1981
- Louth42% of homes built before 1981
- Mayo39% of homes built before 1981
- Meath31% of homes built before 1981
- Monaghan43% of homes built before 1981
- Offaly42% of homes built before 1981
- Roscommon39% of homes built before 1981
- Sligo39% of homes built before 1981
- Tipperary47% of homes built before 1981
- Waterford42% of homes built before 1981
- Westmeath39% of homes built before 1981
- Wexford35% of homes built before 1981
- Wicklow42% of homes built before 1981
Guides
Rewiring guides
- House rewire costBy size of home: €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.
- Signs you need a rewireThe warning signs, and which ones are urgent.
- Partial rewireWhen part of the house is enough: €1,200 to €4,000+.
- How long a rewire takes4 to 10 days for a 3-bed house.
- Living in the house during a rewireWhat the week is like, room by room.
- The Safe Electric certWhy only a registered electrician can sign it off.
- Electrical inspectionThe Periodic Inspection Report: €150 to €350.
- RCD protectionWhat an RCD does, and how to test yours.
Questions
Questions people ask
How much does a new fuse board cost in Ireland?
€350 to €1,400, fitted, tested and certified. A like-for-like swap in a tidy installation is the low end.
Will a new fuse board make my wiring safe?
It adds protection, but it doesn't replace old cables. A test of the circuits tells you whether the cables are sound.
Do I need ESB Networks for a new board?
Sometimes. If the meter tails need upgrading too, the electrician arranges it with ESB Networks' rewiring service.
How long does it take?
Half a day to a day, with the power off for part of it.
Can any electrician change a fuse board?
No. Replacing a distribution board in a home is restricted electrical work: a Registered Electrical Contractor only.
Find out what your rewire costs
Six taps for our price range, then a written price from one Safe Electric registered electrician who covers your county. Free, no obligation.