A switchboard upgrade at Livewire Electrical, swapping an old fuse box for circuit breakers and RCD safety switches, costs $2,000 to $4,000. The price moves with board size, how many circuits need RCD protection and what we find behind the old board. You get a fixed, itemised quote after a site visit and a Certificate of Compliance on completion.
Send us a photo of your board and book a site visit, and you'll get a fixed, itemised price. Pick a day, we'll ring you back, or call 09 390 7966.
Prices as of October 2026.
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost in NZ?
$2,000 to $4,000. That's the honest range for replacing a fuse box with a modern board fitted with circuit breakers and RCD protection.
Every house is different, and where you land in that range comes down to seven things, all covered below. Know those and you can read any quote, ours or anyone else's.
What adds to the cost of a switchboard upgrade?
- Number of circuits. A bigger board has more ways to fit, wire and test. Applies to larger homes, extensions and sleepouts.
- RCDs vs RCBOs. One RCBO per circuit means more hardware than one RCD per group. Depends on your layout and what you want protected.
- Rewireable fuses or old wiring. Old rubber or TRS cable can mean extra work. Typically older homes.
- Old black board or asbestos backing. May need specialist handling. We tell you at the site visit.
- Meter board relocation or mains cable. More labour and materials, when the meter board has to move or the mains need replacing.
- Surge protection, an EV-ready spare way, and access. Extras you choose, plus cramped cupboards and low ceilings.
- Certificate of Compliance and inspection. What's included varies between quotes. Always check it's listed.
How many circuits does your house have?
Each circuit is a way on the board. More circuits, bigger board, more work. A two-bedroom unit and a five-bedroom family home are not the same job.
RCDs or RCBOs: how many do you need?
An RCD protects a group of circuits. An RCBO protects one. RCBOs cost more upfront, but a fault trips one circuit instead of several, so you're not wandering the house with a torch because the kettle misbehaved.
What if we find rewireable fuses or old wiring?
Fuse wire belongs in a museum. If the board has it, we'll look at the cable behind it, and if the wiring has aged badly that can add work. Considering something bigger? See our house rewiring page.
Old black board or asbestos backing?
Some older boards have asbestos backing. If we suspect yours does, we'll tell you at the site visit and explain how it will be handled before the price is fixed.
Does the meter board need to move?
Sometimes the best place for a modern board isn't where the old one lives. Moving the meter board or replacing the mains cable adds to the job. It's why some quotes read "switchboard plus main power cable". If yours does, that line should be itemised.
Surge protection, an EV-ready spare way, and access
Surge protection and a spare way for a future EV charger are cheap to add during the upgrade and annoying to add later. Access counts too: a cramped hallway cupboard takes longer than an open garage wall.
Certificate of Compliance and inspection
Switchboard work is done by a registered electrician and finishes with a Certificate of Compliance. Ours is issued on the day. When comparing quotes, check it's included, not a surprise extra.
Is my switchboard quote reasonable?
Run any quote through this:
- Is it itemised? A single lump sum tells you nothing.
- Does it include RCD protection on every circuit? Some cheaper quotes protect only some.
- Are testing and the Certificate of Compliance included?
- Does it cover mains or meter work if your set-up needs it?
- Does it include making good (plaster, paint, tidy-up) around the old board?
- Was there a site visit? A quote built on a phone call is a guess.
Cheap quotes tend to grow on the day because the electrician is guessing what's behind the board and bills you when the cover comes off. Ours is fixed and itemised after a site visit, and it does not change on the day.
What's included in a Livewire switchboard upgrade?
Four steps. A site visit, so we see what you actually have. A fixed, itemised price. Upgrade day, usually one visit with a short planned outage. Then your Certificate of Compliance, on the day. Full process on our switchboard upgrade in Auckland page. See it in practice: Onehunga and Kumeū.
Do I actually need to upgrade my switchboard?
Common signs: fuses instead of breakers, no RCD protection, heat or rust damage on the board, or repeated tripping. It isn't automatically mandatory for older homes, but fuses can't cut power fast enough to prevent a serious shock, and RCDs can. Not sure about yours? Our electrical home inspection checks the board and the wiring behind it.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for an EV charger or heat pump?
Not always. We do a load check first, and load management can sometimes avoid an upgrade altogether. If your board is old, though, doing both together is usually tidier. More on EV charging installation.
Will my insurer ask for it?
Insurers and buyers increasingly expect a modern board with RCDs. Check your own policy for specifics.
How long does it take?
Usually one visit with a short, planned outage. Commercial and three-phase boards take longer and are quoted separately.
Switchboard upgrade FAQs
How much does it cost to replace a fuse box with circuit breakers in NZ?
At Livewire Electrical, a switchboard upgrade costs $2,000 to $4,000. The final price depends on board size, how many circuits need RCD protection, what we find behind the old board, and whether the meter board has to move. You get a fixed, itemised price after a site visit.
What's the difference between an RCD and an RCBO, and which do I need?
An RCD protects a group of circuits and cuts power when it detects current leaking to earth. An RCBO does this for a single circuit and adds overcurrent protection, so a fault trips one circuit, not several. Which suits your home depends on your circuits. We confirm at the site visit.
Why do switchboard quotes vary so much?
Quotes often cover different things: circuit count, RCD protection on every circuit or only some, mains or meter work, testing, making good, and the Certificate of Compliance. Compare them line by line. A low quote that leaves items out rarely stays low, so ask exactly what yours includes and excludes.
Can the price change on the day?
Not ours. Our price is fixed and itemised after a site visit, and it does not change on the day. Quotes given without seeing the board have to guess what's behind it, which is how prices move once the cover comes off.
My old switchboard has an asbestos backing board. What happens?
Tell us before the visit if you suspect it. If we find or suspect asbestos backing, we'll explain at the site visit how it will be handled and what you can expect, before any price is fixed.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade before installing an EV charger?
Not always. We do a load check first. Often load management lets a charger run on your existing board without an upgrade. When the board is old or full, an upgrade is the better answer. We'll tell you which at the site visit.
Is a switchboard upgrade mandatory for older homes in NZ?
Not automatically. But fuses can't cut power fast enough to prevent a serious shock, while RCDs can. Insurers and buyers increasingly expect a modern board with RCDs, so an upgrade is often a sensible move for an older home.
Ready for a real number? Send us a photo of your board and book a site visit, and you'll get a fixed, itemised price.
