If your switchboard still has ceramic fuses, has no safety switches, or keeps tripping, an upgrade is usually the fix. The most common question we get next is “how much will it cost?” This guide explains what goes into the price of a switchboard upgrade in Brisbane and South East Queensland in 2026, what pushes it up or down, typical timeframes, and how to get a fixed quote.
There is no single price for a switchboard upgrade. A small home board and a main switchboard for an apartment building are very different jobs, so we price every job after a free on-site inspection and give you a fixed quote. The table below shows what usually drives the price for each type of job, and how long it typically takes.
| Job type | What usually drives the price | Usual timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Residential board upgrade (single phase, like-for-like position) | Number of circuits, RCD safety switches on every circuit, testing and certification | Half to one day on site |
| Residential upgrade with new consumer mains or relocation | New mains cable, moving the board or meter, Energex and retailer fees | 1–2 days + Energex booking |
| Unit / apartment sub-board upgrade | Board size, access to the unit and the main switchboard, number of units done together | Half a day per unit |
| Body corporate main switchboard (MSB) and metering upgrade | Main switch rating, bulk metering changes, planning the building-wide power outage | 2–4 weeks for stock boards; 3–5 months for custom-built boards |
| Commercial / industrial main switchboard | Supply capacity, three-phase requirements, custom board build, after-hours work | 3–5 months when the board must be built |
We include most fees in our price. Where a firm price can’t be set at quoting stage (for example retailer fees, fault finding or building works), we list it as an estimate so there are no surprises.
The cheapest quote often leaves out mains, metering or testing. Check that your quote includes RCD safety switches on every circuit, testing of every circuit, Energex and retailer paperwork, and a Certificate of Testing and Safety at handover.
For apartment buildings and commercial sites, the biggest cost drivers are the main switchboard, metering and the power shutdown. We help committees and building managers plan the outage, prepare resident notices and stage works so the building is without power for as short a time as possible. See body corporate switchboard upgrades and commercial switchboards. Replacing the whole board? See switchboard replacement.
Book a free on-site inspection and we’ll give you a clear, fixed quote. Call 1300 788 455 or request a quote.
It depends on the size of the board, whether the mains or metering need changing, and access. We give every customer a fixed quote after a free on-site inspection, so you know the full price before any work starts.
Often, yes. If your board has no spare space or the main switch can’t handle the extra load, it needs an upgrade first. A data logging assessment can confirm your spare capacity.
Smaller boards we can source immediately are usually completed within 2–4 weeks of approval. Custom-built main switchboards typically take 3–5 months because the board must be built first.
Yes, a planned outage is needed. We tell you how long at the quoting stage and can work after hours.
Yes, we lodge the notifications with Energex and your retailer and coordinate any meter changes.
Yes for our work. Any third-party fees we can’t fix in advance are shown as estimates.
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