Power point jobs we do
Most homes never have enough power points, and the ones they have are often in the wrong spot. Common jobs around Wagga and the Riverina:
- Adding power points where you're running power boards and extension leads
- Swapping singles for doubles behind the TV, the bedside table or the kitchen bench
- USB power points for phones and tablets
- Moving power points for a new kitchen layout, wall-mounted TV or home office
- Outdoor power points on the patio, deck or near the barbecue
- Shed and garage power points, including for welders, compressors and other tools
- Dedicated circuits for big appliances that shouldn't share
- Replacing damaged power points that are cracked, loose or scorched
If you're also adding TV or data outlets, we can do those on the same visit. See data and TV points.
Signs you need more, or need them fixed
- power boards plugged into power boards
- extension leads running across floors or under rugs
- a power point that's warm, discoloured, sparks or crackles when you plug in
- plugs that fall out because the outlet is loose
- the safety switch trips when you use one particular outlet
A loose, damaged or sparking power point should be looked at straight away. Stop using it and call us. If it's in a rental, it's an urgent repair, and NSW condition reports specifically record loose or damaged sockets and sparking power points.
What the rules say
You can't do it yourself. The NSW Government says homeowners should not wire, install or move power points, and that DIY electrical work is dangerous and illegal. Even swapping a power point is wiring work. Doing it without a licence breaches the Home Building Act 1989, with fines of $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company, and it can void your home insurance. More in our guide to DIY electrical work in NSW.
Safety switch rules depend on what's being done. Under AS/NZS 3000:2018 and the national ERAC advisory note on alterations:
- Replacing like-for-like is a repair. Replacing a power point with an equivalent in exactly the same spot, without altering the circuit, counts as a repair, so new RCD requirements aren't triggered. That includes swapping a single for a double.
- Adding or moving a power point alters the circuit. That circuit then needs RCD protection, and in an existing home the RCD must be installed at the switchboard, not at the power point.
- Only the altered circuit needs it. Adding one power point does not mean the whole house needs safety switches. Unless the switchboard is replaced, only the circuit you've changed has to be brought up to date.
If there's no room on your board for an RCBO, or it's still on ceramic fuses, Nelson will explain your options, including a switchboard upgrade. The safety switches page explains the difference between an RCD and an RCBO.
Rentals. One of the seven minimum standards for NSW rentals is having enough electricity sockets for lighting, heating and other appliances. Since 25 November 2025, a property must meet the minimum standards when it's advertised for rent, and the standards must be kept up throughout the tenancy.
Sheds, workshops and outdoor outlets
Power points in sheds and outdoors work harder than the ones in the lounge room. They get dust, moisture, heat and knocks, and they run tools that draw a lot of current. We fit outlets suited to the location and size the circuit for what you'll actually plug in. If the shed is a workplace (a farm workshop, a trade shed), portable tools used there in dusty, wet or outdoor conditions need RCD protection under the WHS Regulation. Running power to a shed that doesn't have it yet? See power to a shed.
How Nelson does it
- Ask what you need it for. A phone charger and a welder are very different jobs.
- Check the circuit you'd be adding to, and whether it has RCD protection or needs it.
- Written price before any work starts.
- Install neatly, with outlets level and at a sensible height, and any dust cleaned up.
- Test and certify. The circuit is tested, and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, with a copy emailed to you.
Cost
It depends on where the power point is going, how easy the cable run is (timber floor, brick wall, roof access) and whether the circuit needs RCD protection added at the switchboard. If you have a list, it's worth getting them all done on one visit. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out. Call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote.
Common questions
Can I change a power point myself in NSW?
No. Replacing, adding or moving a power point is electrical wiring work, and the NSW Government says DIY electrical work is dangerous and illegal. The only DIY allowed is changing a light globe and plugging in appliances.
Does adding a power point mean I need safety switches on the whole house?
No. Only the circuit you add to needs RCD protection, installed at the switchboard. The whole board only needs it if the switchboard is replaced.
Can you change a single power point to a double?
Yes. If it's in exactly the same spot and the circuit isn't altered, it counts as a repair under the ERAC advisory note.
Are USB power points worth it?
They're handy beside beds, kitchen benches and desks. They're installed the same way as a normal power point, by a licensed electrician.
Is a sparking power point dangerous?
Stop using it and call a licensed electrician. If you get a shock or tingle, call Essential Energy on 13 20 80, or 000 for a serious shock.