What a switchboard upgrade is
Your switchboard splits incoming power into circuits: lights, power points, oven, hot water, aircon. Each circuit has a protective device. On older boards that's a ceramic rewireable fuse; on a new board it's usually an RCBO, a safety switch and circuit breaker in one.
An upgrade replaces the old gear with new devices that cut power fast if something goes wrong. For most Wagga homes we build the new board from:
- an RCBO on every circuit, so a fault on one circuit only turns off that circuit
- a new main switch
- a new surface-mount enclosure sized for your circuits
- full testing and verification, then a certificate lodged for you
Signs your board needs looking at
Each of these is a good reason to get it checked:
- ceramic fuses you have to rewire when they blow
- no safety switches, or only one for the whole house
- a black or dark brown backing board that looks rough or tarry
- scorch marks, buzzing, or a burning smell near the board
- fuses blowing or breakers tripping often
- no spare room for a new circuit (EV charger, aircon, shed, pool pump)
The NSW Government recommends having an electrician check any property built before 2000, and flags wiring in homes from before the 1980s as a particular risk. It also says electrical faults and appliances cause 40% of NSW house fires each year. If you're in one of the older brick homes around Wagga or the Riverina towns, it's worth a look. For more detail, see our guide to the signs you need a switchboard upgrade.
How Nelson does it
- Look first. Nelson counts the circuits, checks single or three-phase, and looks for asbestos warning signs.
- Written price. You get the price in writing before anything is touched. Anything outside the standard job (asbestos, meter or service fuse work, difficult modifications) is called out and quoted separately.
- Change-over. Each circuit is identified and labelled on the new board.
- Test everything. Every circuit is tested and every RCBO is checked before you're handed back power.
- Certificate. We lodge a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) and you get a copy.
The rules that apply in NSW
Switchboards are covered by AS/NZS 3000:2018, the "Wiring Rules", which has been mandatory in NSW since 1 January 2019. A few points matter for an upgrade:
- Every circuit gets RCD protection. Under the national ERAC advisory note on alterations, if a switchboard is replaced for any reason, every applicable final subcircuit from that board must have RCD protection. That's why we build new boards from RCBOs. More on that on our safety switches page.
- No Type AC safety switches. Type AC RCDs can't be installed in new work in NSW (since 1 May 2023) and can no longer be sold here. We use Type A or better. See the Building Commission NSW RCD compliance page.
- The meter and service fuse belong to the network side. Under the Service and Installation Rules of NSW (April 2026 edition), only an authorised Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) can disconnect or reconnect at the service fuse, break distributor seals or work on the meter. If your upgrade needs that, a Level 2 ASP does that part and we coordinate around it. Essential Energy is the network across the Riverina.
- Certificate within 7 days of testing. From 1 July 2026 every CCEW in NSW is lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, no later than 7 days after the electrical test. You get a copy emailed automatically.
Asbestos backing boards
Bituminous electrical backing boards made before 1987 may contain asbestos. They're usually black or dark brown, rough or fibrous, and can smell like tar. Brand names stamped on the back include Lebah, Zelemite, Miscolite and Ausbestos. Old fuse carriers and some fuses (such as Federal brand) may contain friable asbestos.
A missing warning sticker does not mean the board is asbestos-free. The NSW asbestos website advises homeowners to engage a licensed asbestos assessor and a licensed removalist. Where asbestos is involved, that part of the job is quoted separately. Our guide on asbestos switchboards in NSW explains it step by step.
What affects the price
There's no single "typical" price, because it depends mostly on how many circuits you have. The job is built from:
| Part of the job | What sets it |
|---|---|
| RCBOs | One per circuit, so more circuits means more RCBOs |
| Main switch | Single-phase or three-phase supply |
| Labour | The number of circuits being changed over |
| New surface-mount enclosure | The size needed for your circuits |
| Testing, verification and CCEW | Included on every job |
Asbestos, service fuse or meter work and difficult modifications are quoted separately. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out.
The quickest way to a number is the instant switchboard estimate: tell it your circuits (or upload a photo of the board) and your address, and it emails you a breakdown, travel included. Or call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote. The switchboard upgrade cost guide explains what moves the price.
Common questions
Do I have to upgrade my switchboard by law?
No NSW law makes owner-occupiers retrofit a new switchboard or safety switches to an existing home. The rules kick in when work is done: altered or added circuits need RCD protection, and a replaced switchboard needs it on every applicable circuit. Many people upgrade anyway because of age, safety or a new appliance.
How long will the power be off?
The whole house is off during the change-over. How long depends on the circuits and the old wiring, so Nelson tells you what to expect when he gives you the price, and you can plan around the fridge and any medical equipment.
Can an electrician pull the service fuse to change the board?
Only if they are also an authorised Level 2 ASP. Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules, an ordinary licensed electrician must not disconnect at the service fuse, break distributor seals or work on the meter. Where your job needs it, we arrange for a Level 2 ASP to do that part.
Do I need a bigger switchboard for an EV charger or aircon?
A new circuit needs a spare spot, and a big load may need a maximum demand check. If your board is full or on fuses, upgrading at the same time often makes sense. See EV charger installation.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes. Every job gets a CCEW lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, and a copy comes to your email.