Whether you need to replace old mains power cables, increase your single phase supply, upgrade to 3 phase power or change to an underground electricity supply, our expert electricians are here to help throughout Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
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Modern homes need a larger electricity supply than homes in the past due to our heating, cooling and electrical appliances. Upgrading your electricity supply to 63A single phase or upgrading to 3 phase power means your house will have more capacity. This is essential if you’re hoping to install new circuits, appliances, or an electric vehicle fast-charging station.
Older mains cables are very common in Melbourne, and your switchboard may have old 6mm cotton-insulated cabling running to your main switch. If your mains cable is old cotton-insulated cable, it will definitely require upgrading because it is unsafe. Old mains cables are often left untouched even if you’ve had a switchboard upgrade done previously.
Supply upgrades are a complex process involving many different parties. But don't worry, our professional team at Kenner Electrics will handle the entire process for you!
Before the electrical work on your Melbourne home can begin, there is a significant amount of paperwork and organisation to be completed by your electrician. The application process can take weeks due to the number of external parties involved. When a local electrician from Kenner Electrics completes a supply upgrade for one of our customers, we take care of all the required paperwork. We will liaise with your local electricity distributor and your chosen electricity retailer to ensure the process is completed as smoothly as possible.
Once the application has been approved, a truck appointment will be booked with your local supply authority (CitiPower, United Energy etc.) for the disconnection and reconnection of your supply from the electricity grid. Payment for the truck appointment will be charged to you directly, either on an upcoming electricity bill or your Distributor may require upfront payment via invoice. The cost will depend on the complexity of your job, but residential supply upgrades typically cost between $500-$700 and most jobs usually require one or two appointments for disconnection and reconnection.
To prepare your property for an upgrade to the electricity supply, our electricians will install new mains cabling between the point of attachment (POA) to your home, your electricity meter and your switchboard. Other works may need to be completed including some switchboard upgrade work, installing an earth electrode, replacing or relocating your meter panel, upgrading your POA, and installing a raiser bracket if additional ground clearance is required over driveways or roads.
During the reconnection truck appointment, our experienced electricians will work with the supply authorities linesman and an independent electrical inspector to ensure your property is safely connected to the grid. After your upgrade is completed, our electrician will provide you with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Most homes around Melbourne have a 63A single phase supply as standard, with either an overhead or underground connection. A 63A single phase supply is enough for most modern homes.
But some older homes in Melbourne may have smaller 32A or 40A supplies which are typically no longer sufficient for all the modern appliances in our busy lives! Properties that are over 50 years old that haven't yet been upgraded are also commonly wired with old cotton/rubber insulated cabling which is no longer safe or compliant due to deteriorated cable insulation. For safety and reliability, these old mains cables should be upgraded to modern TPS cabling with 63A supply capacity.
Upgrading a home to a 63A single phase overhead supply typically costs between $4500-$7000. If a full switchboard upgrade is required, or these upgrade works need to be completed under emergency conditions, this will add to the cost of the project.
Kenner Electrics is your trusted local electrician. We have a friendly and professional team of highly qualified, experienced and licensed electricians ready to handle all your commercial and residential electrical needs.
We provide up-front pricing with a clear explanation of the work required to avoid cost overruns. We provide prompt and efficient service and prioritise safety on each and every job. We are fully insured, licensed and accredited, we're a member of the National Electrical & Communications Association, and we are a registered electrical contractor with Energy Safe Victoria. We always provide compliance certificates for all completed electrical installation work.
We're one of the top rated electricians in Melbourne with over 300 genuine 5-star reviews from residential and business customers just like you.
Call our friendly team on (03) 9996 0663 or contact us online now.
We pride ourselves on the high quality of our work. To back this up, all our work comes with a lifetime workmanship guarantee.
Making you happy is our core philosophy. You can expect professional, reliable and friendly service from all our whole team. On the job and after, you're safe with us.
Our electricians are trusted professionals who can solve all electrical problems in your home or business. Kenner Electrics always gives you the best result.
Upgrading from single phase to 3 phase power supply may be required in certain circumstances. For example, if your home or business will use more power than is available from a typical 240V single phase supply, or if you are planning to install any 3 phase electrical equipment. Many homes now require a 3 phase supply due to the growing number of electrical appliances in the modern home.
Our rapid transition to electric vehicles (EV) and home EV charging infrastructure may also mean that some homes could require a 3 phase supply. However this is certainly not a strict requirement of owning an EV and most homes will be absolutely fine with a single phase supply because rapid charging capability is not typically required at home.
Upgrading a home to a 3 phase overhead supply typically costs between $5600-$8000. If a full switchboard upgrade is required, or these upgrade works need to be completed under emergency conditions, this will add to the cost of the project.
Changing to an underground mains supply means that the electricity cable from the street would connect to your house underground, rather than via an overhead mains cable. Having this cable out of sight can improve the aesthetics of your street frontage as well as improve the safety of your connection as there is no chance of a tree falling across it and pulling the connection loose. It also removes one avenue of entry for that family of possums that may have taken up residence in your roof!
The vast majority of Melbourne homes still have an overhead connection, but this is changing with many newer estates having only underground supply available. Some homeowners are choosing an underground supply for aesthetic reasons, and in some cases homeowners are forced to transition to an underground mains supply due to changes in regulations.
Recent changes to regulations include prohibiting mid-span connections (directly connected to the cables between power poles in the street), prohibiting raiser brackets larger than 900mm, and prohibiting overhead cables from significantly crossing a neighbours property. These regulations may make it impossible to achieve the required minimum height of an overhead cable above driveways and roads, or prevent connection to the closest pole due to the cable path required, and therefore making an underground supply the only option.
Most underground supply upgrades are best completed in conjunction with a building/renovation project due to the relative ease and cost effectiveness of completing the work before landscaping and driveways are completed.
Upgrading a home to an underground supply (whether single phase or 3 phase) typically costs between $7000-$12000.
This cost is highly dependent on the amount of earth works (trenching) that may be required for your job and any subsequent landscaping. Kenner Electrics local electricians will complete any trenching that is required, and we offer a basic 'make-good' service of re-laying lawn and soil after trenching. If more extensive landscaping or concreting/paving is required, this will need to be organised by the customer with their chosen landscaper/concreter and the potential costs will need to be factored in to an underground mains upgrade project.
Another potential additional cost that must be considered is pit installation. Underground mains cables are connected between your building and an electricity supply pit which should be located at the end of your boundary fence line on the sidewalk on either side of your property. If there isn't currently an electricity supply pit, then you will have to cover the cost of having one installed by your local supply authority. Installation of a supply pit could involve road crossings, horizontal drilling (boring) and/or some trenching. Because of the extensive works required a pit installation is typically between $6000-$10,000. If your project requires a pit installation, Kenner Electrics experienced electricians will complete the application process for you and a quote will be provided to you by your local supply authority. It can take many weeks to receive your pit installation quote from the supply authority due to the engineering and civil works that are involved. Once you receive your quote and approve the work, the fee for your pit installation will by charged to you directly by your chosen electricity provider or your local supply authority and they will carry out the work typically within 4-8 weeks.
Fill out an enquiry form on our website, and we'll respond within one business day.
As your local electrician, we promise friendly, professional customer service. On the job and after, you're safe with us.
The best electrician is an accredited and connected electrician.
Kenner Electrics is your local Melbourne electrician providing top quality, reliable electrical services throughout the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne, including:
Blackburn Electrician 3130, Surrey Hills Electrician 3127, Camberwell Electrician 3124, Hawthorn Electrician 3122, Malvern Electrician 3144, Box Hill Electrician 3128, Burwood Electrician 3125, Glen Iris Electrician 3146, Mount Waverley Electrician 3149, Balwyn Electrician 3103, Doncaster Electrician 3108, Ringwood Electrician 3134, Vermont Electrician 3133, Nunawading Electrician 3131, Mitcham Electrician 3132, Donvale Electrician 3111, Glen Waverley Electrician 3150, and all surrounding suburbs.
