Who to hire to add a power point

Short answer

A licensed electrician. There is no state in which a householder may install a power point. The practical advice: decide every outlet you want in the next few years and do them in one visit, because the attendance and the ceiling access are the cost, not the outlet.

Plan itThere is time to get more than one quote, which is where the money is.

What to do before anyone arrives

  1. Mark every position you want with tape on the wall, at the height you want it. Deciding on the day is how people end up with a power point behind a couch.
  2. Check what is on the other side of the wall — an outlet back to back with an existing one is the cheapest possible addition.
  3. Check whether the ceiling space is accessible. A single-storey house with a roof cavity is straightforward; a ground floor under a first floor is not.
  4. Count what is already on that circuit. Adding four outlets in a study to a circuit already running a kitchen may mean a new circuit rather than an extension.

What to ask when you book

  • Can these come off an existing circuit, or does this need a new one from the board?
  • Is there room in the switchboard for a new circuit if it needs one?
  • Will you patch and make good, or is that mine to organise?
  • Are you providing a certificate of electrical safety?

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

  • Whether the run can go through an accessible ceiling or subfloor, or has to be chased into a wall.
  • Single storey versus a floor with occupied space above and below.
  • Solid brick or concrete walls, which mean chasing or surface conduit.
  • Whether a new circuit and a spare way at the switchboard are needed.
  • Making good — patching, sanding and painting are often not in an electrician's quote.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Licensed electrical work in every state and territory, with a certificate of electrical safety or equivalent required for the work in most.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire to add a power point
A licensed electrician. There is no state in which a householder may install a power point. The practical advice: decide every outlet you want in the next few years and do them in one visit, because the attendance and the ceiling access are the cost, not the outlet.
Can I install a power point myself in Australia?
No. Unlike some overseas jurisdictions, Australian electrical licensing has no do-it-yourself exemption for fixed wiring in any state or territory. Work done without a licence is an offence, is uninsurable, and is a standard reason for a home insurance claim to be reduced or refused after a fire.
How many power points can be on one circuit?
There is no single number — it depends on the circuit's protection, the cable, and what is expected to be drawn. That is a calculation an electrician makes rather than a rule of thumb, and it is the reason 'just add one more' sometimes turns into a new circuit.

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Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.