
Performing a switchboard upgrade is not something we take lightly.
Switchboard upgrades are generally done once per ‘generation’ of owner. So if your house was built in the 1970’s it would be safe to assume you’re the second or third owner of the home and that the switchboard has been upgrade once in that timeframe, if at all…
In this blog / vlog we are not going to go into detail about why you need to upgrade your switchboard. If you’re on this page, you’re probably already aware of the “why” and now you’ll need to ensure you understand “what” it involves, and what else to consider!
TIP: Read this blog to learn about the benefits of a switchboard upgrade, then come back here to continue if it helps you get up to speed – Click Here
Future Proofing:
Given you intend to never upgrade your switchboard again while you live in your home, it really is worthwhile doing it properly the first time. This also includes preparing for future changes in your lifestyle, with the below points being the most frequent ‘future proof’ considerations;
- electric vehicles charging
- renovation
- solar installation
- solar monitoring inside switchboard
- air conditioning
- multiple air conditioners
- swimming pool
- induction cooktop installs
Nearly all of the above items are also the instigators for doing a switchboard AND meter panel upgrade, because a homeowner realises they have not got enough supply via their consumers mains cabling, to power any of the items in the list above.
TIP: Read our case study and watch the video on an underground mains upgrade we did in a Fire Hazard area in Eltham – Click Here
What is a Meter Panel:
A meter panel is where your electricity smart meter is installed. As electricians, we aren’t so much referring to the smart meter, we’re referring to the size of cable supplying the smart meter with the power you’ll be consuming. In most Victorian homes, you will have the largest sized aluminium conductors feeding your meter panel from the powerpole or the pit in your street, but the cabling from your meter panel to your switchboard is too small to carry the power you need, leaving you with a measly 25A or 32A supply.
(some homes even need 3 phases of power supply, not just a single phase of power supply – effectively 3 x 63A supplies!)
This means we would need to upgrade your meter panel firstly to increase the cabling size, but also to bring the entire installation up to todays Electrical Regulations requirements – you are legally obligated to do this if you upgrade your consumer mains, assuming your meter panel is that outdated.

The Process:
The process of upgrading your meter panel and probably your consumer mains from your meter panel, to your switchboard is a little more involving than you may think – why? Because we have to engage with your supply authority, PLUS your energy retailer, and we need to arrange an inspection officer to attend, and…. we need to orchestrate it all onto the one day, with seamless planning otherwise, simply put, you’ll be without electricity for several days if the process is “mismanaged” (maybe watch our video on how to research your chosen tradie online before choosing the wrong company… Click Here)
The Process – in point form;
- you request a a quote from us
- we provide said quote
- you accept quote and we discuss this process in detail
- you send us your recent electricity bill
- we lodge a document called an EWR (Electrical Works Request) to your retailer (origin, AGL, Energy Australia etc)
- your retailer sends the EWR to your areas Supply Authority (Ausnet, United Energy etc)
- The Supply Authority contacts us within a few weeks, to book the works on
- While the above has been progressing, we’ve preemptively contacted an Independent Electrical Inspection Officer, to check their availability
The above is the “lodgement process” and we tackle this on your behalf as Approved Representatives of you, the client, and the bill holder with your retailer.
Once the above process has been completed, we will be waiting for your Supply Authority (Ausnet, United Energy etc) to contact us. The conversation goes something like this;
Ausnet: Hi it’s Jennifer from Ausnet calling about 10 John Street, Templestowe. We have your EWR.
Verve: Thanks Jennifer, yes we’re ready to go. What dates have you got?
Ausnet: Depends how many appointments you need, do you need 2 x same day visits?
Verve: Yeah it’s a same day disco / reco truck appointment. (disco/reco is industry slang for “disconnect reconnect” which indicates its a dual visit, same day job)
Ausnet: Hmmm for same day disco/reco do you want 8:30 disco and 2pm reco?
Verve: Yes please, our inspector will have signed off the COES by 1pm.
Ausnet: Right, Monday 23rd 8:30 disco 2pm reco, that’s booked in. I’ll send you a text now.
Verve: Thanks Jennifer, I’ll book the inspector now and call the customer.
At this stage, we now contact the independent inspection officer to confirm the date, and we call you to inform you of the booking. We don’t get too much say on the booking date, so it’s usually a matter of telling you the date, not really asking you if it suits… It’s usually a 2 week heads up at least!
The Big Day:
You’ve done a fair bit of reading now, so here’s a video of a Meter Panel and Switchboard upgrade we did in Chirnside Park recently. This video outlines the day itself from our POV, so enjoy the Behind the Scenes look at what we do. And as you can see, the weather doesn’t stop the process…