What an electrician costs in Mernda

Electricians working around Mernda charge Melbourne metro rates. A published October 2026 Melbourne guide puts labour at $84 to $160 per hour, a new power point at $160 to $315 per point, a single-phase switchboard upgrade at $945 to $2,950 and an installed home EV charger at $1,050 to $3,150. Your quote depends on the house, the switchboard and how much can be done in one visit.

Prices on this page are published estimates, not quotes. Mernda Electricians is a referral website; the independent electrician who takes on your job sets the actual price.

Published price ranges

All figures below come from the Melbourne electrician cost guide on whatsthedamage.com.au, updated October 2026. That guide states its figures include GST, are based on the Melbourne metro area, and that outer suburbs may vary.

Job	Published Melbourne range
Electrician labour	$84 to $160 per hour
Fault finding visit	$160 to $420 per visit
New power point	$160 to $315 per point
LED downlight, installed	$63 to $160 per light
Hardwired smoke alarm, supplied and installed	$105 to $260 per alarm
Safety switch added to an existing board	$160 to $370 per switch
Switchboard upgrade, single phase	$945 to $2,950
Switchboard upgrade, three phase	$2,625 to $5,800
Home EV charger, installed	$1,050 to $3,150

What drives the price of electrical work?

Call-out and minimum charges. The published Melbourne guide lists a separate call-out or service fee alongside hourly labour. A single power point therefore costs more per item than five points done on one visit. Grouping jobs is the simplest way to lower the cost per item.

The switchboard. A board with spare space and full safety switch cover makes additions cheap. A full board, or one with old fuses, can turn a charger or air conditioner circuit into a switchboard upgrade. Because main switchboard work is prescribed, it also needs an independent inspection, and the inspection fee should be included or listed in the quote.

Cable runs and access. Single-storey homes with open roof space are the quickest to wire. Double-storey homes, townhouses with no roof space over the ground floor, brick internal walls and long runs to a detached shed all add labour. On rural blocks, such as parts of Doreen and around the Whittlesea township, trenching and sub-main cable can be the largest single cost.

Hardware choice. EV chargers, LED fittings and smoke alarms vary widely in price. Ask whether the quote includes the hardware and which model, or whether you supply it.

Supply changes. A move from single phase to three phase involves the distribution company as well as the electrician and sits well above the ranges in the table. The Victorian Government’s EV charging guide notes most Victorian houses are single phase and that single-phase level 2 charging meets most daily commutes, so check whether you really need three phase before paying for it.

Older wiring. In older homes, the electrician may find wiring that should be replaced before new work is connected. That cost is hard to predict until the job starts, so ask for it to be listed as an allowance.

What should an electrical quote include?

A clear electrical quote lists:

1. The scope, item by item: how many points, which lights, which circuits.
2. Hardware with brand and model, or a statement that you supply it.
3. Labour, call-out and any travel charge.
4. Switchboard work and the inspection fee if the main board is touched.
5. Making good: patching, cleaning up and removal of old fittings.
6. The certificate of electrical safety. Energy Safe Victoria’s certificate guide for the community says you are owed a copy within 30 days for non-prescribed work, and within 4 days of the certificate’s completion once the inspection is done for prescribed work.
7. What happens if extra work is found, and the hourly rate that applies.

What is usually not included

• Plastering, painting or tiling beyond simple patching.
• Supply authority charges for meter or phase changes, which are billed by or through the distributor.
• Hardware you choose after the quote.
• Repairs to faults found during the work, unless listed as an allowance.

How do I compare two electrical quotes?

Line the quotes up item by item. If one is much cheaper, check whether it leaves out the inspection, the certificate, safety switch protection on new circuits or the hardware. For an EV charger, compare the cable length allowed and whether a board upgrade is included. For smoke alarms, check whether the price covers every alarm needed for compliance, not only the ones you pointed at. The EV charger guide and smoke alarm guide list what each job should cover.

Red flags

• No licence details. Energy Safe Victoria says to ask to see the electrician’s licence, and that licensed workers carry an identification card. You can check a registered electrical contractor or licensed worker on the Energy Safe public register.
• “You won’t need a certificate for this.” Every piece of electrical installation work needs one.
• Energising a new main switchboard before inspection. Energy Safe Victoria says prescribed work stays switched off until the independent inspector has checked it.
• A cash discount for skipping paperwork. Without a certificate you have no record of what was done.
• Pressure to upgrade to three phase without a clear reason linked to your loads.
• Vague scope, such as “electrical work as discussed”.

Rental property costs

Landlords should budget for a two-yearly electrical safety check, annual smoke alarm checks, and any switchboard work needed to meet the rental standard that began on 29 March 2023. Consumer Affairs Victoria notes that a circuit breaker board can be brought up to standard by adding protection to power and lighting circuits, while a fuse board may need full replacement. In Mernda, 27.3 per cent of occupied homes were rented at the 2021 Census, so these costs affect a lot of local investors. The fault finding and safety check page explains the checks.

Get a price for your job

Gather photos of the switchboard and the work areas, list every item you want done, and ask for a quote through the enquiry form. Ask the provider who takes the job to confirm the scope and price in writing before work starts.

Send a job enquiry