💷 Emergency Electrician Costs: What You Actually Pay
Last updated: February 2025
Fuse board tripped at 11PM. You need an electrician NOW. First result on Google: "24/7 Emergency Electrician". They show up. Do 90 minutes work. Hand you bill for £750.
Is that fair? Here's what emergency electrical work actually costs, how to verify you're getting a real electrician, and how to avoid scams.
Emergency Callout Fees (2025 UK)
What You Pay For Emergency Response
- Daytime (Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM): £75-120
- Evening (6PM-11PM): £95-150
- Night (11PM-8AM): £120-180
- Weekend (Sat-Sun): £95-150
- Bank holiday: £150-200
Note: Most legitimate companies absorb callout into job cost if you proceed. E.g., £95 callout + £200 repair = you pay £200 total, not £295.
Common Emergency Jobs (Fixed Price Ranges)
- Fault diagnosis only (no repair): £95-180
- Replace MCB (circuit breaker): £95-180
- Replace RCD: £120-280
- Replace socket/switch: £60-120
- Fix loose connection (accessible): £95-220
- Emergency partial rewire (one circuit): £250-650
- Full fuse board replacement: £450-950
- Outdoor power restoration (trip/fault): £95-320
Typical emergency job: £150-350 (diagnosis + minor repair)
NICEIC Registration: How To Verify
Why it matters: Anyone can call themselves an electrician. NICEIC registration means:
- Qualified (Level 3 minimum)
- Insured (£10M public liability minimum)
- Regularly assessed (annual checks)
- Follows BS7671 (18th Edition wiring regulations)
How to check:
- Ask to see NICEIC ID card (photo ID with number)
- Go to niceic.com/find-a-contractor
- Enter their registration number or company name
- Verify it's current (not expired)
🚨 Red Flags: Cowboy Electricians
- No NICEIC/NICEIC ID: "It's at home" / "I'm registered, don't worry"
- Cash only: No card machine, "saves VAT"
- No written quote: "I'll tell you at the end"
- Vague pricing: "£75/hour plus materials"
- Pressure tactics: "This could kill you" / "Needs doing now"
- No van branding: Personal car, no company name
- Won't provide certificate: Legal requirement for notifiable work
If any of these: walk away. Pay diagnostic fee if demanded, but don't authorize work.
What Fair Pricing Looks Like
Transparent structure:
- £95 emergency callout
- 30-60 min diagnosis (testing, fault-finding)
- Fixed price quote for repair (including materials)
- You approve or decline
- If approved: callout absorbed, you pay quoted price
- Itemized invoice (labour, materials, VAT)
- Certificate if notifiable work
Example scenario:
- Fuse board tripping. Engineer diagnoses faulty RCD.
- Quote: £240 (includes new RCD, fitting, testing, certificate)
- You approve.
- Work done (60 minutes).
- You pay £240 total (callout absorbed)
Regional Price Differences
London & Southeast: Add 20-30% to prices above
Scotland/Wales/North: Lower end of price ranges
Rural areas: May add travel surcharge (£20-50) if far from base
What You're Actually Paying For
People complain: "£280 for 90 minutes?!" Here's what that covers:
- 24/7 availability: Electrician can't make plans, on-call
- Response time: Drops everything, at your door within 90 min
- Qualifications: 3+ years training, ongoing CPD
- Insurance: £10M public liability (required by law)
- Testing equipment: £2,000-5,000 of kit in van
- Van stock: MCBs, RCDs, sockets, cable—ready to fix first visit
- Certification: Legal paperwork, building control notification
That £280 revenue becomes maybe £100 profit after costs, tax, expenses. Not daylight robbery.
When To Get Second Opinion
Get second opinion if:
- Quote over £500 for simple fault
- "Whole house needs rewiring" without testing
- Pressure to decide immediately
- Can't explain fault in plain English
- Quote wildly different from research (Google typical costs)
Legitimate electricians won't mind. "Get a second opinion" is reasonable for major work. If they get defensive? Red flag.
Insurance Coverage
Home emergency insurance (if you have it):
- Usually covers emergency electrical faults
- Must use their approved contractor
- Excess typically £50-100
- 24/7 helpline
Buildings/contents insurance:
- Doesn't cover routine electrical faults
- Might cover electrical fire damage (consequential)
- Might cover surge damage from lightning
If you have home emergency cover, use it. If not, you pay electrician directly.
What We Charge (UK Power Response)
Our transparent pricing:
- £95 emergency callout (absorbed if you proceed)
- Fixed price quoted after diagnosis
- Includes materials, labour, VAT, testing, certificate
- Written quote (or text/email if urgent)
- No hidden extras, no hourly rate surprises
Typical costs:
- Minor fault (MCB/socket replacement): £120-220
- Moderate fault (RCD/cable repair): £220-380
- Major fault (fuse board/partial rewire): £450-950
How To Save Money (Without Compromising Safety)
1. Fix small issues before they become emergencies
Flickering light today = £0 (change bulb). Ignored for months = electrical fault = £250 emergency callout.
2. Get EICR every 10 years
£250 inspection finds faults before they fail. Cheaper than emergency callouts.
3. If not immediate danger, wait till morning
Fuse tripped but you've reset it and it's holding? Book normal appointment (save £50-100 night premium).
4. Check if home emergency insurance covers it
Many people have it bundled with home insurance and forget. Check before paying electrician.
Action Checklist: Before You Call
- ☐ Verify it's genuine emergency (danger/no power vs minor issue)
- ☐ Check home emergency insurance (might be covered)
- ☐ Ask: "Are you NICEIC registered?" on phone
- ☐ Ask: "What's your callout fee structure?" (absorbed or separate?)
- ☐ Ask: "Do you quote before starting work?"
- ☐ When engineer arrives: verify NICEIC ID (check website)
- ☐ Get written quote before authorizing work
- ☐ Keep invoice/certificate for records
Need Emergency Electrician?
UK Power Response: 0333 600 0990
NICEIC registered. £95 emergency callout (absorbed into job). Fixed pricing quoted after diagnosis. Testing equipment in every van. Written quotes. Certificates provided. No hidden extras. No minimum hours scams. Fair pricing because we want repeat business, not one-time rip-offs.