Frequently asked questions

For fire, electric shock or injury, call 000 first. Keep people away from the hazard. Do not touch anyone still in contact with an electrical source.

• Stay at least 8 metres from fallen power lines and anything touching them. Report them to your network operator: Ausgrid on 13 13 88 or Endeavour Energy on 131 003.
• Do not approach a wet, damaged, smoking or sparking switchboard. Only turn off the main switch if it is safe to reach and operate; do not remove covers or attempt repairs.
• For urgent electrical help at your property, call Xcel on 0404 121 983. Use the phone rather than the enquiry form for an emergency.

See Ausgrid’s emergency advice and Endeavour Energy’s emergency contacts.

We typically attend within 30–90 minutes in our established Ryde, Inner West, North Shore, Parramatta and Hills District areas. For the Eastern Suburbs, call to confirm availability and arrival time. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed arrival time: your location, traffic and current availability can affect it. We confirm the expected arrival time when you call.

Emergency help is available 24/7, including weekends and public holidays, on 0404 121 983. Tell us what is happening so we can discuss the safest next step. For fire, electric shock, injury or immediate danger, call 000 first.

Read about our emergency electrical service.

We can usually arrange non-emergency work within a few business days, with same-day service sometimes available for urgent issues. We confirm availability when you get in touch.

For a rewire or renovation, contact us early so there is time to assess the work, order materials and coordinate with other trades. Tell us about your job, including your suburb and any preferred dates.

These are planning estimates, rather than a guaranteed duration:

• Power point or light fitting: about 1–2 hours per item.
• Switchboard upgrade: usually 4–8 hours.
• Electrical safety inspection: about 1–3 hours, depending on the property and scope.
• Full house rewire: about 3–7 days for an average home.

Access, existing wiring and anything found during the work can change the timing. We give you an estimate and discuss any power interruptions before starting.

We discuss what you need, arrange a visit or quote, then book the work once you accept.

On the day, we complete the agreed work, test it and tidy up. We explain how to use anything new and flag any other issues that may need attention.

For electrical wiring work you receive a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW). All our workmanship carries a 12-month warranty. You can see examples of our finished work on the projects page.

Usually, yes. Some work needs power turned off to certain circuits or to the whole property. A switchboard upgrade or a rewire can mean the power is off for several hours.

We tell you beforehand which areas will be affected and for roughly how long. Let us know about essential equipment, such as medical devices or a fridge you need running. We may also ask you to keep children and pets away from the work area.

Yes. Quotes are free, with no obligation, and valid for 30 days. Straightforward jobs can often be quoted from a call and photos; larger or more complex work may need a site visit.

For planned work, the written quote sets out labour, materials and compliance paperwork before work starts. Finding the cause of an electrical fault can involve testing: we explain and agree the cost of that work before proceeding.

Request a quote with your suburb, a short description and photos you can take safely. If photographing a switchboard, leave all covers in place.

Published Sydney electrical labour ranges are $92–$170 per hour, including GST, with attendance and materials additional. A complete standard new power point has a separate range of $150–$290; use the job-specific guides to compare complete scopes.

Read the Sydney electrician cost guide for scope, GST treatment and sources. These are market ranges, not Xcel quotations; we provide a written quote for your property.

Published Sydney after-hours attendance and initial labour ranges are $250–$575, including GST. Confirm how much time is covered and what further repair work or parts would cost before authorising them. These are published planning ranges, not Xcel rates. We confirm a written quote for your property and agreed scope before work starts.

See the emergency electrician cost guide for call-out, after-hours and repair scope.

For most jobs we provide a fixed-price written quote for the agreed scope.

If hidden damage or existing wiring changes the work needed, we explain the finding and agree any price change with you before proceeding. If a job cannot be fully assessed beforehand, we explain how it will be priced before we start. The market ranges in our guides help you budget; your written quote covers your actual job.

The cost depends on the property and what needs checking. A rental check, pre-purchase inspection and investigation of a recurring fault are different jobs.

Ask whether your quote includes:

• Visual checks and electrical testing.
• A written report or other agreed documentation.
• Any repairs, or whether these will be quoted separately.

We confirm the scope in a free written quote. Our electrical repairs cost guide explains published fault-finding ranges and what can affect them.

We accept cash, bank transfer or card.

Payment is due when the work is finished, unless the quote says otherwise. For larger jobs we may ask for a deposit or agree staged payments, and the quote will set this out. You receive a tax invoice for every job, and prices include GST unless the quote says otherwise.

Routine repairs, power points or lighting in an existing home generally do not need separate council approval. Associated building work, heritage restrictions or changes to the property may have different requirements. Check with your council or certifier for your project before work starts.

Electrical work still needs to meet NSW licensing and safety requirements. Electrical wiring work must be tested and documented with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW). See the NSW electrical compliance requirements.

Electrical wiring work must be carried out by, or under the supervision of, an appropriately licensed electrician. It must comply with the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) and other applicable standards. Network connections and building work can have additional requirements.

After testing, the electrician submits a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) through the NSW system. We lodge the required certificate and give you a copy. Provide your current email address for the handover paperwork.

Read the NSW Government’s electrical compliance guidance.

NSW homes need a working smoke alarm on every level, with placement appropriate to the sleeping areas. Fire and Rescue NSW recommends additional alarms in bedrooms. New buildings, interconnection and different property types can have additional requirements.

In rental properties, landlords or agents must check alarms at least annually and meet the applicable maintenance and repair duties. That annual check does not replace routine testing.

See Fire and Rescue NSW’s smoke alarm guidance and the NSW rental smoke alarm requirements. Our smoke alarm installation cost guide covers budgeting and scope.

Your handover includes the documents relevant to the agreed work:

• CCEW: a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work for electrical wiring work.
• Workmanship: a 12-month warranty from completion. If a workmanship fault appears within that time, call us and we will return to fix it at no extra cost. This is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
• Products: the applicable manufacturer’s warranty details and equipment manuals. Coverage varies by product.

We also carry public liability insurance. Keep your quote, invoice and handover documents together, and call 0404 121 983 if you need help with the work we completed.