Fuse upgrade
Add - Domestic & small business
As technology advances, we’re seeing a growing number of customers requesting larger fuse sizes to handle the increased power demand. This demand has particularly increased as more and more customers are installing low carbon technology such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar and storage devices.
You may be unsure if you need to upgrade your main electrical fuse to 80 or 100amps, we’re here to help guide you. Before we can upgrade your main fuse, there are a few checks and upgrades that you may need to complete. We've created this guide specifically to make the process as simple as possible and provide you with all the information you need.
An electrician has recommended a larger fuse size
Additional load has been added to your property such as an extension, which requires a larger fuse
Installing an electric car charging point, solar panels or other Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs)
Did you know, if you're installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger, solar panels or other low carbon technologies you may be able to have the device installed before a fuse upgrade, or you may not even need a fuse upgrade?
The first step would be for your chosen installer to apply to us on your behalf to connect a LCT device to our network. We will then assess this application and either approve the device to be connected or advise what work needs to take place. We highly recommend checking with your installer first to make sure they have applied to connect your device via our Installer Portal - Smart Connect.
Find out more by visiting our LCT guides and select the type of equipment being installed for more information.
If your installer has already applied to us to connect your device, or is planning to, then there is no need for you to request a fuse upgrade yourself. We'll contact you directly if this is required based on the details your installer provides us.
Have you already been advised by an electrician or an installer that you need a fuse upgrade because you're having an EV charger, solar panels or an air source heat pump installed? If so, it's worth double checking with us first.
Why? Sometimes an upgrade may not be needed, which could save you time. By answering a few simple questions about your property and the work you need, we can give you peace of mind. Our online calculator will then do all the hard work for you.
Based on your answers, if we agree that you need an upgrade, you'll be able to start your application.
UK Power Networks
We own your main electrical fuse and the fuse holder (also known as cut out). This is the fuse that we can upgrade for you.
Your electricity supplier (the company you pay your bills to)
Your electricity supplier owns your electricity meter and the meter tails, which connect from our fuse to your meter.
Your electrician or installer
Your fuse board and the consumer tails which connect your meter and fuse board are upgraded by an electrician or installer if you’re installing low carbon technology. Some properties have an isolation switch, which is the joint responsibility of the property owner and the electricity supplier. Not all properties have them.
What's involved
Understanding which fuse size you need
We can upgrade your main fuse from a 30 or 60amp fuse up to either an 80amp or a 100amp fuse. If you’re unsure on which fuse size you need, please speak to a qualified electrician who will be able to help you. Before we can upgrade your fuse, you will need to ensure all of our electrical equipment including your meter, meter tails, fuse board and consumer tails are at the correct size to accommodate the additional load. Download our size guide from more information.
If you need more than 100amps you may need to upgrade your electricity supply.
Ready to apply
If your electricity is all set and ready to go, the next step is to request a free site visit. We aim to process your request and arrange a site visit within 15 working days. Sometimes we may need longer, but we’ll contact you as soon as possible to confirm dates.
We may need more information
When you apply to upgrade your fuse, we might ask you for a quick video or some photos of your electrical equipment. This helps us to understand your setup better. We'll guide you through it step by step and you don't need to prepare anything in advance.
You can start your application even if you’re not ready to take any photos or videos right away - simply add them later. However, you may not be able submit your application until you upload them.
Sending photos helps us to process your application faster. By also sending us a short video it often means we won’t need to send an engineer to assess the electrical setup. If you are unable to provide a video, don’t worry. We may need to ask a few more questions or arrange for an engineer to visit you in person instead. Please be aware that this could delay your application.
Upgrading your fuse
When we visit you, if all your equipment is at the correct safety standard, our engineer will upgrade your fuse. If however, your electrical equipment such as your meter or meter tails are not the correct size we will need to book in another visit after they have been upgraded. If your main electricity supply is linked to your neighbour's property we will need to re-plan the work with you and your neighbour.
Additional visits required
Sometimes during our visits we find that customers are connected to the same electricity supply as their neighbour or the electricity cable coming into the property requires an upgrade. In both scenarios there may be a charge involved to complete the work. Don’t worry, we will let you know if this is the case and advise you on the next steps, you can then decide if you want to go ahead with the work.
You will need to complete these checks before requesting a site visit:
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Find out which fuse size you require
- Check if your electricity meter and meter tails are the correct size or if they need upgrading
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Check that your fuse board and consumer tails are the correct size required or if they need upgrading
- You may also be asked to submit a short video or photos during the application process. (Please only do this from a safe distance without touching any electrical equipment).
Common questions
Register or log in to our self service portal
You can request this service by registering or logging in to our self service portal which also allows you to submit multiple applications and track the progress of any existing applications. All incomplete application forms will automatically save to your dashboard, so you can always come back to them later.