Quick answer
In short
Replacing a meter cabinet costs on average €500 to €1,500 including fitting and materials. A simple renewal with a new fuse box and few circuits is around €500 to €750. A large cabinet with 12 circuits runs up to €1,400 and a three-phase version to €1,500. Moving it costs €300 to €800 extra.
Price guide
Fixed price upfront| Simple replacement (single-phase, few circuits) | € 500 to € 750 |
| Average (8 circuits incl. fitting) | € 700 to € 1.000 |
| Large (12 circuits) | € 900 to € 1.400 |
| Three-phase version | € 950 to € 1.500 |
| Move meter cabinet (extra cost) | € 300 to € 800 |
| Call-out charge (Noord-Brabant) | € 39 |
Indicative prices incl. VAT. You will always receive a tailored quote.
Prices by situation
Prices at a glance
Price by size and single or three-phase
The size of the cabinet (the number of circuits) and single or three-phase determine most of the price. These are guide prices including fitting, materials and connection to the NEN 1010 standard, with a new fuse box in the cabinet.
| Size | Number of circuits | Phase | Price incl. fitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | 3 to 5 circuits | single-phase | € 500 to € 750 |
| Average | 6 to 8 circuits | single-phase | € 700 to € 1.000 |
| Large | 9 to 12 circuits | single-phase | € 900 to € 1.400 |
| Three-phase version | 6 to 12 circuits | three-phase | € 950 to € 1.500 |
| Move (extra cost) | bespoke | single or three-phase | € 300 to € 800 |
Guide prices incl. VAT and fitting. You always get a fixed price upfront based on your own meter cabinet.
Extra work and individual parts
With a complete renewal extra work sometimes comes up, for example outdated earthing or a meter board due for replacement. These are the most common additional prices.
| Item | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Move meter cabinet | € 300 to € 800 |
| Check or improve earthing | € 100 to € 250 |
| Fit surge protection | € 120 to € 200 |
| Replace main switch | € 60 to € 120 |
| Replace meter board | € 150 to € 350 |
| Add an extra circuit (during the job) | € 40 to € 60 per circuit |
We always discuss extra work upfront. No surprises afterwards.
Price breakdown
What determines the price of a new meter cabinet?
No two meter cabinets are the same. Together these points determine what replacing your meter cabinet costs. That way you understand where your price comes from.
Number of circuits
The more circuits in the new fuse box, the more materials and work. Heavy appliances such as a washing machine, oven and induction hob each belong on their own circuit, which adds up to 8 or even 12 circuits.
Single-phase or three-phase
A three-phase version is heavier and costs more. You need it if you want to connect an EV charger, heat pump or home battery. For the connection itself an application to the grid operator is sometimes needed.
Whether or not to move it
If you want the meter cabinet in a different spot, for example out of the cabinet in the hallway and into the utility room, then cabling and sometimes coordination with the grid operator come into play. Reckon on €300 to €800 extra.
RCDs and protection
Under NEN 1010 at least two 30 mA RCDs are required. Surge protection is optional but sensible, and affects the price.
Condition of earthing and meter board
With an old cabinet the earthing or meter board is sometimes outdated. We always check that first, because a safe cabinet stands or falls on good earthing.
Emergency or planned
Planned work is better value. If it needs doing urgently, for example with an unsafe or burnt-out cabinet, an emergency surcharge may apply.
Worked examples
Worked examples from practice
To give a feel for the price, here are three situations of the kind we often come across in Brabant. You always get your price upfront, fixed and tailored.
1970s home, complete renewal
A terraced house with an old meter cabinet and a ceramic fuse board. The residents want a safe, modern meter cabinet with a new 8-circuit fuse box for the kitchen, washing machine and the rest of the house.
- New fuse box, 8 circuits, single-phase€ 780
- Two 30 mA RCDsincluded
- Check and improve earthing€ 120
- Call-out charge€ 39
The meter board was still fine, so it stayed in place. Job finished and tested in one working day.
Semi-detached house, three-phase for an EV charger
A family with an electric car on the way. The old meter cabinet is full and single-phase. They want to go straight to a three-phase version with 12 circuits, so the EV charger, and later a heat pump, can be added.
- New fuse box, 12 circuits, three-phase€ 1.290
- Surge protection€ 160
- Call-out charge€ 39
The three-phase connection itself requires Enexis; we arrange that application for you. See also our meter cabinet upgrade cost page.
Detached house, moving the meter cabinet
During a renovation the owner wants to move the meter cabinet out of the cramped hallway and into the utility room, with a new cabinet and 8 circuits at the same time. The distance is short and the connection stays single-phase.
- New fuse box, 8 circuits, single-phase€ 760
- Move meter cabinet€ 450
- Call-out charge€ 39
Moving it requires coordination with the grid operator about the connection cable. We arrange that upfront, so nothing goes wrong on the day itself.
Good to know
Meter cabinet or fuse box: what are you actually replacing?
The words are often used interchangeably. Yet the difference matters, because it determines what you need and what it costs.
The difference between meter cabinet and fuse box
The meter cabinet is the whole space or cabinet into which your main connection enters. It contains the grid operator's connection, the energy meter (the smart meter) and the fuse box. It is the point where the power enters your home and is distributed.
The fuse box is the equipment inside it: the box with the main switch, the RCDs and the circuits (the circuit breakers) that distribute the power around your home. When people say "the fuse board" or "the consumer unit", they usually mean the fuse box.
In short: the meter cabinet is the whole, the fuse box is a part of it. Want to renew only the equipment? Then take a look at our fuse box replacement cost page.
What does replacing a meter cabinet mean in practice?
Replacing a meter cabinet usually means a complete renewal. In practice a new fuse box almost always comes with it, because the old cabinet and the wiring are often outdated together. Sometimes the cabinet is moved at the same time, for example during a renovation.
The energy meter itself is owned by your grid operator (in Brabant usually Enexis). You do not replace it yourself: the grid operator does that. We renew the cabinet, the fuse box and the wiring around it, and make sure the meter stays neatly and safely built in.
Do you just want a heavier connection, for example from single to three-phase or from 1x25A to 3x25A? That is called upgrading. For that, look at meter cabinet upgrade costs, because that involves an application to the grid operator.
What exactly are you paying for?
The price covers the materials (the cabinet, the fuse box, the RCDs, the circuit breakers and the wiring), the labour and the final test. We work with solid brands such as Hager, ABB or Schneider, not bargain-basement materials that you have to replace again after a few years.
An engineer isolates the installation, removes the old cabinet, fits the new one, connects all the circuits, labels them clearly and tests the whole installation to the NEN 1010 standard. That measuring and testing is not a formality: it is the proof that your cabinet has been handed over safely.
VAT and what is in the price
All prices on this page are including 21% VAT and including fitting. For replacing a meter cabinet in an existing home the normal VAT rate of 21% applies.
Our quote always states a fixed price: materials, labour, the call-out charge and the final test together. No after-the-fact billing, no surprises. Only if something unexpected turns up during the work, for example outdated earthing or hidden wiring, do we discuss it with you first before we continue.
Smart savings
Smart ways to save on your new meter cabinet
Without compromising on safety, there are a few sensible ways to manage the costs.
Combine the work
Have the meter cabinet renewed at the moment you need an EV charger, solar panels or extra circuits anyway. One journey and one job saves money.
Only move it if you really have to
Moving it easily costs €300 to €800 extra. If the cabinet stays put and there is no compelling reason, you keep that extra cost in your pocket.
Choose the right number of circuits
Not too few (or you will soon be stuck again), not needlessly many. We give honest advice on what suits your home and plans.
Related
Handy to look at as well
These pages tie in with replacing your meter cabinet.
Fuse box replacement costs
Renewing only the equipment in the cabinet? See the prices by number of circuits.
More infoMeter cabinet upgrade costs
Going three-phase or a heavier connection for an EV charger or heat pump? See the costs and the application.
More infoMeter cabinet and fuse box replacement
Everything about the service itself: when it is needed, how we tackle it and the guarantee.
More infoElectrician costs
Hourly rate, call-out charge and rates of a certified electrician.
More infoWhy Brabant Elektra
Certified, insured and guaranteed
All our engineers are qualified and work to the NEN 1010 standard. We give a 2-year guarantee on all our work. Reliable work you can count on.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the price
Service area
Meter cabinet replacement in Noord-Brabant
We replace meter cabinets across the whole of Noord-Brabant, from Eindhoven to Breda and from Den Bosch to Tilburg. The call-out charge within the region is a fixed amount, so you never face a travel-surcharge surprise.
Want to go straight to three-phase, for example for an EV charger or heat pump, or are you moving the cabinet? Then an application to grid operator Enexis is sometimes needed. We know the procedure and the waiting times in the region, and arrange the application with you.
Service area
Across Noord-Brabant
From major cities to smaller towns, active in:
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