Finding an Emergency Electrician UK: What to Do and Who to Call

Non-emergency situations (can wait for a standard appointment):

• A single light circuit has tripped off
• A light bulb or fitting needs replacing
• A single socket is not working
• A USB socket is not charging
• Occasional RCD tripping without a clear hazard

• NICEIC registered contractor search — go to niceic.com/find-a-contractor. You can filter by location and, in some cases, by emergency availability. NICEIC registration means the electrician has been assessed for technical competence and carries public liability insurance.
• NAPIT registered contractor search — go to napit.org.uk and use the Find a Member tool. NAPIT is a government-approved competent person scheme equivalent to NICEIC.
• Check your home insurance policy — many home insurance and home assistance policies include 24/7 emergency electrician cover. Check your policy documents or call your insurer before paying out-of-pocket for an emergency callout.
• Ask neighbours or local community groups — a personal recommendation for a local electrician who has recently done good work is often more reliable than an internet search in an emergency situation.

• Ask for their NICEIC or NAPIT registration number — any registered electrician will know their registration number immediately. Enter it on the NICEIC or NAPIT website to confirm they are currently registered.
• Ask for photo ID and a business card — a legitimate electrician will have no objection to providing identification. Note the name, company, and vehicle registration before work starts.
• Get a price in writing before work starts — even in an emergency, a legitimate electrician will quote the callout fee and hourly rate before beginning work. Ask for this in writing (a text message is sufficient).

• Callout fee — typically £100 to £200 just to attend. This covers the electrician's time to travel to you and the first 30 minutes or hour of their time. The callout fee is the same whether or not the problem can be fixed in one visit.
• Hourly rate — typically £50 to £100 per hour after the initial callout period. Out-of-hours rates (weekends, evenings, bank holidays) are typically 25 to 50 per cent higher than daytime rates.
• Total typical emergency callout cost — for attendance, diagnosis, and making safe (without significant parts), expect to pay £150 to £400. A straightforward fix (replacing a consumer unit main switch, for example) can easily exceed £500 once parts are included.
• London and South East premium — London emergency rates are typically 20 to 40 per cent higher than the national average, with callout fees of £150 to £250 being common.

• Obtain a certificate for the work done — insist on an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate for any work carried out. This is a legal requirement for notifiable work and provides evidence the work was done safely.
• Arrange a full EICR — an electrical emergency often indicates an underlying issue with the installation. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) will assess the whole installation and identify any other faults before they cause another emergency.
• Notify your insurer — if the emergency resulted in damage to your property or its contents, contact your home insurer to discuss a claim. The electrician's certificate and invoice will be required evidence.