24/7 Emergency — All London Boroughs
Emergency electrician London — 24/7 call-out
Burning smells, tripping RCDs, total power loss, sparking outlets and electric shock risks across all 33 London boroughs. NICEIC registered, Part P certified, same-day attendance.
Electrical emergency right now? Do this first.
Recognise the signs
What constitutes an electrical emergency?
Not every electrical fault requires an immediate callout, but some do. Failing to treat a genuine emergency as urgent has led to house fires, electrocutions, and fatalities. The following situations require an emergency electrician — do not wait until the next working day.
Total power loss to the property
If every circuit in your home has lost power simultaneously and your neighbours are unaffected, the fault is within your installation — at the consumer unit, the meter tails, or the main fuse. This is not a DNO outage and requires an electrician, not a wait for UK Power Networks. A dead board with no explanation can indicate a main fuse operation or a burned-out consumer unit, both of which are serious.
RCD that trips and will not reset
An RCD that trips immediately when you attempt to reset it has detected an ongoing earth leakage fault. The circuit must not be re-energised until the fault is found. The fault could be a failing appliance, moisture in an outdoor socket, damaged cable insulation, or a fault in fixed wiring. An RCD that refuses to reset is the installation telling you something is wrong — take it seriously.
Burning smell from sockets or the fuse board
A burning or plastic-smell from a socket faceplate, a wall outlet, or the consumer unit enclosure indicates arcing, overheating, or insulation failure. This is a fire risk. Isolate the affected area at the consumer unit, unplug nearby appliances, and call an emergency electrician. Do not ignore an electrical burning smell on the assumption it will clear.
Sparking outlets or scorch marks
Visible sparking at a socket when inserting or removing a plug is sometimes normal (a small blue spark as load is connected). Prolonged arcing, crackling noises from within the wall, or outlets with discolouration, blackening, or melted plastic are never normal. These indicate a fault at the connection inside the socket box, which can ignite the structural elements behind the plasterboard.
Electric shock from the installation
If any person has received a shock from a fixed socket, switch, or appliance fed from the fixed wiring, the circuit must be isolated immediately. Even a mild tingle indicates that current is flowing in an unexpected path. The affected circuit must not be re-energised until an engineer has identified the fault path and rectified it. Call 999 if the person is unresponsive or showing signs of cardiac distress.
Flooding near electrical equipment
Water ingress into a room containing electrical outlets, a consumer unit, or fixed heating equipment is a serious emergency. Even if the power appears normal, water can create leakage paths that are not immediately apparent. Isolate the relevant circuits at the consumer unit before entering flooded areas. Do not restore power until an electrician has confirmed the installation is dry and safe to re-energise.
Safety guidance
What NOT to do in an electrical emergency
The instinct to restore power quickly is understandable, but acting without proper diagnosis can turn a manageable fault into a fatal incident. These are the most critical prohibitions.
Never re-energise a circuit that tripped after an electric shock
If a person has received a shock from the installation, the circuit that was involved must remain isolated until an engineer has identified the fault. Re-energising exposes anyone in contact with the same circuit path to a repeat shock, potentially fatal.
Never use a wet or flood-damaged appliance
Water and electricity are incompatible. Even after an appliance appears dry, moisture trapped inside the motor, heating element, or control board can cause an immediate short circuit or a delayed fault that develops into a fire days later. All flood-affected appliances must be assessed by a qualified engineer before re-use.
Never assume a tripped breaker is 'just a nuisance trip'
Circuit breakers and RCDs trip for a reason. Repeated resetting without identifying the cause masks a developing fault. If a breaker trips more than once in a short period, treat it as a real fault and call an electrician.
Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire
Water conducts electricity. Use a CO2 or dry powder extinguisher rated for Class E fires, or — if the fire is small and you can do so safely — isolate the supply at the consumer unit first. If in doubt, evacuate and call 999.
Never attempt DIY work on a live circuit
All new circuit work, consumer unit replacements and significant alterations are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Unlicensed work invalidates your buildings insurance, creates a liability when you sell the property, and — most importantly — can kill.
What we provide
Our emergency electrician service
Prestige Engineers operates a 24/7 emergency electrician service across all 33 London boroughs. All attending engineers are registered with NICEIC or NAPIT — the two government-approved competent person schemes for electrical work in England and Wales. Registration means every engineer has been assessed on their knowledge of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations), their practical workmanship, and their understanding of Part P of the Building Regulations.
Every piece of work we complete that falls within the scope of Part P is self-certified and notified to the relevant local authority building control on your behalf. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Works Certificate as appropriate, which forms part of the legal record for your property and is required when you sell.
For emergency callouts, our engineers carry common parts — consumer unit components, RCDs, MCBs, socket outlets and junction boxes — to maximise first-visit fix rates. Where specialist parts are required, we will make the installation safe on the first visit and return to complete the permanent repair at the earliest opportunity.
Fault types
Common emergency electrical faults we fix
London's housing stock spans over a century of electrical standards. Properties range from houses with original rubber-insulated pre-war wiring to modern new-builds. Each era introduces its own failure modes. These are the faults we attend most frequently on emergency callouts.
Failed consumer unit (fuse board)
A consumer unit failure can leave the entire property without power or, worse, leave circuits live with no overcurrent protection. Signs include breakers that will not hold, a burning smell from the board, visible scorching on the plastic casing, or persistent RCD tripping with no apparent load. Modern consumer units must comply with BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition) and be fitted with arc-fault detection devices (AFDDs) in new installations. We carry common consumer unit types on our vans for same-day replacement where safe to do so.
Damaged cable
Cable damage is one of the most dangerous faults in a domestic installation because it is often invisible until it causes a fire or shock. Causes include nails driven through hidden cables during DIY work, rodent damage in roof voids, mechanical damage behind kitchen units, and degradation of older rubber-insulated wiring common in London's pre-1970 housing stock. A damaged cable presents as intermittent tripping, unexplained RCD operation, or a burning smell from within a wall. We use thermal imaging and insulation resistance testing to locate faults without unnecessary damage to finishes.
Failed or nuisance-tripping RCD
Residual current devices save lives by disconnecting a circuit within 30 milliseconds of detecting a leakage current to earth. An RCD that trips immediately on reset indicates a genuine earth leakage fault that must be found before the circuit is re-energised. A nuisance-tripping RCD — one that trips without an obvious cause — suggests a degrading appliance, moisture ingress in an outdoor socket, or a fault developing in the wiring. We isolate the circuit, identify the source of leakage using a loop impedance tester, and repair or replace as required.
Socket fires and scorch marks
A socket face showing scorch marks, a discoloured outlet, or evidence of arcing behind the faceplate is a serious fire risk. Arcing generates temperatures in excess of 3,000 °C and can ignite the structural timber behind a plasterboard wall. Do not use the socket or restore power to that circuit. Our engineers replace the affected outlet and inspect the circuit back to the consumer unit for evidence of further damage. Where arc-fault damage is found in the wiring itself, the affected section must be replaced under Part P of the Building Regulations.
Meter tails and service head issues
The meter tails are the heavy-gauge cables that run from the distribution network's service cut-out to your meter and then on to the consumer unit. Overheating at this point is one of the most hazardous faults possible because the tails are not protected by any breaker on your side of the meter. Signs of a meter tails problem include a burning smell from the meter cupboard, discolouration of the tails insulation, or a main fuse that has operated. Whilst the service cut-out is the property of your DNO, we liaise with UK Power Networks on your behalf and replace the consumer-side tails as a matter of urgency.
When you call
What to tell our operator
The more information you can give us when you call, the better prepared our engineer will be on arrival. This reduces diagnostic time, allows us to bring the right parts, and means we can give you a more accurate estimate of response time and cost. Have the following information ready if possible.
Describe the symptoms
What are you seeing or smelling? Total power loss, flickering lights, a burning smell, sparks, scorch marks, an RCD that won't reset? Be as specific as possible.
When did it start?
Did the fault start gradually or suddenly? Did anything happen immediately before — a bang, a flash, a new appliance being switched on, a power cut from the street?
Any burning smell?
A burning or melting-plastic smell indicates an active thermal fault. Tell us where the smell is strongest — at a specific socket, at the consumer unit, or from within a wall or ceiling.
Which circuits or areas are affected?
Is it the whole property or a specific floor, room, or circuit? Can you identify which breaker has tripped on your consumer unit? Is it an MCB (circuit breaker) or the larger RCD switch?
Has anyone received a shock?
If so, from which socket or appliance? Is the person responsive? If unresponsive, call 999 first, then call us.
Has there been any flooding or water ingress?
Water near electrics creates additional hazards. Let us know if the fault is associated with a leak, flooding, or if the property has been wet.
Transparent pricing
Emergency electrician costs in London
Emergency electrical work in London carries a premium over standard daytime rates, reflecting the cost of maintaining 24/7 availability, van-stocked parts inventories, and NICEIC-registered engineers on call. We believe in confirming costs before dispatch, not after.
Standard hourly rate
£80–£120/hr
Daytime Monday–Friday callouts
Out-of-hours hourly rate
£120–£160/hr
Evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Call-out charge
£60–£100
Applied per visit, confirmed before dispatch
Same-day supplement
£40–£60
For confirmed same-day attendance bookings
Consumer unit replacement
From £450
Includes Part P notification and EIC
Insurance report
From £120
Written EICR or condition report for insurer
All prices are indicative. Your operator will confirm the applicable rate and call-out charge before an engineer is dispatched. Parts are charged separately at cost. We do not charge for callouts that are diagnosed as a DNO or network fault outside our scope.
Building regulations
Part P — why it matters for emergency work
Part P of the Building Regulations (England) requires that any work involving a new circuit, a consumer unit replacement, or a significant alteration to an existing circuit in a dwelling must be either notified to building control before work begins, or self-certified by a registered competent person.
As NICEIC-registered contractors, we are authorised to self-certify all notifiable electrical work without requiring a separate building control application. This means emergency consumer unit replacements, new circuits, and significant remedial work are notified automatically on your behalf within the required timeframe. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate as proof of compliance.
Unlicensed electrical work — for example, a consumer unit replaced by a handyman or unregistered trader — is not compliant with Part P, will not have been notified, and may invalidate your home insurance. It will also create problems when you come to sell the property, as your solicitor will require documentary evidence of Part P compliance for any notifiable work carried out since 2005.
Certification
NICEIC registration — what it means
NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is one of two government-approved certification bodies for electrical contractors in England and Wales. Registration requires an assessment of the contractor's technical competence, quality management procedures, and insurance arrangements, followed by ongoing annual audits of completed work.
When you use an NICEIC-registered contractor, you have access to the NICEIC's consumer protection scheme. If the contractor fails to remedy defective work, NICEIC will arrange for another approved contractor to correct it at no charge to you. This protection does not exist when you use an unregistered tradesperson.
You can verify our registration at any time on the NICEIC website by searching for our company name or postcode. We encourage every customer to do so before authorising emergency work. Verifying registration takes 30 seconds and provides meaningful assurance about the contractor you are inviting into your home.
Common questions
Emergency electrician: frequently asked questions
When does an electrical fault become an emergency?
A fault becomes an emergency when there is immediate risk to life or property. Call an emergency electrician immediately if you smell burning from a socket, switch or consumer unit; if an RCD or breaker trips and will not reset; if you see sparking or scorch marks at any outlet; if anyone has received an electric shock from the installation; or if flooding has reached any electrical equipment. Total loss of power to the entire property can also indicate a serious upstream fault that requires same-day investigation.
What can I safely do before the emergency electrician arrives?
Switch off the main isolator switch at your consumer unit (fuse board) to de-energise the property if you suspect a serious fault — particularly after a shock, a burning smell, or visible scorching. Unplug all appliances on the affected circuit. Do not attempt to re-energise any circuit that tripped after a shock or smell of burning. Do not use any appliance that has been wet or submerged. Keep away from standing water near sockets or the consumer unit. If you smell gas as well as burning, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency number 0800 111 999 before calling us.
Do you provide emergency electrician cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Yes. Our emergency electricians are available around the clock, including weekends and bank holidays, across all 33 London boroughs. We operate a 24/7 dispatch line and aim to have a NICEIC-registered engineer on site within one to two hours for genuine electrical emergencies. Out-of-hours callouts carry a supplement on the standard hourly rate, which our operator will confirm before dispatch.
Is emergency electrical work covered by home insurance?
Many home insurance policies include emergency cover for sudden electrical failures that render the property uninhabitable or unsafe — for example, total power loss or a fault that creates a fire risk. Cover varies by policy. We provide a full written report and NICEIC Electrical Installation Condition certificate for any remedial work, which most insurers require when making a claim. Check your policy schedule or call your insurer before authorising work if cost is a concern.
What if the power cut is my energy supplier's or UK Power Networks' fault, not my wiring?
If neighbours are also without power, the fault is likely on the distribution network and is the responsibility of your District Network Operator — in London this is UK Power Networks (0800 028 0247). You do not need a private electrician for a network outage. If neighbours have power but you do not, the fault is almost certainly within your property's installation, at the meter tails, or at the main fuse — all of which require a qualified electrician. We will diagnose the boundary of the fault on arrival and liaise with UK Power Networks if the issue is at the service cut-out.
Need an electrician now?
24/7 emergency electrician across all London boroughs
NICEIC registered. Part P certified. Same-day attendance. All 33 London boroughs. Call now or submit a request online and our operator will confirm engineer availability and the applicable rate before dispatch.