Frequently asked questions

We are based in Brisbane's western suburbs and work across the city's western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs. That includes Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove, among others. Our service area is broad, so if your suburb is not specifically listed it is still well worth a quick call. If a job genuinely falls outside our range we will tell you honestly and, where we can, point you toward someone able to help.

For everyday work we book jobs in at a time that suits you and will always give you an honest timeframe up front. For emergencies we are a different story — our emergency electricians are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you lose power, smell burning, see sparks or have a safety switch that keeps tripping, you can call us at any hour and we will get a qualified technician to you as quickly as we safely can.

Yes. All work is carried out by qualified and experienced electricians, in full compliance with the statutory regulations that apply in Queensland. Pennard's Electrical was built on professionalism and doing the job properly — that is exactly why so much of our work comes from repeat customers and referrals. Where a job calls for testing or a compliance certificate, such as power point or switchboard work, we complete that as part of the service so you have a clear record.

We quote each job rather than working from a fixed price list, because every home and every job is different. For straightforward work we can usually give you a good idea over the phone, and for larger jobs we provide a free written quote before any work begins. Our pricing is fair and competitive — customers regularly tell us we come in cheaper than others they have used — and you will always know what you are paying before we start, with no surprises.

The easiest way is to call Elliot directly on 0438 799 018 and talk through what you need — for many jobs we can give you a good indication on the spot. You can also use the contact form on this site to send a few details and we will get back to you. For larger jobs we will arrange to assess the work in person and provide a free written quote, so you can make your decision with the full picture in front of you.

We keep payment simple and will confirm the available options with you when we quote or book the job, so everything is clear before we start. If you have a preference, just mention it when you call and we will let you know what works. Our focus is on making the whole process — from quote to finished job to payment — as straightforward and hassle-free as possible.

We stand firmly behind the work we do and want you to be genuinely happy with it. If something does not seem right after we have finished, call us and we will come back and put it right. A large share of our business comes from repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals, so looking after people properly is simply how we operate — it is the reason customers keep calling Elliot back rather than trying anyone else.

Every home is different, so we quote each job rather than working to a fixed price list. For straightforward work like replacing a light fitting or adding a power point, we can usually give you a clear idea over the phone, and we provide a free written quote for larger jobs and renovation wiring before any work begins. You will know what you are paying before we start, with no surprises. Give Elliot a call with a few details about what you need and we will talk you through the most cost-effective way to get it done.

We are based in Brisbane's western suburbs and regularly work across the western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs, including Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove. If you are not certain whether your street falls within our area, just give us a quick call. More often than not we can help, and if a job is genuinely outside our range we will happily point you toward someone who can assist.

Yes. Renovation wiring is one of the things we do most. We can plan and install wiring for a single room or a whole-house project, add or relocate points and lighting, and coordinate the electrical stages so they line up with the rest of your build. Bringing an electrician in early usually saves money, because it is far easier to run cabling before walls and ceilings are closed up. Talk to us at the planning stage and we will help map out what is needed.

Absolutely. All work is carried out by qualified electricians in full compliance with the statutory regulations that apply in Queensland. We do not cut corners on safety or paperwork — the job is done properly the first time. Where a particular task calls for testing or a compliance certificate, such as power point work, we complete that as part of the service so you have a clear record that everything has been checked and signed off correctly.

For everyday domestic work we aim to book you in promptly and will always give you an honest timeframe when you call rather than leaving you guessing. If your situation is urgent — a fault, a safety concern or loss of power — we are on call 24/7 and can often attend at short notice. Let us know how pressing the job is when you get in touch and we will do our best to fit around you.

Not much at all. It helps if we can get clear access to the areas we will be working in, such as the switchboard, the relevant rooms and the roof space if cabling is involved. If you have any photos of the problem or the fittings you would like installed, sending those through ahead of time helps us bring the right parts. Otherwise, just be there to let us in and point us at the job — we will handle the rest.

We stand behind our work and want you to be completely happy with it. If something does not seem right after we have finished, give us a call and we will come back and put it right. A large part of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals, so looking after you properly is not just good manners — it is how we keep the phone ringing. We would always rather you call us than live with a niggle.

We quote power point work per job rather than using a fixed price list, because cost depends on how many points are involved, where they sit and whether new cabling is required. For a simple swap or upgrade we can usually give you a good indication over the phone, and we provide a free quote for larger jobs before starting. Adding several points in one visit is generally more cost-effective than booking separate callouts, so it is worth telling us everything you would like done when you call.

Yes, and it is one of the most common jobs we are asked for. Upgrading a single outlet to a double is a straightforward way to get more usable points without major work, and in many cases it can be done at the existing location with minimal disruption. We can also fit points that include USB charging sockets, which are handy in bedrooms, kitchens and home offices. Let us know which rooms you would like upgraded and we will sort them in one visit.

Where the work calls for it, yes. We check and test power points as part of the service and can issue a compliance certificate so you have a clear record that the installation has been verified and meets the required standard. This is particularly worthwhile for older homes, before a sale, or when you simply want peace of mind that everything is safe. Mention it when you book and we will make sure the testing and paperwork are included.

Treat it as urgent. A power point that sparks, feels warm, is discoloured or has a burning smell should be stopped using straight away, and you should avoid plugging anything else into it. These are signs of a fault that can present a fire risk. Call us as soon as you can — we are on call 24/7 — and we will get out to inspect and repair or replace it. It is always better to have it checked early than to wait and hope.

We work across Brisbane's western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs from our base in the western suburbs, including Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove. If your suburb is not listed, give us a quick call anyway — our coverage is broad and we can usually help or recommend someone if a job sits outside our range.

A simple replacement or single-to-double upgrade is often a quick job, while adding new points that need fresh cabling takes longer because we have to run the wiring back to the board. When you call, tell us how many points you want and roughly where they are, and we will give you an honest estimate of how long we will need so you can plan your day around it. We will always tidy up properly before we leave.

Just make sure we can reach the areas involved — the walls where the points will go, the switchboard, and the roof space if new cabling is needed. If you are after points in specific spots, a quick mark on the wall or a note for each room helps us get them exactly where you want them. Otherwise there is nothing to prepare; we bring the parts and tools and leave the space clean and tidy when we are done.

If your safety or your power is at risk, treat it as an emergency. That includes a total loss of power, a burning smell from a point or the switchboard, sparking, scorched or discoloured fittings, a safety switch that keeps tripping and will not reset, exposed or damaged wiring, and electrical faults after storm or water damage. If something does not feel right, it is always worth a call. We would far rather talk it through with you than have you wait and hope a genuine hazard sorts itself out.

Because we are on call 24/7, we aim to attend emergencies as fast as we safely can, and we will give you an honest timeframe the moment you call rather than leaving you wondering. When you ring, tell us what is happening and where you are, and we will let you know how soon a qualified technician can be with you. While you wait, we can also guide you over the phone on simple steps to stay safe, such as which power to switch off.

Emergency and after-hours work is quoted upfront so there are no nasty surprises. When you call we will be straight with you about how the callout is charged before we head out, so you can make an informed decision. We keep our pricing fair and competitive — the same approach our regular customers know us for — and we will never use an urgent situation as a reason to overcharge. Honest advice and fair rates apply just as much at 2am as they do at midday.

A safety switch trips to protect you, so it is doing its job, but one that trips repeatedly is telling you something is wrong. Try unplugging appliances one at a time and resetting the switch to see if a particular item is the cause. If it still trips with everything unplugged, or it will not reset at all, stop there and call us. That points to a wiring or circuit fault that needs a qualified electrician to find and repair safely rather than guesswork.

Yes. As well as homes, we carry out emergency electrical repairs for offices and commercial buildings, and where applicable we can supply emergency lighting and power so you can keep operating or shut down safely. Electrical faults in a workplace can stop trade and create real hazards, so a fast, qualified response matters. Call us with the details of the site and the problem and we will dispatch a technician to get you going again as quickly as possible.

Please do not. Beyond safe basics — switching off power at the board, unplugging an appliance, or resetting a tripped safety switch once — electrical faults should only be investigated by a qualified electrician. Wiring and switchboard work carries a genuine risk of electric shock and fire, and it is also illegal for unlicensed people to carry it out. Make the area safe, keep people and pets away, and call us. We will handle the diagnosis and repair properly.

We provide emergency callouts across Brisbane's western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs from our base in the western suburbs, including Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove. If you are not sure whether you are within range, call anyway — in an emergency the priority is getting you help. We will tell you straight away whether we can attend and roughly how soon.

We quote data cabling per job because the cost depends on how many outlets you need, how far the cable has to run and how easy the route is to access. That is why we offer an on-site consultation — it lets us see the space, understand what you are connecting and give you an accurate quote rather than a vague guess. For larger or multi-room jobs we provide a free written quote before any work starts, so you can decide with the full picture in front of you.

Wi-fi is convenient, but a wired data connection is more reliable and consistent, especially for anything that depends on a steady link — video calls, a home office, online learning or a busy workspace. Wired points are not affected by walls, distance or interference in the same way wireless is. Many people use both: wi-fi for general use and data cabling to the spots where dropouts are most disruptive. We can help you decide which rooms genuinely benefit from a cabled point.

Yes. Adding a data line for a new office or an extra room is one of the main reasons people call us. We will run cabling from your existing connection point to the new location and finish it with a tidy outlet, so the space is ready to use. If you are setting up or fitting out a room, it is worth arranging the cabling early while access is easy. Tell us where the room is and where your connection enters the building and we will plan the run.

We can. If your data points were installed before the room was set up the way you use it now, we can relocate the cabling so the outlets land where your devices actually sit. That removes trip hazards from trailing leads and gives you a cleaner, more practical setup. During the consultation we will look at the existing cabling and the new positions you want, then plan the neatest way to move everything with as little disruption as possible.

Yes — we install voice and data cabling for homes and offices alike. In a home that might be a single point for a study or a media area; in an office it might be several outlets across a fit-out. The same principles apply: understand what is being connected, plan sensible routes, and finish the job neatly. Whether it is one outlet or a full set, book a consultation and we will scope it properly before quoting.

We come out, look at the space, and talk through what you want connected and where. We check where your internet or phone service enters the building, look at practical cable routes, and discuss where outlets will be most useful for the way you live or work. From there we can give you an accurate quote. The consultation means the final job is planned around your actual space rather than assumptions — which is how you end up with cabling that simply works.

We carry out data cabling across Brisbane's western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs from our base in the western suburbs, including Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove. If your suburb is not on that list, give us a call — our coverage is broad and we are happy to let you know whether we can get to you.

Switchboard work is quoted per job, because the cost depends on the condition of your existing board, how many circuits are involved and what the upgrade needs to include. We will assess your board first, explain what we find and provide a free written quote before any work begins, so you can make a decision with all the information in front of you. We will also be honest about what is genuinely needed now and what can reasonably wait, rather than pushing the biggest possible job.

A safety switch — also called an RCD — constantly monitors the flow of electricity and cuts power in a fraction of a second if it detects a dangerous fault, such as current leaking to earth through a person. It is one of the most effective protections against electric shock. Many older homes have few or none, or only cover part of the house. If you are unsure what your board has, we can check and explain your options for adding proper protection where it is missing.

There are some clear warning signs. Ceramic or rewireable fuses rather than circuit breakers, a board that trips frequently, scorch marks, a burning smell, crowding from added circuits, or simply a board that has not been touched in decades all suggest it is time for an expert look. An inadequately powered or outdated board can put your family or business at risk. If any of that sounds familiar, book an assessment and we will tell you honestly where things stand.

An old board is not automatically dangerous, but it is far more likely to lack modern safety switch protection and to struggle with the demands of a modern home full of appliances. That combination is what raises the risk. The sensible step is to have it assessed by a qualified electrician who can tell you whether it is safe to continue as is, needs specific repairs, or should be upgraded. Guessing is the part to avoid — a quick professional check removes the uncertainty.

Most switchboard upgrades are completed within a day, though the exact time depends on the size of the board and the work involved. Power needs to be off for parts of the job, so we will let you know in advance roughly how long that will be and plan the work to keep disruption to a minimum. When we quote, we will give you a clear timeframe so you can arrange your day. We always leave the board neat, clearly labelled and tidy.

We repair, upgrade and replace switchboards across Brisbane's western, inner-east, southern and northern suburbs from our base in the western suburbs, including Chelmer, Paddington, Bulimba, Nundah, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Toowong and Ashgrove. If you are not certain your suburb is covered, just call — our service area is broad and we will happily confirm whether we can get to you.

Treat it as an emergency. If your switchboard is sparking, smells of burning or feels hot, switch off the main power if it is safe to do so, keep everyone away from it, and call us straight away — we are on call 24/7. Do not attempt to open or investigate the board yourself. These signs point to a serious fault that needs a qualified electrician to make safe and repair. The sooner we are called, the sooner the hazard is dealt with.