Most homes have too few power points, and in Christchurch the shortage shows up in winter. A heater runs off a multibox behind the couch, the electric blanket shares a double with the bedside lamp and the phone charger, and an extension lead snakes across the hallway to the dehumidifier. Adding a few well placed outlets is one of the cheapest electrical jobs there is and one of the most useful.
We fit extra double sockets, USB outlets, outdoor weatherproof points and dedicated circuits for heavier loads such as heat pumps, spa pools and workshops. Small jobs can usually be priced from a couple of photos, so you know the cost before we arrive.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
What we install
Most requests are for an extra double socket beside an existing one, or a new outlet on a wall that has none. We also fit USB and USB-C sockets for bedsides and benches, switched outlets for appliances in cupboards, and bench or floor outlets for kitchen islands.
WorkSafe recommends shuttered or recessed sockets for new installations and upgrades, especially where toddlers and young children can reach them. We fit shuttered sockets as standard.
- Extra double and quad power points
- USB and USB-C sockets
- Outdoor weatherproof outlets
- Dedicated circuits for heat pumps, spa pools and workshops
- Moving sockets for renovations and wall mounted TVs
Heaters, heat pumps and winter load
Christchurch has about 80 ground frost days a year, and Environment Canterbury's Clean Air rules mean older wood burners cannot be used in the Christchurch Clean Air Zone and low-emission burners become non-compliant 20 years after they go in. When a burner is retired, the heating usually moves to electricity, and the existing sockets were rarely placed with that in mind.
A portable heater should plug straight into a wall socket rather than a multibox, and WorkSafe advises limiting how many appliances share one outlet so a circuit is not overloaded. A heat pump is better on its own circuit with an isolating switch near the outdoor unit. We check where your heating actually sits and suggest sockets and circuits to suit.
How It Works
Outdoor power points
Outdoor sockets let you run a water blaster, garden tools, festoon lights or a pool pump without a lead through the window. They need a weatherproof outlet rated for the spot, a sensible height clear of splash and sprinklers, and RCD protection. WorkSafe's advice for electricity outdoors is to always use an RCD, which cuts the current if there is a fault.
Near the coast at New Brighton, Southshore and Sumner, sea spray is hard on exposed fittings, so we choose outlets and fixings with the spot in mind. Cable runs outside go in conduit or are buried at the right depth, and we check for existing services before digging. If you are planning outdoor lighting too, running both together costs less.
Dedicated circuits for heavier loads
Some appliances should not share a circuit. Heat pumps, spa pools, workshop machines, large freezers and EV chargers draw enough current, or run long enough, that a dedicated circuit back to the switchboard is the safe way to supply them.
Before quoting, we check your switchboard has room and suitable RCD protection for the new circuit. If it does not, we explain the options, which may include a switchboard upgrade. An EV charger needs its own dedicated final circuit with specific RCD protection, covered on our EV charger installation page.
Doing it yourself, and your certificate
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations let a homeowner who owns and lives in the house replace an existing socket like for like, and relocate existing sockets wired in tough plastic sheathed (TPS) cable, as long as the switchboard is not involved and the work follows the homeowner code of practice. New circuits can only be connected after a licensed electrical inspector tests them. WorkSafe says you must own and live in the property to use these rules, so landlords cannot rely on them.
WorkSafe also says electricians must issue a Certificate of Compliance for any fixed wiring work, including new power points. Swapping an existing socket is maintenance and does not need one. Keep the certificate with your house records for insurance and resale.
Getting a price from photos
For most jobs, three photos are enough: the wall where you want the new socket, the nearest existing socket, and your switchboard with the cover closed. Tell us what is on the other side of the wall and whether the house is on a slab or has a floor you can get under. Newer homes are often built on a concrete slab, while older bungalows usually have a crawl space underneath.
We reply with a fixed price. If something on the day changes the job, such as old cable that is unsafe to extend, we stop and talk to you first. You can also book online and we will quote on site.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Power Points
Priced from photos
Three clear photos are usually enough for a fixed price, so you know the cost before we come.
Shuttered sockets as standard
Safer for small hands, at no extra charge on new points.
Bundle and save a visit
Add outdoor points, a heat pump circuit or lighting to the same job and pay for one call-out.
CoC for every new point
Every new power point is tested and certified, ready for your insurer or a future buyer.
Power Points FAQs
Can you add a power point without cutting into the wall?
Usually. We feed cable from the ceiling space or under the floor. On a slab or a brick or concrete wall we may use a neat surface channel.
Should my heater go on a power board?
It is better plugged straight into a wall socket. WorkSafe advises limiting the number of appliances on one outlet to avoid overloading a circuit, and a new socket is the safer fix.
Can you wire a heat pump?
Yes. We connect heat pumps on a suitable circuit with an isolating switch and issue a Certificate of Compliance.
Do outdoor power points need RCD protection?
Yes. Every outdoor outlet we install is RCD protected and weatherproof for its position.
Are USB power points worth it?
For bedsides, desks and kitchen benches they free up sockets and cut down on chargers. We fit models with both USB and standard outlets.
Do I get a certificate for a new power point?
Yes. A new power point is fixed wiring work and comes with a Certificate of Compliance. Swapping an old socket for a new one does not need one.
Power Points Across Christchurch
We cover every region: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
Related Electrical Services
Power Points Guides
- Electric Underfloor Heating in Christchurch: Cost to Install and Run
- Heated Towel Rail Running Costs for Cold Christchurch Bathrooms
- Wood Burner Expiring? Switching to Electric Heating in Christchurch
- Cheapest Electric Heater to Run in a Christchurch Winter
See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.
Sources and further reading
- WorkSafe: Getting electrical work done
- WorkSafe: Doing your own electrical work
- WorkSafe: Electrical safety at home (children and sockets)
- WorkSafe: Electricity outdoors
- WorkSafe: Electrical equipment and appliances
- Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
- Environment Canterbury: Burner types and Clean Air rules
- Christchurch climate (1991 to 2020 normals, ground frost days)
- Christchurch City Council: Coastal hazard assessment