A USB power point keeps both normal sockets and adds charging ports, so devices charge from the wall instead of a plug pack. Most go straight onto the existing cable. We check what's behind the plate, fit and test each outlet, and certify the work.
When to get it checked
Plug packs crowding the bedside
The phone charger fills one socket and its bulk blocks the other, so the lamp ends up on a double adaptor.
Phones charging on the floor
The spare socket sits low behind the bed, and the cable trails across the room where someone will trip on it.
A board of chargers under the desk
Four plug packs sit in a board that never gets switched off, mostly for devices that only need a USB lead.
An outlet due for replacement
A cracked, loose or discoloured point has to go anyway, so it's a sensible time to add charging.
Why it happens
4 common causes
Homes wired before phones
Older houses often got one outlet per bedroom, placed for a lamp or a heater, not three devices charging overnight.
Bulky plug packs
Many chargers are wide enough to block the neighbouring socket, which is how one double ends up feeding an adaptor.
The move to USB-C
Newer phones, tablets and many laptops charge over USB-C and often come with just a lead. Older chargers only take USB-A.
Rooms being refreshed
Painting, new flooring or a kitchen update is when yellowed outlets get noticed, and swapping them then saves a second job.
What the job covers
What we usually do on this job. Your quote confirms it for your place.
- Ports matched to your devices: USB-A, USB-C or both
- Existing outlets swapped for USB doubles
- New USB outlets run from a suitable circuit
- Cable and terminals behind old outlets checked
- Deeper box or mounting block where the wall needs it
- Safety switch confirmed on any circuit we extend
- Polarity, earth and insulation tests, with every port checked under load
- Certificate of Electrical Safety
Your options, explained
Swap an existing outlet
Low disruption- Best for
- A point already at the bedside, desk or bench end
- How it works
- The USB double connects to the same cable, with a deeper box or mounting block if the wall is shallow.
- Worth knowing
- The simplest option. Skirting-mounted points in older homes may need moving up the wall.
New USB outlet in a new spot
Low disruption- Best for
- The other side of the bed, a study nook or a family charging spot
- How it works
- Cable runs from a suitable power circuit through the roof or floor and drops inside the wall to the new outlet.
- Worth knowing
- Slower in double brick or upstairs. The extended circuit needs safety switch protection.
Plug-in multi-port charger
Low disruption- Best for
- Renters and short-term set-ups
- How it works
- A charger with several ports plugs into an existing socket. Nothing in the wall changes.
- Worth knowing
- No electrician needed, but it still takes a socket and tends to wander.
The people behind the work
One local team for electrical, heating and cooling. Family-run, based in Altona Meadows, with 19 years in the industry.
Licensed electrical contractor (REC 38187)See more team photos
Worth knowing before you book
- Laptops need the right rating
- Tell us your laptop's charger rating so the USB-C port can match it.
- Depth matters
- Shallow brick boxes and skirting-mounted points may need a deeper box or a new position.
- Not a DIY job
- Swapping a power point is licensed electrical work in Victoria, even for one outlet.
What affects the price?
The right scope depends on your installation. These are the details we check so your quote is useful, with any additional work explained before it proceeds.
Swap or new position
A swap reuses the cable that's already there. A new position adds a cable run, and the route sets the time.
Wall and access
Plasterboard with roof space above is quick. Double brick, tiled splashbacks and second storeys take longer.
Ports, output and finish
High-output USB-C models cost more than basic USB-A ones, and slim or black plates add to the unit price.
What's behind the plate
Heat-damaged terminals, old cable or a circuit that needs a safety switch adds work. We price it before going further.
How it runs
- 1
Tell us the spots
Which rooms, and what you charge in each.
- 2
Check behind the plate
Cable, box depth and circuit checked, with any extra work priced first.
- 3
Fit, test, certify
Outlets tested, ports checked and a certificate issued.
Step by step, in more detail
4 steps
Plan the spots
We note where you want charging, what gets charged there and whether a laptop is involved. That decides the ports and the output.
Look behind the old plate
With the circuit switched off and proven dead, we check the cable, the terminals and the depth of the wall. Brittle insulation or heat marks get shown to you first.
Mount and connect
Where the wall is shallow or a stud sits right behind, we fit a deeper box, chase the brick or use a mounting block. New positions get cable from a suitable circuit with safety switch protection.
Test and certify
Each outlet is tested for polarity, earthing and insulation, and every port is checked under load. You get a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the work.
What is safe to do, and what to leave to us
Safe for you to do
- If a USB point runs hot, buzzes or smells, switch off at the switchboard if it's safe and leave it off.
- Cover a cracked or loose outlet and stop using it.
- Charge devices on a table or bench, not under pillows.
- If there's smoke or fire, get everyone out and keep clear.
Leave these to us
- Swapping a power point for a USB model yourself
- Taking the plate off a USB module that has stopped working
- Buying no-name USB outlets online to have fitted
- Running heaters or kettles on double adaptors or power boards
When to get us in
- You want charging at bedsides, a desk or the kitchen bench without adaptors.
- A USB port has stopped charging or slowed right down.
- A USB point feels hot, crackles or the plate is discoloured.
- You're building or renovating and want USB points on the plan.
More detail
USB-A, USB-C and output
USB-A is the older rectangular port; USB-C is the small oval one that fits either way up. Each outlet has a total output printed on it, usually shared when two devices charge at once. Phones and watches are easy for any model, but a laptop needs a USB-C port rated to match its own charger.
Why depth and heat matter
A USB outlet carries a small power supply behind the plate, so it sits deeper and runs slightly warm while charging. Squeezed into a shallow box, it can pinch the cable and run hotter than it should. On many models the ports stay live and draw a trickle of power with nothing plugged in.
What USB points won't do
They suit phones, tablets, watches, earbuds and small speakers. Power tools and e-bike batteries still need their own chargers in the normal sockets. A fridge or heater living on a power board needs more outlets or a dedicated circuit, not USB ports.
Local rules and conditions
Victorian requirements and local conditions that shape this job, with the sources listed at the foot of the page.
USB points in rentals
Since 29 March 2023, every power outlet and lighting circuit in a Victorian rental must connect to a switchboard circuit breaker and safety switch, and the rental provider is responsible for engaging an electrician to meet that. Adding USB points between tenancies is a good time to confirm it.
Older outlets in Yarraville, Altona and Laverton
Yarraville's residential precinct is mostly small Victorian and Edwardian weatherboard houses, and post-war growth transformed Altona and Laverton. Energy Safe Victoria lists old power points as a sign of faulty wiring and says houses built more than 30 years ago should have the wiring checked. We tell you what we find behind an old outlet.
Building in Wyndham's growth areas
New housing is planned across Wyndham's residential growth areas, including Truganina, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes. If you're building there, put USB points on the electrical plan before the plaster goes up, while new positions are easiest.
Useful reading
Guides to read before you decide, with checklists and questions to bring to the quote.
- What electrical work you can and can't do yourself in VictoriaWhere Victorian law draws the line on home electrical work, the short list of jobs that are yours, and what to do when a job goes past it.
- Certificates of Electrical Safety explainedWhat a Victorian COES records, how prescribed and non-prescribed work differ, when your copy should arrive and why it belongs in your house file.
- Planning the electrical in a new build or extensionMark up the power and lighting plan, decide the dedicated circuits, pre-wire air conditioning and EV charging, then walk the frame before plaster.
- The electrical decisions to make before your renovation walls closePlan appliances, lighting, outlets and future upgrades while access and options are still available.
Common questions
Questions people ask about this
- Can a power point be added to my kitchen island?Usually, yes.
- Do power point covers protect children?They help a little, but they're not the main protection.
- How many appliances can I plug into one power board?It's the total load that counts, not the number of sockets.
- Is it safe if my power board or extension lead gets warm?A power board or extension lead should stay at about room temperature.
From the blog
- Are cheap online chargers, power boards and lights safe?Online marketplaces sell chargers, power boards, smart plugs and lights that may not meet Australian standards. What to check before you buy, plug in or install.
- Does a home office need its own circuit?Most home offices run fine on a few extra points. A dedicated circuit earns its place when a heater, printer or shared circuit keeps cutting out your workday.
Sources for the rules and local facts on this page
14 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Consumer Affairs Victoria: From 29 March 2023 all power outlets and lighting circuits in a rental premises must connect to both a switchboard-type circuit breaker that complies with AS/NZS 3000 and a switchboard-type residual current device that… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.Consumer Affairs Victoria: Rental providers are responsible for engaging an electrician to ensure their rental property complies with the electrical safety standard. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Victorian Heritage Database (Heritage Council Victoria); entry maintained by Maribyrnong City Council: The general character of the Yarraville Residential Precinct is that of small Victorian & Edwardian single-storey detached housing with mainly weatherboard and some brick wall cladding, corrugated iron roofing, front… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Victorian Government, Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme (PDF snapshot, last updated by VC292 on 11/09/2025): The heritage places of Hobsons Bay reflect the key themes that have shaped the development of the city since the establishment of Williamstown in the 1840s as the first port of Melbourne, through the development of… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 5.Energy Safe Victoria: Old switchboards, particularly those without a safety switch Old power switches or power points, particularly broken ones Flickering lights Sparks from switchboards, switches or power points. If your house is over 30… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 6.Victorian Electoral Commission (2023 electoral structure review fact sheet): New housing developments are planned in residential growth areas including Truganina, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes, as well as near activity centres and public transport. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 7.Energy Safe Victoria: Electrical work isn’t a DIY job, even for small jobs such as changing power points or light switches. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 8.Energy Safe Victoria: Gas and electricity are inherently dangerous and it’s illegal and potentially fatal for unlicensed and unqualified people to undertake any electrical or gasfitting work. Homeowners and consumers must always use… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 9.Victorian Legislation (legislation.vic.gov.au) - Electricity Safety Act 1998, authorised version 089 (effective 8 Sep 2026): electrical installation work means installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of an electrical installation; Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 10.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 11.Energy Safe Victoria: For electrical installation work performed within your electrical installation including but not limited to lights, power points, air conditioning, hot water service etc. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 12.Energy Safe Victoria: Do not touch or attempt to repair a loose, cracked or broken power point switch – cover it immediately and arrange for a licensed electrician to replace it. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 13.Energy Safe Victoria: Clause 2.6.3.2.5 of the Wiring Rules states: Additional protection by RCDs shall be provided in existing electrical installations where alterations or a switchboard replacement is completed. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 14.Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC): An existing final sub-circuit for socket outlets is extended and an additional socket outlet is installed. Only that circuit that is altered is required to have a RCD fitted. Accessed 30 September 2026.
