Three-phase power installation in Brisbane and Logan typically costs $3,500 to $6,500 for a home where three-phase is already in the street, and $5,000 to $15,000 or more for commercial premises, with Energex connection charges billed on top. You need it when your total load exceeds what a single-phase supply can deliver, most often for a 22 kW EV charger, ducted air conditioning above about 15 kW, a workshop with three-phase machinery, or a home combining solar, a battery, EV charging and multiple aircon units. Faze Electrical & Airconditioning handles the switchboard, the consumer mains and every piece of Energex paperwork under QLD Electrical Contractor Licence 90552.
Three-phase power installation Brisbane and Logan
Most Brisbane houses built before the mid 2000s were connected to a single phase. A modern home in Heritage Park, Stretton or Rochedale South can easily run a 14 kW ducted system, a heat pump hot water unit, a pool pump, an induction cooktop and an EV charger at the same time on a summer evening. When that happens on a single-phase supply, the main breaker trips, lights dim when the aircon compressor starts and the incoming service cable runs warm.
A three-phase upgrade replaces the single incoming supply with three, spreading your load across three separate conductors. It triples your available capacity, evens out voltage under load and lets you run true three-phase equipment. We do these upgrades for homeowners, home workshops, small factories in the Underwood, Slacks Creek and Yatala industrial areas, and commercial fit-outs across Brisbane southside.
When does a home or workshop need three-phase power?
Single phase in south east Queensland usually gives you a 63 A to 80 A main switch, which works out to roughly 15 kW to 18 kW of continuous capacity. Three-phase gives you three times that. You should be looking at an upgrade if any of the following apply:
- You want an 11 kW or 22 kW EV charger, or you need to charge two vehicles at once. Read our EV charger installation Brisbane page for single-phase options first, because 7 kW is enough for most drivers.
- Your home runs ducted air conditioning above about 15 kW, or you are installing several large split systems on one board. Our air conditioning installation Brisbane team will tell you the actual running load of the split systems you are considering.
- You run a home workshop with a three-phase lathe, compressor, welder, dust extractor or hoist.
- You are adding a large solar array with a battery. Three-phase inverters over 5 kW export more evenly and are easier to get approved by Energex. See our home battery storage installation cost guide for how batteries fit in.
- Your main switch trips or your lights dim when large appliances start, even after a switchboard check.
If none of those apply, you probably do not need three-phase. A switchboard upgrade with modern RCBOs is far cheaper and solves most nuisance tripping. Our switchboard upgrades Brisbane page explains what that involves.
How much does 3 phase power installation cost?
Every three-phase job has two cost components. The first is the electrical contractor’s work on your property. The second is the Energex network charge, which Energex bills directly and which we cannot control. Ask for both on any quote you receive so that you are comparing like with like. Typical 2026 ranges across Brisbane and Logan look like this:
| Scenario | Typical cost (2026) | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Home, three-phase already at the pole, short overhead run | $3,500 to $6,500 | Three-phase switchboard with RCBOs, new consumer mains, EWR and connection application, testing, Certificate of Test |
| Home, underground service or long run from the street | $6,000 to $12,000 | As above plus trenching, conduit and heavier cable |
| Workshop or small commercial premises | $5,000 to $15,000 plus | Larger board, sub-mains, three-phase outlets, CT metering where required |
| Energex connection and metering charges | $2,000 to $5,000 plus (billed by Energex) | Network alteration, pillar or pole work, new three-phase meter |
These are typical market ranges, not a quote. The single biggest variable is how far your switchboard is from the point where three-phase can be picked up. Where it is a short overhead run from a pole that already carries three phases, you will sit at the bottom of the range. Where Energex needs to install a new pillar or extend the network, you will sit at the top. We photograph your board and meter, check the street with Energex and give you a fixed price before any work starts.
The Energex connection process, step by step
Upgrading from single to three-phase is a network alteration, so Energex is involved at three points. We manage the whole sequence so you only deal with us.
- Assessment. We inspect your switchboard, meter and service line, work out your maximum demand and confirm with Energex whether three-phase is available at your point of attachment.
- Electrical Work Request (EWR). We lodge the EWR with Energex under the category Connection / Supply, action Supply Upgrade including additional phases. This tells Energex what is changing and certifies that the work will meet AS/NZS 3000.
- Connect Application. For homes and most small businesses under 100 A per phase this is a Basic Connect Application. Larger commercial loads need a Negotiated Connect Application, which takes longer.
- Retailer service order. Your electricity retailer raises a service order for the meter change. Your account needs to be up to date before they will do this.
- Installation day. We fit the three-phase switchboard, run the new consumer mains and test everything. Power is off for a few hours.
- Meter and certification. The meter provider installs a three-phase meter, and we lodge the Certificate of Test with the Electrical Safety Office and give you a copy.
Allow 7 to 14 days for approvals in most cases, and 5 to 14 days more if Energex needs to assess network capacity in your street.
What you get with a Faze three-phase upgrade
- A new three-phase switchboard with individual RCBO protection on every circuit, which also brings your home up to current safety switch rules. Read safety switch installation Brisbane for what those rules require.
- Balanced loads across the three phases so no single phase is overloaded.
- Three-phase outlets, isolators or sub-boards for workshops and commercial kitchens where needed.
- All Energex and Electrical Safety Office paperwork completed and copies supplied.
- Fixed quote before work starts and a 12-month workmanship warranty after.
Because we hold both the electrical contractor licence (90552) and an ARCtick licence (L181564), we are often upgrading the supply and installing the split systems or EV charger that needed it in the same visit.
Three-phase for businesses in Logan and Brisbane southside
Commercial three-phase work is a large part of what our commercial electricians in Brisbane do: new tenancies in industrial estates, cafe and restaurant fit-outs, cool rooms, workshops and commercial EV charging for fleets and staff. For these jobs we calculate maximum demand, size the sub-mains and metering, and handle CT metering boards where the supply is over 100 A.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to upgrade to 3 phase power in Brisbane?
In 2026, a residential upgrade to three-phase power in Brisbane typically costs $3,500 to $6,500 where three-phase is already available in the street, including the new switchboard, consumer mains and Energex paperwork. Long underground runs or network work can push the total to $8,000 to $12,000. Energex connection charges are billed separately.
How do I know if my house already has 3 phase power?
Open your switchboard and look at the main switch. A single-phase supply has a single-pole main switch and one active cable coming in. A three-phase supply has a wide three-pole main switch and three active cables (usually red, white and blue). Your electricity meter may also say 3P or show three phases. If you are unsure, send us a photo and we will tell you.
Do I need 3 phase power for an EV charger?
No, most home EV chargers run at 7 kW on single phase and add around 250 to 300 km of range overnight. You only need three-phase if you want an 11 kW or 22 kW charger, plan to charge two vehicles at once, or your existing single-phase supply is already close to its limit with air conditioning, a pool and a hot water system.
How long does an Energex 3 phase upgrade take?
Once the quote is accepted, Energex paperwork and approvals typically take 7 to 14 days. If Energex needs to check network capacity in your street, allow another 5 to 14 days. The on-site electrical work is usually one day, and Energex or your retailer’s meter provider replaces the meter after that. Power is off for a few hours on the day of the changeover.
Can I upgrade to 3 phase if there is only single phase in my street?
Sometimes. In many Brisbane and Logan streets three-phase runs along the mains even where each house is only connected to one phase, so the upgrade is straightforward. Where only single phase exists in the street, Energex has to extend the network and the cost rises considerably. We check this with Energex before you commit to anything.
Book three-phase power installation in Brisbane or Logan
Faze Electrical & Airconditioning is based in Woodridge and covers Logan, Brisbane southside, Ipswich and the northern Gold Coast. QLD Electrical Contractor Licence 90552. ARCtick L181564. Electrical work carries a 12 month workmanship warranty and split system installations 5 years.
Call 07 4428 2766 or request a quote online and we will come back to you the same business day.