For UK commercial dutyholders, geography and quotation structure separate these four options: EICR CERT serves London, BES Group states UK-wide operation, KG serves St Albans and Hertfordshire, and Hawkesworth uses bespoke pricing but does not confirm its coverage boundary.[2][4][5][6] 
Commercial EICR providers compared
| Provider | Stated service area | Pricing model | Inspection or follow-up proposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| EICR CERT | Commercial properties in London.[4] | Published, circuit-based prices assume one fuse box. Each additional fuse box costs £65–£85.[4] | Testing covers wiring, sockets, switches and fuse boxes, followed by a report. Remedial work and retesting are not confirmed as included.[4] |
| BES Group | States that it operates UK-wide.[2] | Not confirmed in the supplied source.[2] | Fixed-wire testing can form part of a maintenance plan alongside PAT testing and Remedial Electrical Work. The source does not confirm whether these share one quotation.[2] |
| KG Electrical Contractors | St Albans and Hertfordshire.[5] | Offers a free, no-obligation quotation or estimate, but publishes no fixed fee schedule.[5] | Inspection, testing and reporting, with guidance concerning remedial work. Repairs and subsequent retesting are not confirmed as included.[5] |
| Hawkesworth | Not confirmed in the supplied source.[6] | Bespoke quotation based on building size, room and circuit counts, accessibility, and board size and complexity. Thermal imaging costs extra.[6] | Testing covers distribution boards, cabling, sockets, light fittings and switches, with faults identified for later remedial work.[6] |
Use geography to narrow the shortlist, then compare the assumptions behind each quotation. Published pricing may suit a site with a known circuit and board count; a bespoke quotation may be more appropriate where access or installation complexity affects the work.
Which assumptions can increase the price?
EICR CERT bases its listed London pricing on one fuse box and charges £65–£85 for each additional fuse box. Its page says prices include tax with no hidden or extra fee, but the additional-board charge qualifies that headline statement.[4]
Hawkesworth says its quotation can vary according to:
- building size and room count;
- circuit count and accessibility; and
- the size and complexity of the circuit board.[6]
Hawkesworth also treats thermal imaging as an optional, additional-charge service rather than part of its standard scope.[6]
Do not apply either charging structure to BES Group or KG Electrical Contractors: their published sources do not provide comparable fee schedules.[2][5] The available provider pages also do not verify charges for overtime, parking, congestion, failed access or out-of-hours appointments.[2][4][5][6]
Ask each provider to quote against the same board and circuit counts, access restrictions and optional services rather than comparing headline prices based on different assumptions.
Inspection, remedial work and retesting
An EICR quotation may cover finding and documenting problems without putting them right. The process can include visual inspection and electrical testing, followed by a report recording defects, hazards, deterioration or non-compliance and recommending remedial work.[3]
BES Group presents Remedial Electrical Work as a service that can sit alongside EICR and PAT testing within a maintenance plan, but does not confirm its inclusion in an individual EICR quotation.[2] KG mentions remedial-work guidance, while Hawkesworth describes identified faults being addressed through later remedial work; neither source confirms that repairs form part of the inspection price.[5][6] EICR CERT’s page also does not verify repair prices, remedial-work inclusion or retest charges.[4]
Before booking, request separate written prices for:
- further investigation;
- each agreed repair; and
- any return visit, retest or updated documentation.
Best fit by service model
- EICR CERT: a potential fit for London premises where the circuit count and number of fuse boxes can be established before booking.[4]
- BES Group: potentially suitable for organisations seeking UK-wide support and the option to combine EICR testing, PAT testing and remedial electrical work within a wider maintenance plan.[2]
- KG Electrical Contractors: a local option for landlords, tenants and managing agents in St Albans or Hertfordshire who also want remedial-work guidance.[5]
- Hawkesworth: worth considering where circuit accessibility, board complexity or optional thermal imaging makes a bespoke quotation preferable.[6]
For multi-site or unusually complex properties, confirm coverage, capacity, exclusions, response times and site-size limits directly. The published sources do not verify all these details for any provider.[2][4][5][6]
Get comparable quotations and workable access
Send every provider the same site brief
Include:
- the address, property use, building size and room count;
- the number and location of distribution boards, estimated circuit count, previous EICRs and available remedial-work records; board and circuit details can affect pricing and scope.[4][5][6]
- restricted areas, occupied workspaces, plant or machinery, security procedures and circuits that cannot be isolated during normal operating hours. Hawkesworth specifically identifies accessibility and installation complexity as quotation factors.[6]
Ask for separate line items for inspection and reporting, optional thermal imaging, further investigation, remedial work and retesting. Thermal imaging is an extra-cost option in Hawkesworth’s published scope.[6]
Confirm access and disruption arrangements
Depending on the agreed scope, testing may cover circuits, distribution boards, cabling, sockets, switches, light fittings, earthing and bonding, and other permanent electrical systems.[3][4][5][6] EICR CERT also mentions large-scale systems, emergency lighting and machinery, but the quotation should state which assets are included.[4]
Agree in writing:
- which areas and boards will be accessible;
- who will arrange isolations and approve shutdowns;
- permitted working hours and any phased attendance;
- whether escorts or permits are needed; and
- how inaccessible or untested circuits will be recorded and completed later.
The provider sources do not confirm appointment duration or provider-specific isolation and disruption procedures.[2][4][5][6]
Terms to confirm before booking
The published pages for these providers do not verify:[2][4][5][6]
- appointment duration or report turnaround;
- disruption arrangements;
- remedial-work prices or retest charges;
- payment terms, cancellation rights or warranties; or
- professional-indemnity cover, registration details or sample-report formats.
Tax treatment is stated only by EICR CERT: its page says prices include tax while separately disclosing the charge for additional fuse boxes.[2][4][5][6]
Check responsibility and inspection timing
The Electricity at Work Regulations require electrical systems to be maintained so that they do not give rise to danger. HSE says inspection and testing can be an essential part of preventive maintenance and that the dutyholder should set frequency in light of use, condition, risk and competent advice. HSE does not set one statutory three-year or five-year EICR interval for every commercial property.[7][8]
An EICR can document the condition of a fixed installation, but calling the certificate itself a universal legal requirement overstates the position. Identify the person controlling the installation and check lease responsibilities, previous reports, installation condition and any sector-specific obligations before agreeing the inspection scope and next date.[7][8]
The provider pages conflict about example three-year and five-year intervals for offices and industrial premises. Treat those figures as non-binding examples, not a schedule for this building. Ask the competent inspector to state the recommended next-inspection date and the reasons in the report. Confirm that repairs, further investigation and retesting are separately specified in the quote.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] References
