What plug-in solar is
A plug-in solar kit is one to four panels with a small inverter that plugs into an ordinary socket, so the power it makes goes straight into your home. Since 27 August 2026 a compliant kit of 800W or under can be connected this way in Great Britain without any electrical work. The rules were written so that most people can plug it in themselves. Bigger kits can’t go on a socket: they need their own circuit and a different kind of install, so tell us and we’ll quote rather than book.
What the rules don’t do is mount it. Panels need fixing to a balcony rail, a wall or a frame in the garden, the cable needs a tidy route to a socket, and the socket and circuit need to be in good shape. That’s the part most people would rather hand to someone with a drill, a ladder and a tester.
What your electrician does
Book the kit as a job and your electrician fits the panels where you’ve chosen, runs and clips the cable, checks the socket and the circuit behind it are suitable, plugs the kit in and tests that it’s generating. Before leaving they’ll tell you exactly what to send your network operator, which the rules require within 28 days of connecting.
If the nearest socket is indoors or in the wrong place, they can fit a weatherproof outdoor socket as part of the same visit, with your agreement on the extra time.
Where the panels can go
Balcony rails, garden ground stands and walls up to first-floor height all book as normal. Roofs are a different kind of install with different rules, so choosing roof turns your booking into a quote request and we’ll tell you straight whether one of our firms can take it on.
What it costs
You add the kit to a booking, say how many panels and where they’re going, and we show you the price before you book. Fitting starts at £109 for the hour, with more time booked for more panels or a wall. If the kit is already up and you just want it checked and connected, that’s a quick job at £89. Fixings, clips and an outdoor socket if one is needed are charged as materials, and your electrician agrees anything beyond the estimate with you before fitting it.
Got your kit? Book an electrician to fit it and see the price first.
Related work
Need a socket in the right place first? See socket installation in York, or our page on small electrical jobs.
Questions about plug-in solar
Can you fit my plug-in solar kit?
Yes, as long as it’s a compliant kit of 800W or under, which is what the rules allow on an ordinary socket. Your electrician mounts the panels on a balcony rail, a wall up to first-floor height or a ground stand, runs the cable, checks the socket and circuit are suitable, plugs it in and tests it. If it’s already mounted, checking and connecting it is a quick job. Bigger kits and roof mounting are a different kind of install: choose them in the form and your booking becomes a quote request instead. You must tell your network operator within 28 days of connecting; your electrician will tell you exactly what to send.
Are materials included?
No. Materials are charged separately where required. Your electrician will confirm any additional cost with you before fitting parts.
What if the electrician needs longer?
If the work is taking longer than the booked time, your electrician will explain the options. That may mean adding extra time on the day where availability allows, or arranging a separate quotation for larger work. Nothing extra is carried out without your agreement.
How much does an electrician cost in York?
Simple prices, shown before you book and charged after the visit. Tell us what needs doing and we work out the price. One small job the electrician can normally finish inside 30 minutes is a quick job at £89. A list of small jobs is a standard visit, up to an hour, at £109. A longer list books in 30-minute steps up to 3 hours, at £109 plus £39 for each further 30 minutes, and you see the expected labour price before you book. If a quick job runs over it becomes a standard visit for the difference, nothing more; any extra time on the day is agreed with you first. Materials are charged separately where required.