Given the nature of electrical work, the potential for harm to people and property is very real. In Australia, protection exists in the form of safety laws — and in NSW, an important part of those laws is the electrical certificate of compliance. Electricians must supply this document when they’ve completed safety and compliance testing on an electrical installation. This helps to ensure electrical work throughout the state is both safe and of a good standard.

What is an electrical certificate of compliance?

An electrical certificate of compliance is an important document proving that electrical work has been carried out in compliance with all relevant Australian and NSW safety standards. The only person who can issue a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is a registered electrician.

The CCEW must be given to:

*    the customer

*    Fair Trading NSW

*    the electricity distributor

*    the electricity network provider

When is an electrical certificate of compliance required?

A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work is needed whenever skilled electrical work is done in a residential or commercial property.

There are three broad categories of electrical work that require a certificate:

The time frame for issuing the CCEW is seven days within completion of the work.

Professional electricians like Captain Cook Electrical recommend that customers keep their CCEW for a minimum of 5 years. The electrical certificate of compliance is a handy reference document, especially for warranty purposes or in situations where additional electrical work is required.

How to get a compliance certificate

In NSW, it's the responsibility of the tradies or the company performing the electrical work to get the electrical compliance certificate.

It’s also the electrician’s responsibility to submit the certificate to all relevant parties — including the customer — within the mandated seven-day period. Nowadays, most customers get their copy of the CCEW by email.

Getting hold of the compliance certificate form is easy — just go to the NSW Fair Trading website. (You can view the actual form here.)

If you're from interstate, you may notice that the NSW certificate and the laws that apply to it are slightly different from the other states. You can always check with NSW Fair Trading to get a clearer picture of things.

Potential penalties for not having a compliance certificate

Failure to issue a compliance certificate is a serious offence. Electricians who don’t supply the certificate within the correct time frame can expect to receive a fine. On-the-spot fines can go up to $1,000.

In cases of non-compliance with the relevant safety standards, fines can be as high as $550,000.

Connect with experienced and professional electricians

Captain Cook Electrical delivers safe, reliable, quality electrical services. For all jobs where an electrical certificate of compliance is required, rest assured they will issue the certificate promptly. Contact Captain Cook Electrical today to find out more.