These regulations may be cited as the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991.
2. Commencement
These regulations shall come into operation on 1 November 1991.
3. Terms used
(1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears —
apprentice has the meaning given in the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 section 60A;
AS, followed by a designation, means the Australian Standard having that designation published by Standards Australia, as amended from time to time;
AS/NZS, followed by a designation, means the Australian/New Zealand Standard having that designation jointly published by Standards Australia and the Standards Council of New Zealand, as amended from time to time;
Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules means AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules);
Board means the Electrical Licensing Board established under regulation 4;
chairperson means the person appointed under regulation 5(1)(a) to be chairperson of the Board;
contact details, of a person who holds a licence or a permit, means the residential address, address of the principal place of business, postal address, telephone number and email address of the person;
copy, in relation to a notice of completion or electrical safety certificate, means a hard copy or an electronic copy;
de‑energised, in relation to a part of an electrical installation, means separated from each supply of electricity to the part in such a way that the part cannot be inadvertently energised;
department means the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Act;
electrical appliance means a device in which electrical energy is consumed or substantially changed in character by conversion into heat, sound, motion, light or otherwise;
electrical contractor means a person who carries on business as an electrician but does not include an electrician when acting in the capacity of an employee of an electrical contractor;
electrical contractor’s licence means an electrical contractor’s licence issued under Part 4;
electrical equipment includes any component or part of an electrical installation;
electrical fitting work means the work of making, maintaining, repairing, altering, assembling, dismantling, connecting or testing electrical machines, electrical appliances, electrical instruments or other electrical equipment, and includes electrical installing work if that work is assembling, maintaining or altering the wiring between electrical components in plant or machinery;
Schedule Sch 2 - Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 - Standards for electrical work | Zoe
electrical installation means —
(a) an installation (as defined in the Electricity Act 1945 section 5(1)); or
(b) the network of an exempt operator, other than an exempt operator that is a major network operator; or
(c) the network of a person who is a network operator under the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 regulation 4(1)(h);
electrical installing work means electrical work that consists of assembling and fixing in place, altering or adding to any electrical installation or maintaining, removing or connecting to fixed wiring, any electrical equipment;
electrical work has the meaning given in regulation 4A;
electrical worker means an individual who carries out electrical work;
electrical worker’s licence means a licence issued under Part 3;
electrician means an electrical worker who is authorised by a licence to carry out electrical installing work and electrical fitting work;
energised, in relation to a part of an electrical installation, means connected to a supply of electricity to the part, whether or not electricity is flowing through any part of that part;
executive officer means the person holding or acting in the office of Executive Officer to the Board;
in‑house electrical installing work has the meaning given by regulation 37(2) and (3);
in‑house electrical installing work licence means a licence to carry out in‑house electrical installing work;
licence means a licence under these regulations and when used in Part 3 means an electrical worker’s licence and when used in Part 4 means an electrical contractor’s licence or an in‑house electrical installing work licence;
licensed electrical worker means the holder of an electrical worker’s licence or the holder of a permit under Part 3;
live, in relation to any wire or other object, means having, under normal conditions of operation, a potential difference between that wire or other object and earth, and any metal that is deemed by the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules to be a live part for the purposes of that standard shall be regarded as live for the purposes of these regulations;
main switchboard has the meaning given in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules clause 1.4.122;
maintenance work means repairing defective electrical equipment or replacing electrical equipment with electrical equipment having an equal or substantially similar engineering specification;
major network operator means a person who is a network operator under the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 regulation 4(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g);
mine has the meaning given in the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 regulation 5A;
network has the meaning given in the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 regulation 3(1);
nominee, in relation to a licence under Part 4, means a person for the time being nominated for the purposes of regulation 36(1), (2) or (3) or 37(1) in respect of that licence;
notifiable work means electrical installing work other than —
(a) maintenance work, unless that work requires the disconnection and reconnection of the supply of electricity to the electrical installation concerned or the replacement of service apparatus; or
(b) the addition or alteration of 1 final sub‑circuit including the addition or alteration of its protective device; or
(c) the alteration of 1 or more final sub‑circuits;
permit means a permit under Part 3;
prescribed policy of insurance means the policy of insurance required to be held under regulation 36(1)(c), (2)(c) and (3)(c);
pressure means the difference in effective electrical potential measured in volts normally existing between conductors and between conductors and the earth;
private generating plant has the meaning given in regulation 4AA;
Regional Power Corporation means the body established by the Electricity Corporations Act 2005 section 4(1)(d);
relevant network operator means —
(a) for an electrical installation that is, or is to be, supplied with electricity by a network operator — the network operator; or
(b) for an electrical installation that is not, and is not to be, supplied with electricity by a network operator — the Director;
transportable structure means a structure that can be moved from a site to another site and on which notifiable work may be carried out;
working days does not include Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.
[(2) deleted]
[Regulation 3 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4410‑11; 24 Mar 2000 p. 1639‑40; 19 Apr 2005 p. 1296; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6492‑3, 6537 and 6538‑9; 10 May 2011 p. 1667; 17 May 2011 p. 1813‑14; 13 Apr 2012 p. 1652; 2 May 2017 p. 2292; 14 Nov 2017 p. 5598; 7 Jun 2018 p. 1815; 2 Oct 2018 p. 3793; SL 2020/196 r. 22; SL 2021/86 r. 28; SL 2022/26 r. 9; SL 2022/36 r. 4; SL 2022/115 r. 8.]
4A. Term used: electrical work
(1) In these regulations —
electrical work means —
(a) work —
(i) on electrical machines or instruments; or
(ii) on an electrical installation; or
(iii) on electrical appliances or equipment,
to which electricity is supplied or intended to be supplied at a nominal pressure exceeding 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts ripple free direct current; and
(b) work comprising an assessment of an electrical installation to ensure that the installation and any work done on the installation complies with the requirements of these regulations.
(1A) However electrical work does not include work on components of the propulsion system of a motor vehicle, as defined in the Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 section 4, that is propelled wholly or partly by electricity.
(2) For the purposes of the definition of electrical work it is immaterial —
(a) whether or not the thing on or in relation to which the work is performed is part of, or is connected to or to be connected to, any transmission or distribution works or private generating plant; and
(b) where work is performed on or in relation to any appliance, whether or not electricity is supplied or may be supplied to the appliance through an electric plug socket or socket outlet.
[Regulation 4A inserted: Gazette 10 May 2011 p. 1667; amended: Gazette 13 Apr 2012 p. 1652; 8 Jan 2015 p. 97; 2 May 2017 p. 2293 and 2302.]
4AA. Term used: private generating plant
(1) In these regulations —
private generating plant means generating works that are for the generation of electricity at a nominal pressure exceeding 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts ripple free direct current including —
(a) generating works that are for the self‑propulsion or other motivation of mobile equipment; and
(b) subject to subregulation (2)(b), generating works constructed or operated under an exemption order made under the Electricity Industry Act 2004 section 8(1); and
(c) generating works forming an electrical installation of a consumer (such as fixed generating plant, a mobile or portable generator, solar panel, wind powered generator, fuel cell, inverter or an energy storage device, such as a battery or fly‑wheel); and
(d) all works, electrical equipment and wiring ancillary to such generating works.
(2) However private generating plant does not include —
(a) generating works owned or operated by —
(i) the Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation established by the Electricity Corporations Act 2005 section 4(1)(a); or
(ii) the Electricity Networks Corporation established by the Electricity Corporations Act 2005 section 4(1)(b); or
(iii) the Regional Power Corporation;
or
(b) generating works constructed or operated under the exemption in the Electricity Industry Exemption Order 2005 clause 10(2).
[Regulation 4AA inserted: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2293‑4.]
Part 2 — The Electrical Licensing Board
Division 1 — The Board
4. Board established
For the purposes of these regulations there shall be established a board to be known as the Electrical Licensing Board.
5. Membership
(1) Subject to these regulations, the Board shall consist of 8 members appointed by the Minister, of whom —
(a) one shall be a person appointed to be chairperson; and
(b) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from a panel consisting of 3 names submitted to the Minister by each approved body that represents the interests of employees who are licensed electrical workers; and
(c) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from a panel consisting of 3 names submitted to the Minister by each approved body that represents the interests of electrical workers who carry out electrical work authorised by a restricted licence; and
(d) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from a panel consisting of 3 names submitted to the Minister by each approved body that represents the interests of electrical contractors; and
(e) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from a panel consisting of 3 names submitted to the Minister by each approved body that represents the interests of consumers that are large businesses; and
(f) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from a panel consisting of 3 names submitted to the Minister by each approved body that represents the interests of consumers that are small businesses; and
(fa) one shall be a person selected by the Minister from persons who —
(i) are residential consumers; and
(ii) have applied to be appointed to the Board;
and
(g) one shall be a person who is a public service officer, within the meaning of the Public Sector Management Act 1994, subordinate to the Director nominated for appointment by the person holding or acting in the office of Director.
(1a) In subregulation (1) —
approved means approved by the Minister.
(2) The following provisions apply to and in relation to an appointment under subsection (1) —
[(a) deleted]
(b) a person shall not be appointed under subregulation (1)(b) unless he or she —
(i) is, or has been, the holder of an electrician’s licence issued under Part 3 for not less than 5 years; and
(ii) is not the holder of a licence issued under Part 4;
(c) a person shall not be appointed under subregulation (1)(c) unless he or she has, in the opinion of the Minister, experience in the work carried out by persons who hold a restricted licence;
(d) a person shall not be appointed under subregulation (1)(d) unless that person —
(i) is, or has been, the holder of an electrician’s licence issued under Part 3 for not less than 5 years; and
(ii) is, or has been, the holder of a licence issued under Part 4;
(e) a person shall not be appointed under subregulation (1)(e) or (f) unless he or she has, in the opinion of the Minister —
(i) experience in using the services of electrical contractors; or
(ii) experience, otherwise than as an electrical contractor, in employing licensed electrical workers.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (2)(d)(ii) —
(a) a person is taken to be the holder of a licence issued under Part 4 if the person is a partner in a firm, or an officer of a body corporate, that holds a licence issued under Part 4; and
(b) a person is taken to have been the holder of a licence issued under Part 4 if the person was a partner in a firm, or an officer of a body corporate, at a time when the firm or body corporate held a licence under Part 4.
[Regulation 5 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4411; 24 Oct 2003 p. 4495‑7 1; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6493‑4; SL 2022/36 r. 5.]
6. Appointments under r. 5(1)(b) to (fa), procedure for making
(1) The Minister may make an appointment under paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of regulation 5(1) only if —
(a) the Minister has in writing requested each body approved by the Minister for the purposes of that paragraph to submit to the Minister, within the period specified in the request, the names of 3 persons eligible and willing to be appointed under that paragraph; and
(b) either —
(i) each body has submitted those names; or
(ii) the period within which the submission may be made has expired.
(2) The Minister may make an appointment under regulation 5(1)(fa) only if, at least 28 days before the appointment is made, an invitation to residential consumers to apply to be appointed to the Board has been published in a manner approved by the Minister.
(3) If, in response to a request under subregulation (1), a body submits to the Minister the name of only one person, or the names of only 2 persons, eligible and willing to be appointed, that name or those names may be included in the panel from which the Minister may select the person to be appointed.
(4) If, in response to a request under subregulation (1) —
(a) each body approved by the Minister for the purposes of a paragraph of regulation 5(1) fails to submit to the Minister any names before the expiry of the period within which the submission may be made; or
(b) the Minister considers that none of the persons whose names have been submitted for the purposes of that paragraph is a suitable person to be appointed to the Board,
the Minister shall appoint a person who is eligible to be appointed under the relevant paragraph of regulation 5(2), and the person so appointed is taken to have been selected by the Minister from a panel of names submitted under the relevant paragraph of regulation 5(1).
(5) If, in response to an invitation published under subregulation (2) —
(a) no person applies; or
(b) the Minister considers that none of the persons who apply is a suitable person to be appointed to the Board,
the Minister shall appoint a person who is a residential consumer, and the person so appointed is taken to have been selected by the Minister in accordance with regulation 5(1)(fa).
[Regulation 6 inserted: Gazette 24 Oct 2003 p. 4497‑8.]
7. Term of office
(1) Subject to these regulations a member of the Board holds office for such period not exceeding 3 years as is specified in the instrument of their appointment and is eligible for reappointment.
(2) If the term of office of a member of the Board expires by effluxion of time without a person having been appointed to fill the vacancy, the member continues in office until the earlier of the following —
(a) the end of the period of 6 months immediately following the expiry of the term of office;
(b) the vacancy being filled (whether by the reappointment of the member or the appointment of a new member);
(c) an acting member being appointed by the Minister under regulation 9(1)(b)(i);
(d) the member resigning under regulation 8(1);
(e) the member being removed from office under regulation 8(2) or (3);
(f) the member dying.
[Regulation 7 amended: SL 2022/36 r. 6.]
8. Resignations and removals from office
(1) A member of the Board may resign from office by notice in writing delivered to the Minister.
(2) The Minister may remove a member of the Board from office if —
(a) the member becomes, in the opinion of the Minister, permanently incapable of performing the functions of his or her office; or
(aa) the member is the subject of an order or other disciplinary action under regulation 31, 31A, 47 or 47A; or
(ab) the member is —
(i) a member of a firm, or otherwise concerned in the management of a firm; or
(ii) a director of a body corporate, or otherwise concerned in the management of a body corporate,
that is the subject of an order or other disciplinary action under regulation 47 or 47A; or
(ac) the member, or a body corporate of which the member is a director or in the management of which the member is otherwise concerned, is convicted of an offence against the Act or these regulations; or
(b) the member is absent without the leave of the Minister from more than 3 consecutive meetings of the Board; or
(c) the member is or becomes an undischarged bankrupt or a person whose property is subject to an order or arrangement under the laws relating to bankruptcy.
(3) The Minister may remove a member of the Board from office on the grounds of neglect of duty, misbehaviour, or incompetence or on any other grounds on which the Minister regards the member as not being a fit and proper person to hold office.
(4) Where a member of the Board dies or is removed from or resigns from office under this regulation the office becomes vacant (a casual vacancy) and the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be appointed to hold office only for the balance of the term of the member’s predecessor.
[Regulation 8 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6494‑5; SL 2022/36 r. 7.]
9. Acting members
(1) The Minister may appoint an eligible person to act in the place of a member of the Board (other than the chairperson) if —
(a) the member is absent or temporarily incapable of fulfilling the duties of the member; or
(b) the office of the member is vacant due to —
(i) the expiry of the member’s term of office by effluxion of time; or
(ii) a casual vacancy (as defined in regulation 8(4)).
(1A) A person appointed under subregulation (1) to act in the place of a member of the Board is appointed to act during the member’s absence or incapacity, or until the vacancy in the office of the member is filled, as the case requires.
(1B) A person appointed under subregulation (1) to act in the place of a member of the Board has all the powers, functions and duties of the member.
(2) Any reference in these regulations to a member other than the chairperson is to be construed as including a reference to a person appointed by the Minister to act in the place of a member during any absence, temporary incapacity or vacancy.
(3) The Minister may appoint an eligible person as deputy to act in the place of the chairperson and any such appointment has effect for such period as is specified therein and may be terminated at any time by the Minister.
(4) A person appointed under subregulation (3) as deputy of the chairperson is, in the event of the absence from a meeting of the Board of the chairperson, entitled to attend that meeting and, when so attending, has all the functions, entitlements and protection of the chairperson.
[Regulation 9 amended: SL 2022/36 r. 8.]
10. Meetings
(1) Meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as the Board determines, but so that there are not less than 12 meetings in each calendar year.
(2) At a meeting of the Board —
(a) 5 members constitute a quorum;
(b) the chairperson or, where neither the chairperson nor the deputy of the chairperson is present, a person elected by the members present shall preside;
(c) each member present, other than the person presiding at the meeting, is entitled to a deliberative vote and, where the votes cast on a question are equally divided, the person presiding at the meeting shall exercise a casting vote.
(3) The Board shall cause accurate minutes to be kept of the proceedings at each meeting.
(4) The presence of a person at a meeting of the Board need not be by attendance in person but may be by that person and each other person at the meeting being simultaneously in contact by telephone or other means of instantaneous communication.
[Regulation 10 amended: Gazette 24 Oct 2003 p. 4498‑9; SL 2022/36 r. 9.]
11. Procedures of Board
Subject to these regulations, the Board shall determine its own procedures.
12. Remuneration and allowances
A member of the Board is entitled, if not employed in the Public Service of the State or by an instrumentality of the State, to be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Minister, after consultation with the Public Sector Commissioner, from time to time determines.
[Regulation 12 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 11 Feb 2011 p. 503.]
13. Functions of Board
(1) In carrying out its functions under these regulations the Board —
(a) shall act according to equity, good conscience and the substantial merits of the case; and
(b) shall not be bound by its previous decisions or by legal or industrial technicalities; and
(c) shall have regard for the interests of the community and the industry as a whole without regard for sectional interests.
(2) The functions of the Board are —
(a) to monitor matters relating to the qualification and training of persons who hold, or are to be issued with, a licence or permit under these regulations; and
(aa) to advise any person, including the Minister and the Director, on the matters referred to in paragraph (a); and
(b) to advise the Minister and the Director on matters relating to the licensing and regulation of persons who hold, or are to be issued with, a licence or permit under these regulations; and
(c) to issue the licences and permits provided for by these regulations; and
(d) to perform licensing, disciplinary and other functions conferred on it by these regulations.
(2a) The Board has all the powers it needs to perform its functions under these regulations.
(3) The Director may give directions to the Board in relation to any function of the Board and the Board shall give effect to any such direction.
(4) The text of a direction given under subregulation (3) is to be included in the annual report submitted by the accountable authority of the department under the Financial Management Act 2006 Part 5.
[(5) deleted]
[Regulation 13 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4411; 30 Dec 2004 p. 6990; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6495‑6; SL 2022/36 r. 10.]
14. Executive officer and other officers
(1) The Director may designate or appoint a person to be executive officer to the Board and may designate or appoint other persons to assist the Board.
(2) The Director may provide such facilities as in the opinion of the Director are necessary for assisting the Board in carrying out its functions under these regulations.
(3) The executive officer and any person designated or appointed under subregulation (1) shall, subject to any direction given by the Director, carry out such functions as are directed by the Board.
[Regulation 14 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134.]
15. Protection from liability
(1) An action in tort does not lie against —
(a) the Board; or
(b) a member of the Board; or
(c) a person designated or appointed by the Director under regulation 14,
for anything that the Board or person has done, in good faith, in the performance or purported performance of a function under these regulations.
(2) The protection given by subregulation (1) applies even though the thing done as described in that subregulation may have been capable of being done whether or not these regulations had been made.
(3) The State is also relieved of any liability it might otherwise have for another person having done anything as described in that subregulation.
(4) In this regulation a reference to the doing of anything includes a reference to the omission to do anything.
[Regulation 15 inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6496‑7.]
[Divisions 2 and 3 (r. 16‑18) deleted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6990.]
Part 3 — Licensing of electrical workers
Division 1 — General
[Heading inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 4.]
19. Electrical work prohibited unless authorised
(1A) In this regulation —
flexible cord has the meaning given in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules clause 1.4.40;
professionally qualified engineer means a person who —
(a) holds a degree in electrical engineering with a specialisation in electrical power engineering; and
(b) is, or is eligible to be, a member of the body known as Engineers Australia otherwise than at the grade of student;
relevant training contract, in relation to an apprentice, means a training contract, as defined in the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 section 60A —
(a) that is registered under section 60F of that Act; and
(b) the completion of which by the apprentice would fulfil the requirements of regulation 22(1);
servicing, in relation to an electrical appliance, portable sub‑distribution board or residual current device, means —
(a) identifying a faulty component of the appliance, board or device and replacing it with a component having an equal or substantially similar engineering specification; or
(b) affixing a flexible cord to the appliance, board or device.
(1) Subject to this regulation, a person who carries out any electrical work commits an offence unless the carrying out of that work by that person is authorised by a licence or permit.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply —
(a) to work carried out on a communications or computer system, or a radio or television transmitter or receiver but does apply to an electricity supply circuit thereto having a nominal pressure exceeding 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts ripple free direct current; or
(b) to —
(i) the mechanical assembly or winding of armatures, stators, rotors, field coils or other like equipment; or
(ii) the manufacture or assembly, at the place of manufacture, of equipment, or parts thereof, on a repetitive basis,
except to the extent that the work involves the final testing of the equipment or the connection of the equipment to an installation; or
(c) to work carried out for, and as authorised by, a major network operator on poles, towers and overhead lines including the final connection and testing of circuits by persons trained in electrical linework; or
(d) to work carried out in jointing and capping underground cables of all kinds by persons trained in electrical cable jointing work; or
(e) to work carried out by a person authorised by the relevant network operator on —
(i) any service apparatus the property of a major network operator; or
(ii) any service apparatus the property of a consumer and connected to the network of a major network operator;
or
(f) to the installation of poles, towers and overhead lines not involving the final connection or testing of circuits; or
(g) to the underground installation of under ground cables, cable ducts, conduits and cable support systems (excluding the final connection or testing of circuits); or
(h) to the affixing of a plug, electrical appliance plug or cord extension socket to a flexible cord used or intended to be used to connect an electrical appliance, portable sub‑distribution board or residual current device to a plug socket outlet through which electricity is supplied or to be supplied at a nominal pressure not exceeding 1 000 volts alternating current or 1 500 volts direct current; or
(ia) to the testing and servicing of —
(i) an electrical appliance; or
(ii) a portable sub‑distribution board; or
(iii) a residual current device,
connected, or to be connected, by means of a plug and flexible cord to a plug socket outlet through which electricity is supplied or to be supplied at a nominal pressure not exceeding 1 000 volts alternating current or 1 500 volts direct current; or
(i) to work done in the course of training for a restricted licence if the work is done under the supervision of a person who holds an electrician’s licence or a restricted licence that authorises the holder of the licence to carry out electrical work of the kind to be done by the person under supervision; or
(j) to electrical work (excluding permanent installation work) performed as part of an educational or training course in a trade or technical school, college, university or other training institution, if performed by or under the supervision of a person who, in the opinion of the person at the institution responsible for the educational or training course, is competent to perform or supervise that electrical work; or
(k) to such other kinds of electrical work as the Director after consultation with the Board declares, by order published in the Gazette, to be work that may be carried out by persons not holding a licence or permit; or
(l) to the installation of electric fences for security or stock control purposes (but does apply to the installation of an electricity supply circuit, having a nominal pressure exceeding 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts ripple free direct current, to such a fence); or
(m) to electrical work carried out for law enforcement purposes according to a safety management plan approved by the Director; or
(n) to —
(i) the detailed inspection of an electrical installation, including switchboards and equipment; or
(ii) the measurement of electrical parameters (such as voltage, current or energy) at any part of an electrical installation; or
(iii) the commissioning of, or the finding of faults in, an electrical installation (including any required disconnection or reconnection of electrical components and equipment),
carried out by a professionally qualified electrical engineer with experience relating to electrical installing work; or
(o) to the installation of a modular wiring system to be attached to, or included in, office furniture or partitioning if —
(i) the system has been —
(I) approved for installation by the Director or by a person recognised by the Director to be a competent authority for the purpose of giving that approval; or
(II) certified as suitable for installation by an authority constituted under the laws of another State or a Territory with functions relating to the regulation of electrical work;
and
(ii) the person who carries out the installation ensures that the modular wiring system is checked and tested for safety by an electrician before the system is energised for the first time after its installation;
or
(p) to the removal of wiring or electrical equipment from premises if —
(i) a demolition permit, as defined in the Building Act 2011 section 3, is in effect for demolition work on the premises; and
(ii) the person who carries out the removal ensures that all supplies of electricity are removed, or permanently disconnected, from the premises;
or
(q) to electrical work performed by an apprentice who is under a relevant training contract if —
(i) the electrical work being performed by the apprentice is being supervised by a person who holds an electrician’s licence that authorises the supervisor to carry out the electrical work unsupervised; and
(ii) the Board has not issued an electrician’s training licence to the apprentice; and
(iii) the Board has not notified the apprentice that their application for an electrician’s training licence has been refused; and
(iv) less than 60 days has passed since the relevant training contract was registered under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 section 60F.
(2a) A person who —
(a) is not the holder of an electrical contractor’s licence or an in‑house electrical installing work licence; and
(b) carries out any electrical work referred to in subregulation (2)(f) or (g) on an electrical installation of a consumer,
shall ensure that, when the electrical work is completed, the electrical installation is checked, tested, and certified as complying with these regulations by a person who is the holder of such a licence.
(3) The Director may, by order published in the Gazette, vary or revoke an order under subregulation (2)(k).
[Regulation 19 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134 and 7135; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4412; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6497‑500, 6537 and 6539; 17 May 2011 p. 1814‑15; 2 May 2017 p. 2294; 14 Nov 2017 p. 5599; 2 Oct 2018 p. 3793; SL 2022/36 r. 11.]
20. Electrical worker’s licence, types and effect of
(1) An electrical worker’s licence is to be endorsed, according to the qualifications of the person to whom the licence is to be issued, as —
(a) an electrician’s licence; or
(b) an electrician’s training licence; or
(c) a restricted licence.
(2) An electrical worker’s licence is subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as may be specified in the licence.
(2a) An electrical worker’s licence endorsed as an electrician’s licence authorises the holder of the licence to carry out electrical installing work and electrical fitting work.
(3) Where a licence of a kind referred to in subregulation (2) is endorsed as —
(a) an electrician’s licence, the work authorised by the licence may be carried out without supervision;
(b) an electrician’s training licence, the work authorised by the licence shall be effectively supervised in accordance with regulation 50(4) by the holder of an electrician’s licence.
(4) Subject to subregulation (5) a restricted licence authorises the holder of the licence to carry out electrical work (including testing) associated with or for the purposes of the holder’s trade or calling.
(5) A restricted licence does not authorise the holder of the licence to carry out the installation or alteration of fixed wiring.
[Regulation 20 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4413; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6500‑1.]
21. Permit, effect of
(1) A permit authorises the person to whom it is issued, subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as may be specified in the permit, to carry out the electrical work that would be authorised by a licence of the corresponding kind.
(2) Without limiting the other kinds of conditions that may be imposed in a permit, a permit may be issued subject to conditions as to supervision that are more stringent than the conditions as to supervision, if any, applicable to holders of a licence of the corresponding kind.
22. Eligibility for electrical worker’s licence
(1) An electrical worker’s licence endorsed as an electrician’s licence shall not be issued to a person unless that person —
(a) has successfully completed —
(i) an apprenticeship under the Industrial Training Act 1975 approved by the Board for electricians before the repeal of that Act 2; or
(ii) a course or skills training programme approved by the Board for electricians and accredited by the Training Accreditation Council under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 before the Training Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2008 Part 2 came into operation 3; or
(iii) an approved VET course as defined in the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 section 5(1) that the Board determines is suitable for training electricians,
and has had such experience or training, or both such experience and training, that the Board may require having regard to the electrical work authorised by the licence to be carried out; or
(b) subject to subregulation (2), has had training in electrical installing work that includes skills and practical experience that are, in the opinion of the Board, at least equal to the training and practical experience provided by an apprenticeship referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) subject to subregulation (2) has the appropriate Certificate issued under the Tradesmen’s Rights Regulations Act 1946 of the Parliament of the Commonwealth 4.
(2) The Board shall not issue a licence to a person unless that person has passed such examinations or other kinds of assessment as are required or recognised by the Board in the kind of electrical work authorised by the licence to be carried out or has been exempted by the Board from the requirement to pass such examination or assessment.
(3) A licence endorsed as an electrician’s training licence shall not be issued to a person unless the Board is satisfied that that person has been assessed as satisfactory in relation to safety in the manner approved by the Board and —
(a) has entered into an apprenticeship approved by the Board for electricians; or
(b) has entered into a course of training for electricians approved by the Board or an authority approved by the Board.
(4) The Board shall issue a restricted licence to a person —
(a) who satisfies the Board that the electrical work of the kind and in the circumstances to be authorised by the licence is associated with the activity in which that person is or intends to be engaged; and
(b) who has had such experience or training or both as the Board may require having regard to the electrical work authorised by the licence to be carried out; and
(c) has passed, or been exempted by the Board from the requirement to pass, practical and written examinations or other kinds of assessment, as may be conducted by, or recognized by, the Board for the purposes of this paragraph in the kind of electrical work authorised by the licence to be carried out.
(5) A person who is required to undertake an examination or other kind of assessment under this regulation shall pay such examination or assessment fees —
(a) if the examination or other kind of assessment is conducted by the Board, as are determined by the Director; or
(b) if the examination or other kind of assessment is conducted by a body approved by the Director to do so, as are determined by the body.
[Regulation 22 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4413‑14; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6501‑3; 1 Sep 2009 p. 3395.]
23. Application for licence or permit
(1) An application for the issue of a licence or permit is made in accordance with this regulation by submitting to the executive officer, together with the appropriate fee, such form, duly completed, as the Director makes available for the purpose.
[(1a) deleted]
(1b) An applicant under subregulation (1) is to include in or with the application any information or certificate or other document that the Board may require to be satisfied that the applicant fulfils the relevant requirements of regulation 22 and is a fit and proper person for the purposes of regulation 24(1).
(2) An application for a licence or permit should normally specify the kind of endorsement sought in relation to a licence, but where an application is made for a particular grade or type of licence or permit that does not appear to the Board to be appropriate in the case of the applicant, or, where an applicant does not specify the particular licence, grade, type or permit to be endorsed the Board may grant a licence or permit endorsed for a grade or type that it thinks proper according to the qualifications and experience of the applicant.
[Regulation 23 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6503; 27 Jun 2013 p. 2707; SL 2020/196 r. 23; SL 2024/96 r. 17.]
24. Issue of licence or permit
(1) Where a person who fulfils the relevant requirements of regulation 22 makes application for the issue of a licence or permit in accordance with regulation 23 the Board is to —
(a) if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence endorsed to the effect sought in the application, issue to the applicant a licence endorsed to that effect;
(b) if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a permit of a kind that corresponds to a licence endorsed to the effect sought in the application, issue to the applicant a permit endorsed to that effect.
(2) The fact that a licence or permit has been cancelled or suspended under these regulations does not prevent the Board from issuing to the person who holds or, as the case may be, held the licence or permit a licence or permit, whether of the same or a corresponding kind or another kind.
(3) The Board may at its discretion, issue a permit for any class of electrical work for such period as it may decide.
(4) Where a licence or permit is issued by the Board, it shall give to the holder a licence or permit document in such form as the Director from time to time determines.
(5) If the Board decides —
(a) to refuse to issue a licence or permit; or
(b) to issue a licence or permit subject to any restriction or condition,
the Board is to give the decision, and the reasons for the decision, in writing to the applicant or to the licence holder or permit holder, as the case requires.
[Regulation 24 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6503‑4.]
[25. Deleted: SL 2022/36 r. 12.]
26. Duration of registration of licence or permit
(1) Subject to these regulations, the registration of every licence other than an electrician’s training licence continues to have effect on and from the day on which it was issued or its registration was last renewed for the period, not exceeding 5 years, specified in the licence unless the licence is suspended or cancelled under these regulations, or until the name of the holder of the licence is removed from the register under these regulations.
(1A) In subregulation (1), the reference to the period specified in the licence includes the period specified in a certificate of registration of a licence that was in effect immediately before the Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2017 regulation 8 came into operation.
(2) Subject to these regulations, an electrician’s training licence held by a person who successfully completes the apprenticeship or course of training relevant to that licence continues to have effect until —
(a) the person is granted an electrician’s licence; or
(b) the period of 3 months expires from the time that the apprenticeship or course of training was completed,
whichever occurs first.
(3) The registration of a permit expires after such period as is specified by the Board in the permit and has effect, subject to any suspension imposed under these regulations, until it expires or it is cancelled by the Board under subregulation (4).
(4) The Board may cancel a permit at any time if in its opinion there are reasonable grounds for doing so.
[Regulation 26 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4414; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6505; 2 May 2017 p. 2294‑5.]
27. Registration and renewal of registration of licences
(1) Upon the issue of a licence, other than an electrician’s training licence, the executive officer is to register the licence by causing the name and other relevant particulars relating to the licence holder as are directed by the Board to be entered in a register containing such particulars as are directed by the Board.
(2) The Board may renew the registration of a licence on an application made not earlier than 90 days before, and not later than 30 days after, the date of the expiry of the registration.
(3) An application is made under subregulation (2) by submitting to the executive officer, together with the appropriate fee, the form, duly completed, made available by the Director.
(3a) If, at least 12 months before the date of the expiry of the registration of a licence, the Board gives to the licence holder written notice that the licence holder is required to complete successfully a course relating to electrical safety specified in the notice, the Board may refuse to renew the registration if the licence holder fails to comply with that requirement before that date.
(4) Subject to subregulation (5), if the registration of a licence is renewed under subregulation (2), the renewal has effect, unless the licence is cancelled under these regulations, from the time when, but for the renewal, the registration would have expired.
(5) Where the registration of a licence is renewed under subregulation (2) upon an application made within 30 days after the registration expires, the renewal has effect only for the balance of the period mentioned in the licence that remains after the registration is renewed and does not affect the illegality of anything done after the registration expired and before the renewal took effect.
(5A) In subregulation (5), the reference to the period specified in the licence includes the period specified in a certificate of registration of a licence that was in effect immediately before the Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2017 regulation 9 came into operation.
[Regulation 27 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4414; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6505‑6; 27 Jun 2013 p. 2708; 2 May 2017 p. 2295; SL 2024/96 r. 18.]
28. Contact details
(1) Where the contact details of a person who holds a licence or permit, or has made an application to the Board under these regulations, change from that of which the Board last had notice, the person must, not later than 28 days after the change, give to the Board notice of the person’s new contact details.
(2) Notice under subregulation (1) may be given in writing, by facsimile transmission, by telephone or by a means of electronic communication approved by the Board.
(3) For the purposes of these regulations, the last known contact details of a person are —
(a) the contact details given by the person to the Board in an application made to the Board under these regulations; or
(b) if the person has given notice of a change of contact details under subregulation (1) — the contact details in the notice.
[Regulation 28 inserted: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2295‑6.]
29. Physical examinations and competency tests, Board may require
(1) The Board may require a person who holds a licence or permit, or has applied under these regulations for a licence, to undergo an examination of his or her physical fitness by a person acceptable to the Board.
(2) Where the Board is not satisfied as to the ability of a person who holds a licence or permit, or has applied under these regulations for a licence or permit, to carry out electrical work in a safe and satisfactory manner, the Board may require him or her to undergo such theoretical or practical assessment, examination or trade test as the Board specifies.
(3) Where a person required under subregulation (1) or (2) to undergo an assessment, examination or test —
(a) fails to comply with the requirement within the time specified in the requirement; or
(b) fails to produce to the Board evidence considered by the Board to be satisfactory concerning the results of that assessment, examination or test; or
(c) fails, upon that assessment, examination or test, to meet the standards considered by the Board to be appropriate,
the Board may refuse to grant a licence or permit to that person, or where that person is already the holder of a licence or permit, the Board may —
(d) refuse to renew the registration of; or
(e) make an order suspending or cancelling,
his or her licence or permit.
(4) An order made by the Board under subregulation (3)(e) is to be in writing and a copy of the order given to the person against whom it is made.
[Regulation 29 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6507‑8.]
30. Disciplinary action, proper causes for
(1) There is proper cause for disciplinary action in respect of a person who is the holder of a licence or permit if the person —
(a) is not a fit and proper person to be the holder of a licence or permit issued under this Part; or
(b) obtained the licence or permit by misrepresentation as to any material fact or by other fraudulent means; or
(c) is or has been the subject of a disqualification or suspension imposed in another State, a Territory or New Zealand that prevents or prevented him or her from carrying out in that State or Territory or in New Zealand electrical work of the kind authorised by his or her licence or permit; or
(d) has carried out electrical work in a manner that —
(i) endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property; or
(ii) is negligent or incompetent;
or
(e) has committed an offence against the Act or these regulations or other regulations made under the Act, or against the Energy Operators (Powers) Act 1979 or the Energy Coordination Act 1994 or regulations made under those Acts.
(2) Without limiting subregulation (1)(a), there is proper cause for disciplinary action in respect of a person if the person —
(a) is addicted to alcohol or any drug; or
(b) suffers from any mental or physical disorder,
to a degree that may at any time affect his or her ability to carry out electrical work in a safe and satisfactory manner.
(3) Without limiting subregulation (1)(d)(i), there is proper cause for disciplinary action in respect of a person if the person has failed to comply with the requirements, to the extent relevant, of regulation 49, 49B or 50.
[Regulation 30 inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6990‑1; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6508.]
31. Disciplinary action by SAT
(1) The Director may allege to the State Administrative Tribunal that there is proper cause for disciplinary action, as mentioned in regulation 30(1), against the holder of a licence or permit.
(2) If, in a proceeding commenced by an allegation under this regulation against the holder of a licence or permit, the State Administrative Tribunal is of the opinion that there is proper cause for disciplinary action, the Tribunal may do one or more of the following —
(a) by order cancel the licence or permit held by that person;
(b) if the person is a nominee — by order cancel the nomination of that person;
(c) by order suspend the licence or permit held by that person for a period, not exceeding 12 months, that is specified in the order;
(d) by order impose any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by the licence or permit held by that person or vary any restriction or condition to which the licence or permit is already subject;
(e) by order require that person to complete successfully a specified educational or training course of study;
(f) by order require that person to undergo a specified theoretical or practical assessment, examination or trade test;
(g) censure that person;
(h) recommend to the Director, where an offence is disclosed, that proceedings be instituted against that person in respect of that offence.
(3) Where any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by a licence or permit is imposed or varied under subregulation (2)(d), the Board may order the return of the licence or permit document for endorsement and may endorse the licence or permit document accordingly.
[Regulation 31 inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6991‑2; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6538.]
31A. Alternative to seeking disciplinary action under r. 31
(1) Instead of making an allegation to the State Administrative Tribunal under regulation 31, if the Director —
(a) is satisfied that the matter may be disposed of satisfactorily without cancelling or suspending the licence or permit of the person; and
(b) has afforded to the person concerned the opportunity of giving an explanation to the Director either in person or in writing and has not been offered an explanation or is not satisfied by any explanation offered; and
(c) has afforded to the person concerned the option of the matter proceeding before the Tribunal and that option has not been taken up,
the Director may do one or more of the following —
(d) if the person is a nominee — by order cancel the nomination of that person;
(e) by order impose any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by the licence or permit held by that person or vary any restriction or condition to which the licence or permit is already subject;
(f) by order require that person to complete successfully a specified educational or training course of study;
(g) by order require that person to undergo a specified theoretical or practical assessment, examination or trade test;
(h) censure that person;
(i) where an offence is disclosed — institute proceedings against that person in respect of that offence.
(2) Before deciding whether a matter may be disposed of satisfactorily without cancelling or suspending the licence or permit of the person, the Director may request the Board to give the Director advice on that matter and the Board is to comply with that request.
(3) If a person chooses to give the Director an explanation referred to in subregulation (1)(b) in person, the explanation may be given that way by —
(a) the person; or
(b) a legal practitioner or other representative of the person.
(4) An order under subregulation (1)(e), (f) or (g) has effect according to its tenor.
(5) Where any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by a licence or permit is imposed or varied under subregulation (1)(e), the Board may order the return of the licence or permit document for endorsement and may endorse the licence or permit document accordingly.
(6) An order made by the Director under this regulation is to be reduced to writing signed by the Director and a copy of the order given to the person against whom it is made.
[Regulation 31A inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6992‑3; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6538.]
32. Suspension, effect and revocation of
(1) During any period for which a licence or permit is suspended under these regulations, the holder is not authorised to carry out electrical work under the licence or permit except that where a suspension is expressed by order of the Board to be of a limited nature, the authority conferred by the licence or permit is affected only to the extent specified in the order.
(2) Subject to subregulation (3), the Board may, where a licence or permit held by a person has been suspended under these regulations, revoke that suspension, wholly or to a specified extent, by order in writing sent to the person at his or her last known address, and the revocation has effect according to its tenor as from the date specified in the order.
(3) The Board cannot to any extent revoke a suspension that was imposed by an order of the State Administrative Tribunal unless it has applied for, and obtained, the approval of the State Administrative Tribunal to do so.
[Regulation 32 amended: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6993‑4; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6508.]
Division 2 — Approved CPR courses
[Heading inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32A. Terms used
In this Division —
approved CPR course means a course approved by the Director under regulation 32B;
commencement day means the day on which the Electricity Regulations Amendment (Licensing) Regulations 2024 regulation 3 comes into operation;
completion period, in relation to an electrician, means —
(a) if the electrician ceases to hold an endorsed electrician’s licence after the day on which the period began — a period —
(i) of 3 years plus any period greater than 30 consecutive days during which the electrician was unlicensed; or
(ii) that is approved under regulation 32C;
or
(b) in any other case — a period of 3 years or a longer period approved under regulation 32C;
continuing CPR course means an approved CPR course referred to in regulation 32G(2);
endorsed electrician’s licence means an electrical worker’s licence endorsed as an electrician’s licence;
initial CPR course means an approved CPR course referred to in regulation 32E(2) or 32F(2);
licensed electrician means an individual who holds an endorsed electrician’s licence.
[Regulation 32A inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32B. Approved CPR courses
(1) The Director may approve, in writing, a course if the Director considers that the course is suitable for training licensed electricians in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(2) The Director must publish the approval on the department’s website or on a website maintained by or on behalf of the State.
(3) The approval commences at the beginning of —
(a) the day after the day on which the approval is published under subregulation (2); or
(b) a later day specified in the approval.
(4) The approval is not subsidiary legislation for the purposes of the Interpretation Act 1984.
(5) The Interpretation Act 1984 sections 43 (other than subsection (6)) and 44 and Part VIII apply to the approval as if it were subsidiary legislation.
[Regulation 32B inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32C. Director may approve longer completion period for approved CPR courses
The Director may approve, in writing, a period longer than 3 years for the completion of an approved CPR course by a licensed electrician, or a class of licensed electricians, if the Director considers it appropriate in the circumstances.
[Regulation 32C inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32D. Director may exempt licensed electricians from completing approved CPR courses
(1) The Director may exempt, in writing, a licensed electrician, or a class of licensed electricians, from 1 or more of the following requirements if the Director considers it appropriate in the circumstances —
(a) a requirement to complete an initial CPR course;
(b) a requirement to complete a continuing CPR course;
(2) The exemption —
(a) may be subject to any conditions stated in the exemption; and
(b) must state the period for which it applies.
(3) The Director must not make an exemption under subregulation (1) unless the electrician, or class of electricians, is expected to hold an endorsed electrician’s licence —
(a) during a public health state of emergency under the Public Health Act 2016, an emergency situation or a state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act 2005 or during another emergency; or
(b) when an approved CPR course is not available or not available in certain locations; or
(c) when personal circumstances of the electrician or the class of electricians may prevent their completion of an approved CPR course.
(4) An exemption under subregulation (1) expires in relation to an electrician subject to the exemption at the earlier of —
(a) the end of the period stated in the notice of the exemption referred to in subregulation (2)(b); or
(b) the time the electrician fails to comply with 1 or more conditions to which the exemption is subject.
[Regulation 32D inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32E. Requirement to complete approved CPR courses for licensed electricians on commencement day
(1) This regulation applies to a person who is a licensed electrician on commencement day.
(2) A licensed electrician must complete an approved CPR course within the completion period beginning on commencement day.
(3) It is a defence to a charge of an offence under subregulation (2) for the person charged to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
(4) Subregulation (2) does not apply to a licensed electrician exempted under regulation 32D(1) from the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
[Regulation 32E inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32F. Requirement to complete approved CPR courses on issue of first endorsed electrician’s licences after commencement day
(1) This regulation applies to a licensed electrician who —
(a) is issued an endorsed electrician’s licence after commencement day; and
(b) did not hold an endorsed electrician’s licence on commencement day.
(2) A licensed electrician must complete an approved CPR course within the completion period beginning on the day on which an endorsed electrician’s licence is first issued to the electrician after commencement day.
(3) It is a defence to a charge of an offence under subregulation (2) for the person charged to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
(4) Subregulation (2) does not apply to a licensed electrician exempted under regulation 32D(1) from the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
(1) This regulation applies to a licensed electrician who was required to complete, or exempted from the requirement to complete, an initial CPR course.
(2) A licensed electrician must complete an approved CPR course within each completion period beginning on the day after the day on which the electrician completed their last approved CPR course.
(3) It is a defence to a charge of an offence under subregulation (2) for the person charged to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
(4) Subregulation (2) does not apply to a licensed electrician exempted under regulation 32D(1) from the requirement to complete the approved CPR course.
[Regulation 32G inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32H. When completion period begins for continuing requirements if previous approved CPR courses not completed
(1) For the purposes of regulation 32G(2), if an electrician has not completed an initial CPR course, the day on which the completion period begins is taken to be the day after the day on which the completion period referred to in regulation 32E(2) or 32F(2) ends, or would have ended had the electrician not been exempted from the requirement, as the case requires.
(2) For the purposes of regulation 32G(2), if an electrician has previously been required to complete, but has not completed, a continuing CPR course, the day on which the completion period begins for the next requirement is taken to be the day after the day on which the completion period referred to in regulation 32G(2) ends in relation to the previous requirement.
(3) For the purposes of regulation 32G(2), if an electrician has been exempted from a requirement to complete a continuing CPR course, the day on which the completion period begins for the next requirement is taken to be the day after the day on which the completion period referred to in regulation 32G(2) would have ended had the electrician not been exempted from the requirement.
[Regulation 32H inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
32I. Powers to require course completion records
course completion record, in relation to a written direction, means an official certificate of completion or official transcript from a course provider for each course that a person was required to complete under this Division.
(2) The Director may give a written direction to a person who was required under this Division to complete an approved CPR course within the period of 5 years before the day on which the direction is given.
(3) The direction must include the following —
(a) that the person must give a copy of the person’s course completion record to the Director within 10 working days from the day on which the direction is given;
(b) the period of time that the course completion record must cover;
(c) how the person must give a copy of the person’s course completion record to the Director.
Example for this subregulation:
For the purposes of paragraph (c) — email, uploading to file transfer site.
(4) The period of time referred to in subregulation (3)(b) must not be more than 5 years before the day on which the direction is given.
(5) The direction is taken to be given to a licensed electrician if it is sent electronically to the electrician’s email address provided to the Board as referred to in regulation 28(3).
(6) A person who fails to comply with a direction given to the person under this regulation commits an offence.
(7) It is a defence to a charge of an offence under subregulation (6) for the person charged to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the direction.
[Regulation 32I inserted: SL 2024/211 r. 5.]
Part 4 — Licensing of electrical contractors and for in‑house electrical installing work
(1) Subject to this regulation, a person who carries on business as an electrical contractor, or advertises, or otherwise holds out or implies, that the person is carrying on business as an electrical contractor, commits an offence unless the person is authorised by an electrical contractor’s licence to so carry on business.
(2) A person does not carry on business as an electrical contractor if —
(a) he or she carries out such electrical installing work as is approved by the Board to be exempted under this paragraph; or
(aa) he or she carries out electrical work that would be authorised by an electrical worker’s licence endorsed as a restricted licence; or
(b) he or she undertakes to have work done by an electrical contractor.
(3) A person is taken to carry on business as an electrical contractor whether or not electrical installing work is only part, or is not a principal part, of the business carried on by him or her.
(4) Subject to subregulation (2)(a) and (aa), a person is taken to carry on business as an electrical contractor if the person carries out electrical installing work otherwise than as an employee of a person who is the holder of an electrical contractor’s licence or an in‑house electrical installing work licence.
[Regulation 33 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4414; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6508 and 6537; 2 May 2017 p. 2296.]
34. Contracting with unlicensed person for electrical installing work, offence
A person who enters into a contract to have electrical installing work carried out commits an offence if he or she does so knowing that the person contracting to carry out the work thereby contravenes regulation 33.
35. False representations as to completed electrical work
A person who is an employee of an electrical contractor, or, of the holder of an in‑house electrical installing work licence, who falsely represents that particular electrical work is carried out by or on behalf of his or her employer commits an offence.
[Regulation 35 amended: Gazette 13 Apr 2012 p. 1652.]
36. Eligibility for electrical contractor’s licence
(1) Subject to these regulations, an electrical contractor’s licence may be issued under this Part to an individual if —
(a) the individual, or a person in the employ of the individual nominated by him or her —
(i) holds an electrical worker’s licence endorsed as an electrician’s licence; and
(ii) has engaged in carrying out electrical installing work in this State, another State, a Territory or a country other than Australia in a manner that, to the satisfaction of the Board, complies with the requirements of the Act and these regulations or with any equivalent requirements applicable in that State, Territory or country, as the case may be; and
(iii) has, to the satisfaction of the Board, completed any training that is specified by the Board and provided by a training institution approved by the Board;
[(iv) deleted]
and
(b) the Board is satisfied, after such examination as may be required by the Board, that the individual or the person nominated by the individual for the purposes of paragraph (a) understands fully the duties and obligations imposed on electricians and electrical contractors by the Act and these regulations and any other regulations made under the Act, and by the Energy Operators (Powers) Act 1979 and the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and the respective regulations made under those Acts; and
(c) the individual holds a current policy of insurance against civil liability, in respect of the individual’s work as an electrical contractor, that complies with the requirements specified by the Board.
(2) An electrical contractor’s licence may be issued under this Part to a firm if —
(a) at least one member of the firm, or a person in its employ nominated by it, meets the requirements specified in subregulation (1)(a) and (b); and
(b) the Board is satisfied that at least one of the natural persons concerned in the management or conduct of the firm or of any body corporate by which the firm is constituted fully understands the duties and obligations referred to in subregulation (1)(b); and
(c) the firm holds a current policy of insurance against civil liability, in respect of the firm’s work as an electrical contractor, that complies with the requirements specified by the Board.
(3) An electrical contractor’s licence may be issued under this Part to a body corporate if —
(a) a person in its employ nominated by it meets the requirements specified in subregulation (1)(a) and (b); and
(b) the Board is satisfied that at least one of the natural persons concerned in the management or conduct of the body corporate understands fully the duties and obligations referred to in subregulation (1)(b); and
(c) the body corporate holds a current policy of insurance against civil liability, in respect of the body corporate’s work as an electrical contractor, that complies with the requirements specified by the Board.
[Regulation 36 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7135; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4414‑15; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6509‑10; SL 2022/36 r. 13.]
37. In‑house electrical installing work, when permitted
(1) A person other than an electrical contractor who carries out any in‑house electrical installing work commits an offence unless —
(a) the person has in his or her employ at least one person nominated by him or her —
(i) who holds an electrical worker’s licence endorsed as an electrician’s licence; and
(ii) who has engaged in carrying out electrical installing work in this State, another State, a Territory or a country other than Australia in a manner that, to the satisfaction of the Board, complies with the requirements of the Act and these regulations or with any equivalent requirements applicable in that State, Territory or country, as the case may be; and
(iia) who has, to the satisfaction of the Board, completed any training that is specified by the Board and provided by a training institution approved by the Board; and
(iii) who after such examination as may be required by the Board satisfies the Board that he or she understands the duties and obligations imposed on electrical installers and electrical contractors by the Act and these regulations and any other regulations made under the Act, and by the Energy Operators (Powers) Act 1979 and the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and the respective regulations made under those Acts; and
(iv) whose terms and conditions of employment include the duties imposed by regulation 53;
and
(b) the person is the holder of an in‑house electrical installing work licence.
(2) Subject to this regulation, a person who carries out electrical installing work for himself or herself or who employs an electrical worker, as his or her servant, to carry out electrical installing work for himself or herself or on his or her behalf is taken to carry on in‑house electrical installing work, but nothing in this subregulation limits what would otherwise be taken to constitute carrying on business as an electrical contractor.
(3) Without limiting the generality of subregulation (2) a person shall be deemed to carry out in‑house electrical installing work if —
(a) he or she engages or employs an electrical worker to carry out electrical installing work other than maintenance work in respect only of premises owned, leased, or occupied by the employer; or
(b) unless exempted by the Board, he or she carries out electrical installing work other than maintenance work on premises that he or she owns, leases, or occupies.
[Regulation 37 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7135; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4415; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6510 and 6537.]
38. Nominees under r. 36 and 37, cancelling etc.
(1) Where a person is for the time being nominated for the purposes of regulation 36(1), (2) or (3) or 37(1), as the case may be, in respect of a licence, the nomination of that person may be cancelled at any time —
(a) by notice in writing given by that person to the holder of the licence and the Board; or
(b) by notice in writing given by the holder of the licence to the Board and the person nominated.
(2) The holder of a licence may nominate more than one person for the purposes of regulation 36(1), (2) or (3) or 37(1) and such a nomination may be made at any time, but a person shall not be so nominated unless he or she meets the requirements specified in regulation 36(1)(a) and (b) or 37(1)(a) as the case requires.
(2a) The holder of a licence may nominate a person —
(a) as a replacement for a nominee; or
(b) as an additional nominee,
by giving notice in writing to the Board together with the appropriate fee.
(3) A person is ineligible to be, or continue to be, a nominee in respect of a licence unless he or she is employed by the holder of the licence or he or she is approved by the Board for the purposes of this regulation.
(4) Where a holder of a licence nominates as his or her nominee a person who is ineligible under subregulation (3) or permits a person who is so ineligible to continue to be his or her nominee, the holder of the licence commits an offence.
(5) A person who is ineligible to be a nominee who —
(a) permits himself or herself to be nominated as the nominee in respect of a licence; or
(b) continues to be a nominee in respect of a licence,
commits an offence.
(6) Where, by reason of cancellation under subregulation (1) or for any other reason, a person who was a nominee in respect of a licence ceases to be a nominee in respect of that licence, the holder of the licence shall forthwith notify the Board.
(7) Except where the holder of a licence makes arrangements satisfactory to the Board, upon the holder of a licence ceasing to employ at least one nominee, the licence is, by operation of this subregulation, thereupon suspended except where —
(a) in the case of a licence held by an individual, the individual; or
(b) in the case of a licence held by a firm or a corporation, at least one member of the firm or body corporate,
meets the requirements specified in regulation 37.
[Regulation 38 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6511 and 6538; SL 2024/96 r. 19.]
38A. Nominee not required to comply with certain directions
A nominee is not required to comply with a direction given to the nominee by his or her employer in relation to electrical work if the nominee reasonably considers that, if he or she were to comply with the direction, the work would not be carried out in accordance with these regulations.
[Regulation 38A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6511.]
39. Applications for licences and renewals of registration
(1) An application for the issue of a licence or renewal of the registration of a licence is made in accordance with this regulation by submitting to the executive officer, together with the appropriate fee, such form, duly completed, as the Director makes available for the purpose.
(2) Without limiting the matters that may be required to be disclosed in an application, an application shall disclose the business name and trading name (if any) and the address of the principal place from which business is to be carried on under the licence and, in the case of an application for the issue or renewal of registration of an electrical contractor’s licence, details, as specified in the application form, of the prescribed policy of insurance.
(3) A person who is required to undertake an examination in respect of a licence under this Part shall pay such examination fees as are determined by the Director.
[Regulation 39 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4415; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6511; 27 Jun 2013 p. 2708; SL 2024/96 r. 20.]
40. Issue and registration of licence
(1) Where a person who fulfils the relevant requirements of regulation 36 or 37, as the case requires, makes application for the issue of a licence in accordance with regulation 39, the Board shall, if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, issue to the applicant a licence.
(2) On the issue of a licence, the executive officer is to register the licence by causing the name and other relevant particulars relating to the licence holder and any nominee of the licence holder, as directed by the Board, to be entered in a register.
(3) A licence is subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as may be specified in the licence.
(4) If the Board decides —
(a) to refuse to issue a licence; or
(b) to issue a licence subject to any restriction or condition,
the Board is to give the decision, and the reasons for the decision, in writing to the applicant or to the licence holder, as the case requires.
[Regulation 40 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6512.]
41. Changes to firm, effect of on firm’s licence
Subject to regulation 42, where after —
(a) a change in the partners of a firm; or
(b) the dissolution of a firm (the former firm) and re‑constitution of the firm,
any of the partners who is the holder of the relevant licence continues to be a partner of the firm as so changed or re‑constituted the licence to the firm or the former firm, as the case requires, continues in force.
42. Changes to firm, Board to be notified of
Regulation 41 applies only if the Board is notified in writing within 30 days after the change or dissolution and re‑constitution referred to in regulation 41 takes effect.
43. Duration of registration of licence
(1) The registration of a licence expires after such period as is specified by the Board in the certificate of registration, being a period ending not more than one year after the day on which it was issued.
(2) Subject to any suspension under these regulations, a licence has effect unless it is cancelled under these regulations or its registration expires.
(3) An electrical contractor’s licence is, by operation of this subregulation, suspended during any period for which the prescribed policy of insurance is not held in respect of the work of the electrical contractor.
[Regulation 43 amended: Gazette 2 May 2000 p. 2115; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6512.]
44. Renewal of registration of licence
(1) Upon an application for renewal of the registration of a licence made in accordance with regulation 39 either not earlier than 90 days before the registration of the licence expires or not later than 30 days after the registration of the licence expires, the Board shall, if the licence has not been cancelled under these regulations and the holder of the licence intends to continue to carry on business as an electrical contractor or to carry out in‑house electrical installing work, renew the registration for a further period specified by the Board in the certificate of registration, being a period ending not more than one year after the registration of the licence would have expired but for that renewal and give that person a certificate of registration accordingly.
(2) Subject to subregulation (3), if the registration of a licence is renewed under subregulation (1), the renewal has effect, unless the licence is cancelled under these regulations, from the time when, but for the renewal, the registration would have expired.
(3) If the registration of a licence is renewed under subregulation (1) on an application made within 30 days after the registration expires, the renewal has effect only for the balance of the period mentioned in the certificate of registration that remains after the registration is renewed and does not affect the illegality of anything done after the registration expired and before the renewal took effect.
[Regulation 44 amended: Gazette 2 May 2000 p. 2115; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6513.]
44A. Insurance of licensed electrical contractor, Board may require details of
(1) The Board may, by notice in writing sent to the holder of an electrical contractor’s licence at the holder’s address last known to the Board, require details, as specified in the notice, of the prescribed policy of insurance to be given to the Board within the period specified in the notice.
(2) The holder of an electrical contractor’s licence is to comply with a notice given under subregulation (1).
[Regulation 44A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6513‑14.]
45. Place of business, display of licence at and change of etc.
(1) The holder of a licence shall ensure that his or her licence document and certificate of registration is conspicuously displayed at his or her principal place of business and that the number of his or her licence is conspicuously displayed in any advertisement advertising his or her electrical contracting business.
(2) Subject to subregulation (2a), the holder of a licence shall, not later than 28 days after changing his or her business name or trading name or principal place of business, notify the Board in writing of the change.
(2a) Notice under subregulation (2) of a change of the principal place of business may be given in writing, by facsimile transmission, by telephone or by a means of electronic communication approved by the Board.
(3) Any notice or other document sent to or otherwise served on the holder of a licence at the place last notified to the Board as his or her principal place of business shall have been properly served.
(4) The holder of a licence shall ensure that he or she or a responsible person employed by him or her is informed of any electrical work being undertaken at any time under the authority of his or her licence.
[Regulation 45 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6514.]
45A. Physical examinations, Board may require
relevant licence means the relevant electrical contractor’s licence or the relevant in‑house electrical installing work licence, as the case requires.
(2) The Board may require a person —
(a) who holds an electrical contractor’s licence in accordance with regulation 36(1) or who has applied to be issued with an electrical contractor’s licence; or
(b) who is a member of a firm that holds an electrical contractor’s licence in accordance with regulation 36(2) or that has applied to be issued with an electrical contractor’s licence; or
(c) who holds an in‑house electrical installing work licence or who has applied to be issued with an in‑house electrical installing work licence; or
(d) who is nominated for the purposes of regulation 36 or 37,
to undergo an examination of his or her physical fitness by a person acceptable to the Board.
(3) Subregulation (4) applies if a person required under subregulation (2) to undergo an examination —
(a) fails to comply with the requirement within the time specified in the requirement; or
(b) fails to produce to the Board evidence considered by the Board to be satisfactory concerning the results of that examination; or
(c) fails in that examination to meet the standards considered by the Board to be appropriate.
(4) If this subregulation applies, the Board may refuse to grant the relevant licence or, if an individual, firm or body corporate is already the holder of the relevant licence, the Board may —
(a) refuse to renew the registration of that licence; or
(b) make an order suspending or cancelling that licence.
(5) An order made by the Board under subregulation (4)(b) is to be in writing and a copy of the order given to the individual, firm or body corporate that holds the relevant licence.
[Regulation 45A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6514‑16.]
46. Disciplinary action, proper causes for
(1) There is proper cause for disciplinary action in respect of a person who is the holder of a licence if the person —
(a) is not a fit and proper person to be the holder of a licence issued under this Part; or
(b) obtained the licence or enabled the licence to be obtained by misrepresentation as to any material fact or by other fraudulent means; or
(c) has carried out or caused or permitted to be carried out any electrical work in a manner that —
(i) endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property; or
(ii) is negligent or incompetent;
or
(d) has, personally or through a person authorised by him or her, signed a notice of completion of electrical work in respect of electrical work that has not been carried out by him or her or on his or her behalf; or
(e) has committed an offence against the Act or these regulations or other regulations made under the Act, or against the Energy Operators (Powers) Act 1979 or the Energy Coordination Act 1994 or regulations made under those Acts.
(1a) In subregulation (1) —
holder of a licence includes —
(a) a natural person who is a member of a firm, or who is otherwise concerned in the management of a firm, that holds a licence; and
(b) a natural person who is a director of a body corporate, or who is otherwise concerned in the management of a body corporate, that holds a licence.
(2) Without limiting subregulation (1)(c)(i), there is proper cause for disciplinary action in respect of a person if the person has failed to comply with the requirements, to the extent relevant, of regulation 49, 49B or 50.
[Regulation 46 inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6994; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6516.]
47. Disciplinary action by SAT
(1aa) In this regulation —
holder of a licence has the meaning given in regulation 46(1a).
(1ab) In subregulation (2)(a), (b), (c), (f) and (g) —
person includes —
(a) if the person is a member of, or otherwise concerned in the management of, a firm that holds a licence — the firm; and
(b) if the person is a director of, or otherwise concerned in the management of, a body corporate that holds a licence — the body corporate.
(1) The Director may allege to the State Administrative Tribunal that there is proper cause for disciplinary action, as mentioned in regulation 46(1), against the holder of a licence.
(2) If, in a proceeding commenced by an allegation under this regulation against the holder of a licence, the State Administrative Tribunal is of the opinion that there is proper cause for disciplinary action, the Tribunal may do one or more of the following —
(a) by order cancel the licence held by that person;
(b) by order suspend the licence held by that person for a period, not exceeding 12 months, that is specified in the order;
(c) by order impose any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by the licence held by that person or vary any restriction or condition to which the licence is already subject;
(d) by order require that person to complete successfully a specified educational or training course of study;
(e) by order require that person to undergo a specified theoretical or practical assessment, examination or trade test;
(f) censure that person;
(g) recommend to the Director, where an offence is disclosed, that proceedings be instituted against that person in respect of that offence.
(3) Where any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by a licence is imposed or varied under subregulation (2)(c), the Board may order the return of the licence document for endorsement and may endorse the licence document accordingly.
[Regulation 47 inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6995; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6516‑17.]
47A. Alternative to seeking disciplinary action under r. 47
(1) Instead of making an allegation to the State Administrative Tribunal under regulation 47, if the Director —
(a) is satisfied that the matter may be disposed of satisfactorily without cancelling or suspending the licence of the person; and
(b) has afforded to the person concerned the opportunity of giving an explanation to the Director either in person or in writing and has not been offered an explanation or is not satisfied by any explanation offered; and
(c) has afforded to the person concerned the option of the matter proceeding before the Tribunal and that option has not been taken up,
the Director may do one or more of the following —
(d) by order impose any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by the licence held by that person or vary any restriction or condition to which the licence is already subject;
(e) by order require that person to complete successfully a specified educational or training course of study;
(f) by order require that person to undergo a specified theoretical or practical assessment, examination or trade test;
(g) censure that person;
(h) where an offence is disclosed — institute proceedings against that person in respect of that offence.
(1a) In subregulation (1)(a), (d), (g) and (h) —
person includes —
(a) if the person is a member of, or otherwise concerned in the management of, a firm that holds a licence — the firm; and
(b) if the person is a director of, or otherwise concerned in the management of, a body corporate that holds a licence — the body corporate.
(2) Before deciding whether a matter may be disposed of satisfactorily without cancelling or suspending the licence of the person, the Director may request the Board to give the Director advice on that matter and the Board is to comply with that request.
(3) If a person chooses to give the Director an explanation referred to in subregulation (1)(b) in person, the explanation may be given that way by —
(a) the person; or
(b) a legal practitioner or other representative of the person.
(4) An order under subregulation (1)(d), (e) or (f) has effect according to its tenor.
(5) Where any restriction or condition on the authority conferred by a licence is imposed or varied under subregulation (1)(d), the Board may order the return of the licence document for endorsement and may endorse the licence document accordingly.
(6) An order made by the Director under this regulation is to be reduced to writing signed by the Director and a copy of the order given to the person against whom it is made.
[Regulation 47A inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6995‑6; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6517.]
47B. Suspension, effect and revocation of
(1) During any period for which an electrical contractor’s licence is suspended under these regulations, the holder is not authorised to carry on business as an electrical contractor under the licence except that, where a suspension is expressed to be of a limited nature, the authority conferred by the licence is affected only to the extent specified.
(2) Subject to subregulation (3), the Board may, by order in writing sent to the holder of a suspended electrical contractor’s licence at the holder’s last known address, revoke the suspension of the licence either wholly or to the limited extent specified in the order, and the revocation has effect according to its tenor from the date specified in the order.
(3) The Board cannot to any extent revoke a suspension that was imposed by an order of the State Administrative Tribunal unless it has applied for, and obtained, the approval of the State Administrative Tribunal to do so.
[Regulation 47B inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6517‑18.]
47C. Nominees to be notified of cancellation or suspension of licence
If a person’s electrical contractor’s licence or in‑house electrical installing work licence is cancelled or suspended under these regulations, the person must, as soon as is practicable after becoming aware of the cancellation or suspension, give written notice of the cancellation or suspension to each person who was, immediately before the cancellation or suspension, a nominee in respect of the licence.
[Regulation 47C inserted: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2296.]
Part 5 — Regulation of electrical work
Division 1 — General regulation of electrical work
[Heading inserted: Gazette 14 Nov 2017 p. 5599.]
[48. Deleted: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4415.]
49. Requirements for electrical work
(1) Subject to subregulations (2a) and (2B), a person shall carry out electrical work in accordance with the requirements of —
(a) the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and
(b) the WA Electrical Requirements issued by the Director in August 2021 and published in the Gazette on 6 April 2022 at page 2541; and
(c) the standards specified in Schedule 2; and
(d) the Code of Practice for Persons Working on or Near Energised Electrical Installations issued by the Director in November 2017 and published in the Gazette on 1 December 2017 at pages 5801 to 5812, as corrected in the Gazette of 6 April 2018 at page 1217.
[(2) deleted]
(2a) The Director may, in relation to electrical work to be carried out on an electrical installation of a consumer —
(a) vary the requirements referred to in subregulation (1); or
(b) specify that one or more of those requirements do not apply; or
(c) specify that one or more requirements apply in addition to those requirements,
and, for the purposes of subregulation (1), those requirements have effect accordingly.
(2B) A standard or an amendment published by Standards Australia to a standard referred to in subregulation (1)(a) or (c) does not have effect for the purposes of that subregulation until —
(a) a day declared by the Director by notice published in the Gazette; or
(b) if no day is declared —
(i) the day, if any, specified in the standard or the amendment to the standard as the day on which the standard, or the amendment, comes into effect (the commencement day); or
(ii) if there is no commencement day specified in the standard or the amendment to the standard — until 6 months after the day on which the standard, or the amendment, is published by Standards Australia.
(2) If a code or standard referred to in subregulation (1)(a) or (c) is inconsistent with the W A Electrical Requirements, the W A Electrical Requirements prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
(3) A person who employs an electrical worker shall not cause or permit the electrical worker to carry out electrical work contrary to this regulation.
[Regulation 49 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7135; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4415‑16; 24 Mar 2000 p. 1640; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6518‑19; 30 Jun 2009 p. 2623; 17 May 2011 p. 1815; 13 Apr 2012 p. 1652‑3; 2 May 2017 p. 2296‑7; 14 Nov 2017 p. 5599; 7 Jun 2018 p. 1816; SL 2022/36 r. 14; SL 2023/30 r. 4.]
49A. Electrical installation designers, duties of
A person who designs an electrical installation is to ensure that —
(a) the electrical installation is designed to be safe and to comply with any relevant requirement referred to in regulation 49(1); and
(b) if the person gives the design to another person who is to give effect to it, the design is accompanied by information about the way the electrical installation is to be installed to ensure the installation is safe.
[Regulation 49A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6520.]
49B. Electrical work to be carried out to safe standard and completed to trade finish
(1) To the extent practicable and reasonable, a person is to ensure that when electrical work has been carried out by him or her —
(a) the thing on which the work was performed is safe to use; and
(b) the work has been completed to a trade finish.
(2) Subregulation (1)(a) is taken to be complied with if the electrical work has been carried out in accordance with the requirements referred to in regulation 49(1).
[Regulation 49B inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6520; amended: Gazette 17 May 2011 p. 1815.]
49C. Supervision of electrical work: interpretation
(1) In regulations 49D, 50 and 50AA —
supervising electrical worker has the meaning given in regulation 50(3).
(2) For the purposes of regulations 49D and 50, a person carries out electrical work near a part of an electrical installation if, in carrying out the work, the person may make contact, directly or indirectly (including with a thing used or controlled by the person), with a part of the electrical installation.
(3) For the purposes of regulations 49D and 50, if an electrical installation is connected to a supply of electricity, each part of the installation is taken to be energised unless it is de‑energised.
[Regulation 49C inserted: Gazette 7 Jun 2018 p. 1816‑17.]
49D. Supervision of electrical work: levels of supervision
(1) For the purposes of regulation 50, there are 3 levels of supervision —
(a) broad supervision; and
(b) general supervision; and
(c) direct supervision.
(2) A supervising electrical worker provides broad supervision of the electrical work of a supervised worker if the supervising electrical worker —
(a) visits the supervised worker at the place where the electrical work is being carried out, at least once per day; and
(b) before the electrical work commences, provides instruction and direction, as required, regarding the electrical work; and
(c) while the electrical work is being carried out —
(i) is readily available or contactable to provide advice and guidance; and
(ii) checks, as required, that the work complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish;
and
(d) when the electrical work is complete, checks and tests the work to ensure that the work is safe, complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish.
(3) A supervising electrical worker provides general supervision of the electrical work of a supervised worker if the supervising electrical worker —
(a) is present at the place where the electrical work is being carried out, at all times while the work is being carried out; and
(b) while the electrical work is being carried out —
(i) provides instruction and direction, as required; and
(ii) is readily available to provide advice and guidance; and
(iii) periodically monitors the work; and
(iv) checks, as required, that the work complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish;
and
(c) when the electrical work is complete, checks and tests the work to ensure that the work is safe, complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish.
(4) A supervising electrical worker provides direct supervision of the electrical work of a supervised worker if the supervising electrical worker —
(a) is, as far as is practicable, present in the immediate work area at all times while the electrical work is being carried out such that the supervised worker and their work can be observed by the supervising electrical worker, and both workers are able to communicate directly; and
(b) for electrical work carried out on or near an energised part of an electrical installation, is in close proximity to the supervised worker at all times while the work is being carried out; and
(c) while the electrical work is being carried out —
(i) provides instruction and demonstrates the correct procedures for carrying out the work; and
(ii) monitors the work; and
(iii) provides guidance and checks, as required; and
(iv) checks, as required, that the work complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish;
and
(d) when the electrical work is complete, checks and tests the work to ensure that the work is safe, complies with these regulations and is carried out to a trade finish.
[Regulation 49D inserted: Gazette 7 Jun 2018 p. 1817‑19.]
50. Supervision of electrical work: requirements
(1) Subject to subregulation (2), for the purposes of preventing danger to life and property all electrical work carried out shall be effectively supervised.
(2) Electrical work is not required to be supervised if the person carrying out the electrical work is authorised by a licence or permit to carry out the electrical work in question without supervision or if the person carrying out the electrical work is not required under these regulations to be authorised by a licence or permit to carry it out.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a person employing an electrical worker must —
(a) ensure, as far as is practicable, that the electrical work of the worker is supervised by a person (the supervising electrical worker) who —
(i) is authorised by a licence or permit to carry out the work without supervision; and
(ii) has appropriate technical knowledge of and experience in carrying out the work;
and
(b) have regard to the type of electrical work to be carried out by the supervised worker, especially whether the work will be carried out on or near a part of an electrical installation that is connected to a supply of electricity; and
(c) have regard to the location and general circumstances in which the electrical work is to be carried out; and
(d) have regard to the level of competence of the supervised worker; and
(e) have regard to the ability of the person who is to provide the supervision to provide appropriate supervision; and
(f) ensure, as far as is practicable, that the supervising electrical worker determines, on an ongoing basis, the appropriate level of supervision for the electrical work of the supervised worker; and
(g) subject to subregulation (6), ensure, as far as is practicable, that if the supervised worker is an apprentice the supervised worker does not carry out electrical work on or near an energised part of an electrical installation; and
(h) ensure, as far as is practicable, that the supervising electrical worker —
(i) does not supervise the electrical work of more than 2 electrical workers whose electrical work requires supervision if the electrical work of at least 1 of them requires direct supervision; and
(ii) does not, in any case, supervise the electrical work of more than 4 electrical workers whose electrical work requires supervision;
and
(i) ensure, as far as is practicable, that —
(i) the supervising electrical worker understands their responsibilities under subregulation (4); and
(ii) the supervised worker knows who their supervising electrical worker is.
(4) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a supervising electrical worker who is supervising the electrical work of an electrical worker must —
(a) have regard to the type of electrical work to be carried out by the supervised worker, especially whether the work will be carried out on or near a part of an electrical installation that is connected to a supply of electricity; and
(b) have regard to the location and general circumstances in which the electrical work is being carried out; and
(c) have regard to the level of competence of the supervised worker; and
(d) determine the appropriate level of supervision for the various tasks that make up the electrical work of the supervised worker; and
(e) provide supervision of the electrical work of the supervised worker of at least the level determined under paragraph (d); and
(f) subject to subregulation (6), ensure that if the supervised worker is an apprentice the supervised worker does not carry out electrical work on or near an energised part of an electrical installation; and
(g) ensure, as far as is practicable, that the supervised worker —
(i) knows who their supervising electrical worker is; and
(ii) knows which level of supervision applies to their electrical work; and
(iii) understands that, in relation to carrying out electrical work, they are not to take instructions from anyone other than their supervising electrical worker.
(5) An electrical worker who is an apprentice or who is undergoing a course of training may refuse to carry out any electrical work that, having regard to the supervision under which it is being carried out, the electrical worker reasonably considers to be electrical work —
(a) that he or she is not competent to carry out; or
(b) that would, or would likely, endanger him or her or another person.
(6) For the purposes of subregulations (3)(g) and (4)(f), a supervised worker who is an apprentice may carry out electrical work on or near an energised part of an electrical installation in the final year of their apprenticeship if —
(a) the work is limited to fault finding or testing; and
(b) the supervising electrical worker is satisfied that the supervised worker is sufficiently competent to carry out the work safely; and
(c) the supervising electrical worker provides direct supervision of the electrical work of the supervised worker.
(7) In subregulation (3), the reference to a person employing an electrical worker includes a reference to a person employing an electrical worker in training (as defined in regulation 50AA(1)).
[Regulation 50 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4416; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6521; 7 Jun 2018 p. 1819‑23.]
50AA. Supervision of electrical work: informing employer and supervisor of experience of apprentice or trainee
agent —
(a) means a person who carries on a business of providing workers to carry out work for clients of the person; and
(b) includes a group training organisation as defined in the Industrial Relations Act 1979 section 7(1);
electrical worker in training means an electrical worker who is an apprentice or who is undergoing a course of training;
employer of an electrical worker in training includes an agent who, under a labour hire arrangement, makes the services of the worker available;
labour hire arrangement has the meaning given in subregulation (1A);
person employing an electrical worker in training includes a person who, by arrangement with the employer of an electrical worker in training, is making use of the services of the electrical worker, whether or not the arrangement is principally for the purpose of training the electrical worker.
(1A) A labour hire arrangement exists if —
(a) an agent has for remuneration agreed with a client to provide an electrical worker to carry out electrical work for the client; and
(b) there is no contract of employment between the electrical worker and the client in relation to the electrical work; and
(c) there is an agreement (which may be a contract of employment) between the electrical worker and the agent as to the carrying out of electrical work including in respect of remuneration and other entitlements; and
(d) that agreement applies to the carrying out of the electrical work by the electrical worker for the client.
(2) A person employing an electrical worker in training must ensure that, before the electrical worker carries out any electrical work, the person and the supervising electrical worker are informed of the experience and level of competence of the electrical worker in training in carrying out electrical work.
(3) A supervising electrical worker must ensure that, before an electrical worker in training carries out any electrical work under their supervision, the supervising electrical worker is informed of the experience and level of competence of the electrical worker in training in carrying out electrical work.
[Regulation 50AA inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6522; amended: Gazette 7 Jun 2018 p. 1823; SL 2022/26 r. 10.]
50AB. Employer to be satisfied former apprentice has successfully completed training
A person (the employer) is not to employ to carry out electrical work another person (the former apprentice) —
(a) who holds an electrician’s training licence; and
(b) who purports to have completed the apprenticeship or course of training relevant to that licence,
unless the employer has taken all reasonable steps to be satisfied that the former apprentice has successfully completed the apprenticeship or course of training and has applied for an electrician’s licence.
[Regulation 50AB inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6523.]
50A. Licence holder not to cause or permit unsafe wiring or equipment to be connected to electrical installation
(1) A person who holds a licence who causes or permits any wiring or equipment that is in an unsafe condition to be connected, or to remain connected, to an electrical installation or a supply of electricity commits an offence.
(2) It is a defence in proceedings for an offence under subregulation (1) for the person charged to prove that —
(a) the person did not carry out the electrical work concerned; and
(b) as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the wiring or equipment was in an unsafe condition the person took reasonable steps to try to have it disconnected or repaired; and
(c) the owner or occupier of the premises where the wiring or equipment is located would not permit it to be disconnected or repaired.
[Regulation 50A inserted: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4416; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6523‑4.]
51. Notifiable work, preliminary notice of to be given to network operator
(1) Subject to subregulation (2) and regulations 52BA and 52BB, an electrical contractor who carries out any notifiable work, or causes any notifiable work to be carried out, commits an offence unless a preliminary notice of the proposed notifiable work, in a form approved by the Director and duly completed, is prepared by the electrical contractor or a person authorised by the electrical contractor and delivered to the relevant network operator at the required time.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to notifiable work —
(a) carried out, or caused to be carried out, because of emergency circumstances involving danger to any person or property or the risk of supply being disrupted; or
(b) carried out, or caused to be carried out, by an electrical contractor exempted in writing by the Director from the requirement to deliver a preliminary notice, subject to any conditions that are imposed in respect of the exemption; or
(c) carried out, or caused to be carried out, on a main switchboard or on consumers mains if the work does not require —
(i) an alteration to service apparatus or transmission or distribution works; or
(ii) disconnection from, or connection to, transmission or distribution works; or
(iii) isolation from transmission or distribution works (by means of switching or the removal of fuses or links) to allow the work to be carried out safely;
or
(d) that consists of the addition or removal of control or protective gear; or
(e) that consists of the disconnection of a final sub‑circuit from, or the removal of, a private generating plant with a capacity not exceeding 25 kW.
(3) In this regulation —
consumers mains has the meaning given in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules clause 1.4.37;
control or protective gear includes residual current devices, voltage surge suppression devices, indicating and recording instruments, indicating lamps, data‑loggers and associated wiring;
required time, in relation to delivering a preliminary notice of proposed notifiable work, means —
(a) at least 3 working days before the proposed notifiable work is begun, if the electrical contractor requires advice from the relevant network operator in relation to the proposed notifiable work before it is begun; or
(b) at any time before the proposed notifiable work is begun, if the electrical contractor does not require such advice.
[Regulation 51 inserted: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4417; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6524 and 6539; 17 May 2011 p. 1815‑17; 2 May 2017 p. 2297 and 2302; 2 Oct 2018 p. 3793; 8 Jan 2019 p. 11.]
52. Notifiable work, notice of completion of to be given to network operator
(1) Subject to subregulation (2) and (2AA) and regulations 52BA and 52BB, an electrical contractor who carries out any notifiable work, or causes any notifiable work to be carried out, commits an offence unless, within the period of 3 days after the completion of the notifiable work, a notice of completion, in a form approved by the Director and duly completed, is prepared by the electrical contractor in respect of the notifiable work and delivered to the relevant network operator.
(1a) An electrical contractor who fails to keep a copy of the notice of completion for the period of 5 years after the completion of the notifiable work commits an offence.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to notifiable work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by an electrical contractor exempted in writing by the Director from the requirement to prepare and deliver a notice of completion, subject to any conditions that are imposed in respect of the exemption.
(2AA) Subregulation (1) does not apply to notifiable work carried out at a mine if —
(a) the work does not involve an initial connection to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant; and
(b) the work does not —
(i) require an alteration to a main switchboard; or
(ii) require an alteration to service apparatus or transmission or distribution works; or
(iii) consist of the installation or removal of a private generating plant; or
(iv) alter the capacity of a private generating plant;
and
(c) the electrical contractor who carries out the work, or causes it to be carried out, makes a record of the work in a form approved by the Director.
(2AB) An electrical contractor commits an offence if the electrical contractor makes a record for the purposes of subregulation (2AA)(c) that the electrical contractor knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading.
(2AC) The principal employer, as defined in the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 section 4(1), at a mine commits an offence if the principal employer fails to ensure that each record made for the purposes of subregulation (2AA)(c) in respect of notifiable work carried out at the mine —
(a) contains a declaration, signed or executed by the electrical contractor making the record, that the notifiable work to which the record applies has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with these regulations; and
(b) is kept at the mine until the mine closes or otherwise ceases to operate.
(2B) A notice of completion is to contain a declaration, signed or executed by the electrical contractor who prepared the notice of completion —
(a) that the notifiable work to which the notice applies has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with these regulations; or
(b) if subregulation (2C) applies — that the whole of the electrical installation has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with these regulations.
(2C) This subregulation applies if the notifiable work to which the notice of completion applies —
(a) is carried out to connect a transportable structure, or to make a transportable structure ready for connection, to a supply of electricity; and
(b) is carried out after the transportable structure is moved to the site at which it is to be connected to the supply of electricity.
(2D) The electrical contractor must, in relation to a declaration referred to in subregulation (2B) —
(a) make a record of each test, inspection and verification carried out in accordance with the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules that was performed on the electrical installation and the results of the tests; and
(b) must keep the record for the period of 5 years after the completion of the notifiable work.
(3) An electrical contractor who delivers a notice of completion to the relevant network operator in respect of notifiable work that has not been completed in accordance with regulations 49 and 49B commits an offence.
(4) For the purposes of subregulations (1) and (1a), notifiable work is taken to be completed if the electrical installation on which the work was carried out —
(a) is in use; or
(b) is connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant or can be connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant without the use of tools; or
(c) is ready for connection to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant.
(5) If notifiable work is carried out, or caused to be carried out, by more than one electrical contractor —
(a) each electrical contractor must comply with subregulation (1) in respect of the portion of the work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by that electrical contractor; and
(b) each notice of completion delivered under subregulation (1) must describe the portion of the work to which it relates; and
(c) for the purposes of subregulations (1) and (1a), in respect of each electrical contractor, the work is taken to be completed when the portion of the work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by that electrical contractor —
(i) is in use; or
(ii) is connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant or can be connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant without the use of tools; or
(iii) is ready for connection to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant.
[Regulation 52 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4417‑18; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6524‑5 and 6539; 17 May 2011 p. 1817‑19; 13 Apr 2012 p. 1653; 2 May 2017 p. 2297‑8 and 2302; 8 Jan 2019 p. 11‑12.]
52A. Notices under r. 51 and 52, delivery of
notice of completion means a notice of completion under regulation 52;
preliminary notice means a preliminary notice under regulation 51.
(2) Without limiting the Interpretation Act 1984 sections 75 and 76, a preliminary notice or a notice of completion may be delivered to the relevant network operator —
(a) by facsimile transmission to a facsimile number provided by the network operator; or
(b) by a means of electronic communication approved by the Director.
(3) If a notice is delivered under subregulation (2)(a) or (b) by, or on behalf of, an electrical contractor, the notice is to be regarded as having been signed or executed by the electrical contractor if the electrical contractor’s name appears in the appropriate place in the notice.
[(4) deleted]
(5) A person commits an offence if the person delivers a preliminary notice or a notice of completion that the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading.
(6) An electrical contractor commits an offence if the electrical contractor delivers a notice of completion for notifiable work that was not carried out, or caused to be carried out, by or under the direction of the electrical contractor.
[Regulation 52A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6526; amended: Gazette 17 May 2011 p. 1819; 2 May 2017 p. 2298; 8 Jan 2019 p. 12.]
52B. Electrical safety certificates, issue of for electrical installing work
(1) Subject to subregulations (3) and (5) and regulations 52BA and 52BB, an electrical contractor who carries out any electrical installing work, or causes any electrical installing work to be carried out, commits an offence unless, within the period of 28 days after the completion of the electrical installing work, an electrical safety certificate, in a form approved by the Director and duly completed, is prepared by the electrical contractor in respect of the electrical installing work and delivered to the person for whom the work was carried out.
(2) An electrical contractor who fails to keep a copy of the electrical safety certificate for the period of 5 years after the completion of the electrical installing work commits an offence.
(2A) For the purposes of subregulations (1), (2), (4)(d) and (8), electrical installing work is taken to be completed if the electrical installation on which the work was carried out —
(a) is in use; or
(b) is connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant or can be connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant without the use of tools; or
(c) is ready for connection to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant.
(3) Subregulation (1) does not apply to —
(a) maintenance work; or
(b) in‑house electrical installing work carried out under the authority of an in‑house electrical installing work licence; or
(c) electrical installing work that is carried out at a mine if the electrical contractor makes a record of the work in a form approved by the Director; or
(d) electrical installing work that is associated with the installation of a temporary builders supply; or
(e) electrical installing work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by an electrical contractor exempted in writing by the Director from the requirement to prepare and deliver an electrical safety certificate, subject to any conditions that are imposed in respect of the exemption.
(4A) In subregulation (3)(d) —
temporary builders supply means a self‑contained switchboard that —
(a) is mounted on a pole or stand; and
(b) is relocatable; and
(c) is connected to a single phase supply; and
(d) has no sub‑mains connected; and
(e) consists of a meter, a service protective device, a residual current device and socket outlets for electrical appliances used for building purposes.
(4B) An electrical contractor commits an offence if the electrical contractor makes a record for the purposes of subregulation (3)(c) that the electrical contractor knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading.
(4C) The principal employer, as defined in the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 section 4(1), at a mine commits an offence if the principal employer fails to ensure that each record made for the purposes of subregulation (3)(c) in respect of electrical installing work carried out at the mine —
(a) contains a declaration, signed or executed by the electrical contractor making the record, that the electrical installing work to which the record applies has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with these regulations; and
(b) is kept at the mine until the mine closes or otherwise ceases to operate.
(4) An electrical safety certificate is not duly completed unless —
(a) it is completed by the relevant electrical contractor or, if subregulation (5) applies, by the electrical worker; and
(b) it is given an identifying number that is not given to any other electrical safety certificate given by or on behalf of the electrical contractor; and
(c) it states the number of the electrical contractor’s licence and, if subregulation (5) applies, the number of the electrical worker’s licence or permit; and
(d) it describes clearly and accurately the electrical installing work to which it applies and states the address where that work was carried out and the date on which that work was completed; and
(e) it certifies that the electrical installing work to which it applies has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with these regulations; and
(f) it is signed or executed by the electrical contractor or, if subregulation (5) applies, it is signed by the electrical worker.
(5) A licensed electrical worker who —
(a) is an employee of an electrical contractor; and
(b) is given written authority, in a form approved by the Director, by the electrical contractor,
may complete an electrical safety certificate on behalf of the electrical contractor.
(6) If requested to do so by the person for whom the electrical installing work is carried out, a person authorised under subregulation (5) is to produce his or her authority to complete the electrical safety certificate.
(7) A person commits an offence if the person delivers an electrical safety certificate that the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading.
(8) A person commits an offence if the person delivers an electrical safety certificate in respect of electrical installing work that —
(a) has not been completed; or
(b) is unsafe or does not comply with these regulations.
(9) A person commits an offence if the person signs or executes an electrical safety certificate in respect of electrical installing work and the person is not —
(a) the electrical contractor who carried out the work or caused the work to be carried out; or
(b) a licensed electrical worker authorised under subregulation (5) to complete the electrical safety certificate on behalf of the electrical contractor.
(10) It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against subregulation (9)(b) for a licensed electrical worker charged to prove that, at the time of signing or executing the electrical safety certificate, the licensed electrical worker believed on reasonable grounds that —
(a) the electrical installing work was carried out under the authority of an electrical contractor’s licence; and
(b) the licensed electrical worker was authorised under subregulation (5) to complete the electrical safety certificate on behalf of the electrical contractor.
[Regulation 52B inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6527‑8; amended: Gazette 17 May 2011 p. 1820‑1; 2 May 2017 p. 2298‑300; 8 Jan 2019 p. 12.]
52BA. Transportable structures: when compliance with regulations 51, 52 and 52B not required
(1) Subregulation (2) applies if an electrical contractor carries out electrical installing work, or causes electrical installing work to be carried out, in respect of a transportable structure that is at a site for the purposes of its construction or for otherwise preparing it to be moved to another site at which it will be connected to a supply of electricity.
(2) If this subregulation applies, the electrical contractor is not required to comply with regulation 51, 52 or 52B in respect of the electrical installing work.
(3) Nothing in this regulation limits an electrical contractor’s obligation to comply with these regulations in relation to electrical installing work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by the electrical contractor in respect of a transportable structure at a site at which the structure is, or is intended to be, connected to a supply of electricity.
[Regulation 52BA inserted: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2300.]
52BB. Notifiable work: modified procedure available for certain construction projects
(1) In this regulation, and regulations 52BC to 52BE —
construction project means building work that —
(a) is expected to be carried out over the course of 12 months or more; and
(b) includes notifiable work that alone or together with other notifiable work —
(i) will result in an electrical installation with a calculated maximum demand, or a name plate maximum output, of at least 1 MVA or 1 MW respectively; or
(ii) will increase the calculated maximum demand, or the name plate maximum output, of an existing electrical installation by at least 1 MVA or 1 MW respectively;
default procedure, in relation to notifiable work, means the requirements of regulations 51, 52 and 52B in relation to the notifiable work and any other electrical installing work carried out in connection with the notifiable work;
modified procedure means the modified procedure referred to in subregulation (2);
notifiable work of an electrical contractor means notifiable work that the electrical contractor carries out or causes to be carried out;
revenue meter means a meter used to measure the supply of electricity by a network operator.
(2) An electrical contractor may use the modified procedure under subregulations (4) to (6) in relation to notifiable work of the electrical contractor if —
(a) the work is part of a construction project; and
(b) the work, together with other notifiable work of the electrical contractor that is part of the construction project, would be expected to require at least 20 notices of completion but for the use of the modified procedure; and
(c) the electrical contractor advises the relevant network operator of their intention to use the modified procedure in relation to all of the notifiable work of the electrical contractor that is part of the construction project (the notifiable work), before the notifiable work is begun.
(3) The electrical contractor need not comply with the default procedure in relation to the notifiable work while using the modified procedure in relation to the notifiable work.
(4) The modified procedure, subject to subregulations (5) and (6), is that the electrical contractor —
(a) must, in accordance with regulation 51, deliver to the relevant network operator a preliminary notice in respect of the notifiable work; and
(b) must, in accordance with regulation 52BC, keep a record of all electrical installing work carried out as part of or in connection with the notifiable work; and
(c) for each revenue meter installed as part of the notifiable work, must, in accordance with regulation 52, deliver to the relevant network operator a notice of completion in respect of the installation of the meter; and
(d) must, in accordance with regulation 52, deliver to the relevant network operator a notice of completion in respect of the installation of the main switchboard, before any part of the main switchboard is connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant; and
(e) must, in accordance with regulation 52, deliver to the relevant network operator a notice of completion in respect of the notifiable work, after the completion of the last of the notifiable work.
(5) If the notifiable work involves the use of a temporary supply, the electrical contractor —
(a) must, in accordance with regulation 52, deliver to the relevant network operator a notice of completion in respect of the installation of the temporary supply, before the temporary supply is connected to transmission or distribution works or a private generating plant; and
(b) need not deliver the notice of completion referred to in subregulation (4)(d).
(6) If the construction project is to be completed in stages, the electrical contractor —
(a) for each stage must, in accordance with regulation 51, deliver to the relevant network operator a preliminary notice in respect of all of the notifiable work of the electrical contractor that is part of the stage; and
(b) for each stage must, in accordance with regulation 52, deliver to the relevant network operator a notice of completion in respect of the notifiable work after the last of the notifiable work for the stage is completed; and
(c) need not deliver the notice referred to in subregulation (4)(a); and
(d) to the extent to which paragraph (b) has been complied with for all of the stages of the project, need not deliver the notice referred to in subregulation (4)(e).
(7) Despite subregulations (4) to (6), a requirement under any of those subregulations to deliver a notice in accordance with regulation 51 or 52 in respect of notifiable work does not have effect in relation to the notifiable work if the regulation provides that the notice is not required to be delivered in respect of the notifiable work.
[Regulation 52BB inserted: Gazette 8 Jan 2019 p. 12‑15.]
52BC. Modified procedure: record of electrical installing work
(1) The record to be kept under regulation 52BB(4)(b) by the electrical contractor must include the following —
(a) a concise description of the work carried out;
(b) the date on which the work was completed;
(c) the name and licence number of each electrical worker who carried out the work;
(d) certification by the electrical contractor that the work has been checked and tested and is safe and complies with the requirements of these regulations.
(2) The record must be —
(a) in an electronic form approved by the Director; and
(b) updated weekly; and
(c) kept on site; and
(d) produced on demand by an inspector; and
(e) retained for a period of 5 years after completion of the construction project.
(3) Subregulation (4) applies to an electrical contractor if the Director is satisfied that —
(a) the electrical contractor —
(i) has failed to comply with an obligation under regulation 52BB(4) to (6); or
(ii) has made a record under regulation 52BB(4)(b) that the electrical contractor knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading in a material particular;
and
(b) in the case of a failure described in paragraph (a)(i), the failure is either not minor or has been repeated.
(4) If this subregulation applies to an electrical contractor, the Director may, by written order, direct the electrical contractor to do one or more of the following —
(a) cease, on the day specified in the order, using the modified procedure in relation to the notifiable work;
(b) remedy any failure to comply with an obligation under regulation 52BB(4) to (6).
(5) An electrical contractor given an order under subregulation (4) must comply with the order.
[Regulation 52BC inserted: Gazette 8 Jan 2019 p. 15‑16.]
52BD. Modified procedure: notice requirements
(1) An electrical contractor who decides to use the modified procedure in relation to notifiable work —
(a) may advise the relevant network operator of their intention to use the procedure in the preliminary notice of proposed notifiable work delivered under regulation 52BB(4)(a) or the first such notice delivered under regulation 52BB(6)(a) (whichever is relevant); and
(b) may decide to cease using the modified procedure in relation to any further notifiable work to be carried out as part of the construction project.
(2) If an electrical contractor decides to cease using the modified procedure, the electrical contractor must give written notice to the relevant network operator of their intention to cease, on the day specified in the notice, using the modified procedure.
(3) If an electrical contractor is required to cease using the modified procedure by order under regulation 52BC(4), the electrical contractor must give written notice to the relevant network operator of the requirement and the day specified in the order.
[Regulation 52BD inserted: Gazette 8 Jan 2019 p. 16.]
52BE. Modified procedure: opting in and ceasing
(1) An electrical contractor may use the modified procedure in relation to notifiable work of the electrical contractor that is part of a construction project that has already commenced if —
(a) the electrical contractor could have done so at the beginning of the project; and
(b) the project is unlikely to be completed within the next 6 months; and
(c) the electrical contractor has not previously used the modified procedure in relation to the construction project.
(2) If an electrical contractor may, under subregulation (1), use the modified procedure in relation to notifiable work and the electrical contractor and the relevant network operator have agreed to a changeover day, then on the changeover day, regulations 52BB to 52BD (with the necessary modifications) commence to apply to the electrical contractor in relation to the notifiable work.
[Regulation 52BE inserted: Gazette 8 Jan 2019 p. 16‑17.]
52C. Electrical contractor’s duties as to electrical installing work
(1) An electrical contractor who carries out electrical installing work, or causes electrical installing work to be carried out, must ensure that —
(a) any electrician employed or engaged by the electrical contractor to carry out any of the electrical installing work —
(i) has had appropriate training; and
(ii) holds a current licence; and
(iii) is competent to carry out the work;
and
(b) when the electrical installing work is completed —
(i) it is checked and tested; and
(ii) the electrical installation is safe to use;
and
(c) the electrical installing work is completed to a trade finish.
(2) This regulation does not limit the application of regulation 49B to an electrician who is employed or engaged by an electrical contractor to carry out electrical installing work.
[Regulation 52C inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6528‑9; amended: Gazette 13 Apr 2012 p. 1653‑4.]
53. Electrical installing work other than by electrical contractors etc., unlicensed persons not to be employed, engaged etc.
(1) A person referred to in regulation 33(2)(a) who carries out electrical installing work or causes a person employed by him or her to carry out any electrical installing work and any person who is a nominated person under regulation 37(1)(a) shall comply with regulations 51, 52, 52B, 52BA and 52C as if he or she were an electrical contractor except to the extent that he or she is exempted in writing by the Director from the requirement to so comply and subject to such conditions as are imposed in respect of such exemption.
(2) A person shall not employ, engage or instruct a person who is not licensed under these regulations to carry out any electrical work in relation to which a licence is required under these regulations.
[(3), (4) deleted]
[Regulation 53 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6529; 2 May 2017 p. 2300; SL 2022/36 r. 15.]
53A. Further inspection fee, when payable
(1) Subject to subregulation (2), where —
(a) on receipt of a notice of completion under regulation 52; or
(b) a notice of completion is not received in relation to electrical work that requires a notice of completion,
an inspector is of the opinion that —
(c) an installation fails to conform to regulation 49; and
(d) by virtue of that failure an installation requires a further inspection,
the fee prescribed in item 8 of Schedule 1 is payable by the electrical contractor to the relevant network operator in relation to each further inspection related to that failure.
(2) The network operator may waive the payment of the fee prescribed under subregulation (1) or may require payment of the fee in advance of each further inspection.
[Regulation 53A inserted: Gazette 24 Apr 1992 p. 1729; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6539; SL 2024/96 r. 21.]
54. Notices of completion and certain records, signing of
(1) Where a notice of completion that is delivered under regulation 52 in respect of electrical installing work is signed by a person other than —
(a) the electrical contractor concerned; or
(b) a nominee in respect of the licence held by the electrical contractor concerned; or
(c) the nominee under regulation 37(1); or
(d) the person carrying out the work approved by the Board under regulation 33(2)(a),
the person who signed the notice commits an offence and the notice shall be deemed not to have been duly completed.
(1A) It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against subregulation (1) for a licensed electrical worker charged to prove that, at the time the licensed electrical worker signed the notice of completion, the licensed electrical worker believed on reasonable grounds that —
(a) the electrical installing work was carried out under the authority of an electrical contractor’s licence held by the electrical contractor concerned; and
(b) the licensed electrical worker was a nominee in respect of the licence held by the electrical contractor concerned.
(1B) An electrical contractor whose electrical contractor’s licence is cancelled or suspended under these regulations commits an offence if the electrical contractor causes or permits a person who was, immediately before the licence was suspended or cancelled, a nominee in respect of the licence to sign a notice of completion that is delivered under regulation 52 in respect of electrical installing work carried out, or caused to be carried out, by the electrical contractor.
(1C) For the purposes of subregulation (1B), an electrical contractor is taken to have caused or permitted a person to sign a notice of completion if, at the time the person signed the notice of completion, the electrical contractor had failed to notify the person under regulation 47C of the cancellation or suspension of the electrical contractor’s licence.
(2) Where an exemption under regulation 53(1) is granted subject to a condition that any electrical installing work carried out by a person referred to in regulation 33(2)(a) or 37(1)(a) be recorded and the record is signed by a person other than —
(a) the nominee under regulation 37(1); or
(b) the person carrying out the work approved by the Board under regulation 33(2)(a),
the person who signed the record commits an offence and the record shall be deemed not to have been duly completed.
[Regulation 54 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6538; 17 May 2011 p. 1822; 2 May 2017 p. 2300‑1.]
Division 2 — Regulation of electrical work on energised electrical installations
[Heading inserted: Gazette 14 Nov 2017 p. 5599.]
54A. Interpretation
(1) In this Division —
competent person has the meaning given in the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 regulation 5;
risk assessment, in relation to electrical work to be carried out on or near an energised part of an electrical installation, means the process of —
(a) identifying the electrical hazards to which a person carrying out the work is likely to be exposed; and
(b) assessing the risk of injury or harm, resulting from those hazards, to the person who will carry out the work.
(2) For the purposes of this Division, a person carries out electrical work near an energised part of an electrical installation if, in carrying out the work, the person may make contact, directly or indirectly (including with a thing used or controlled by the person), with an uninsulated energised part of the electrical installation.
(3) For the purposes of this Division —
(a) if an electrical installation is connected to a supply of electricity, each part of the installation is taken to be energised unless it is de‑energised; and
(b) the neutral for a part of an electrical installation is taken to be de‑energised if the part is de‑energised.
[Regulation 54A inserted: Gazette 14 Nov 2017 p. 5599‑600; amended: Gazette 7 Jun 2018 p. 1824; SL 2022/26 r. 11.]
54B. Application of regulation 55 in relation to certain network operators
(1) Regulation 55 does not apply to electrical work carried out on or near the service apparatus of a major network operator if the work is carried out by or on behalf of the network operator.
(2) Regulation 55 applies in relation to the networks of the following network operators as if regulation 55(2)(b)(i) were deleted —
(a) a person who is a network operator under the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 regulation 4(1)(h);
(b) an exempt operator who is exempt under the Electricity Industry Exemption Order 2005 clause 13 or 17.
[Regulation 54B inserted: Gazette 14 Nov 2017 p. 5600.]
55. Electrical work on or near energised electrical installations
(1) A person who carries out electrical work, or causes electrical work to be carried out, on or near an energised part of an electrical installation commits an offence unless the person carries out the work, or causes the work to be carried out, under subregulation (2).
(2) A person may carry out electrical work, or cause electrical work to be carried out, on or near an energised part of an electrical installation if —
(a) a risk assessment has been undertaken by a competent person who is familiar with the type of work to be carried out; and
(b) the competent person is satisfied that —
(i) there is no reasonable alternative to carrying out the work while the part of the electrical installation is energised; and
(ii) the risks identified by the risk assessment are or can be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable; and
(iii) the work can be carried out safely;
and
(c) if the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 regulation 299 does not apply to the work — a safe work method statement for the work has been prepared in accordance with regulation 299(2) and (3) of those regulations as if the work were high‑risk construction work and the place where the work is to be carried out were a construction site; and
(d) suitable safety and personal protective equipment is used by the person carrying out the work.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (2)(b)(i), there is no reasonable alternative to carrying out the work while the part of the electrical installation is energised if one of the following applies —
(a) it is necessary that the part of the installation be energised for the work to be carried out effectively;
(b) it is necessary that the part of the installation be energised because carrying out the work by alternative means would put the health or safety of one or more persons in imminent and significant danger;
(c) it is necessary that the part of the installation be energised in order to test, measure the performance of, or detect or locate faults or defects in, the installation or the part of the installation.
(4) An electrical contractor or the holder of an in‑house electrical installing work licence who carries out electrical work, or causes electrical work to be carried out, under subregulation (2) commits an offence unless they ensure, as far as is practicable, that —
(a) if the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 regulation 299 does not apply to the work —
(i) the work is carried out in accordance with the safe work method statement referred to in subregulation (2)(c); and
(ii) if the work is not carried out in accordance with the statement, the work ceases (when safe to do so) and does not resume until the safe work method statement is complied with;
and
(b) the safety and personal protective equipment referred to in subregulation (2)(d) is used properly by the person carrying out the work.
[Regulation 55 inserted: Gazette 14 Nov 2017 p. 5600‑2; amended: SL 2022/26 r. 12.]
Part 6 — Miscellaneous
56. Register of licence holders
(1) The executive officer shall open and maintain in accordance with directions given by the Board a register of persons who are holders of licences under these regulations.
(2) Where a person fails to apply for the renewal of the registration of his or her licence within 30 days of the expiry thereof the Board may direct the executive officer to erase the name of that person from the relevant register.
(3) The name of a person may be restored to the relevant register upon application by that person and payment of the prescribed fee.
(4) Before restoring the name of a person to a register under subregulation (3) the Board may require the person to satisfy the Board as to the matters referred to in regulations 22 and 24 or 36 or 37, as the case requires.
57. Employers to keep record of licence holders employed
(1) A person who employs or engages any person holding a licence under Part 3 shall maintain and keep at his or her principal place of business a record of the holder of the licence and shall keep the record for 2 years after the holder of the licence has ceased to be employed or engaged by the person.
(2) The record required by subregulation (1) in respect of a person shall be in a form satisfactory to the Board and shall include —
(a) the name and contact details of the person; and
(b) the number, type and expiry date of the registration of the licence held by the person under Part 3; and
(c) particulars of the period during which the person has been employed in the business concerned.
(3) Upon being requested by the Board, a member of the Board, or an inspector to do so, a person who is required to keep a record under subregulation (1) shall produce the record for inspection.
[Regulation 57 amended: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4418; 2 May 2017 p. 2301.]
58. Board may require holder to produce licence etc. for inspection
(1) The Board may, by notice in writing sent to the holder of a licence at his or her address last known to the Board require the licence and current certificate of registration, if issued to the holder of the licence, to be produced for inspection as specified in the notice.
(2) A person who fails to comply with a notice under subregulation (1) within the time specified in the notice commits an offence.
[Regulation 58 amended: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2301.]
59. Offences related to licensing
(1) A person who —
(a) falsifies any matter relating to an application for the issue or renewal of a licence or registration certificate or causes any matter relating to an application for the issue or renewal of a licence registration thereof to be falsified; or
(b) presents, or causes to be presented, to the Board any document or other evidence relating to the qualifications or experience of an applicant under these regulations which document or other evidence he or she knows to be forged, false, or fraudulent; or
(c) impersonates, or wrongfully represents himself or herself or another person as being, the person referred to in a document presented to the Board, or in a licence or permit; or
(d) makes, or causes to be made, a false or fraudulent statement or representation upon an inquiry held, or examination conducted, under these regulations; or
(e) gives a false testimonial to a person for the purposes of, or in connection with, an application under these regulations,
commits an offence.
(2) The application of subregulation (1) is not limited to cases where the thing done or caused to be done is for the personal advantage of the person who does that thing, or causes it to be done.
60. Replacement licence or permit document
(1) Where the Board is satisfied that a licence or permit document has been lost, defaced, mutilated, or destroyed it may, on application in writing to the Board and payment of the appropriate fee, issue to the holder a replacement for the licence or permit document.
(2) The Board may decline to issue under subregulation (1) a replacement for a licence or permit document that has been defaced or mutilated until the defaced or mutilated licence or permit document is returned to the Board.
(3) A replacement for a licence or permit issued under this regulation shall be regarded for the purposes of these regulations as if it were the original licence or permit document for which it is a replacement.
[Regulation 60 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6530; SL 2024/96 r. 22.]
61. Licence etc. to be returned to Board if suspended etc.
The person to whom a licence or permit was issued shall, upon —
(a) the suspension of the licence or permit under regulation 29(3), 31(2)(c), 38(7), 43(3), 45A(4) or 47(2)(b); or
(b) the cancellation of the licence or permit under regulation 29(3), 31(2)(a), 45A(4) or 47(2)(a); or
(c) an order by the Board under regulation 31(3), 31A(5), 47(3) or 47A(5) that the licence or permit document be returned to the Board,
forthwith return to the Board the licence or permit document.
[Regulation 61 amended: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6996‑7; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6531.]
62. Unsafe electrical installations, electrical workers to report
(1) Subject to subregulation (2), if it appears to an electrical worker carrying out electrical work on any electrical installation or electrical equipment that there is a defect in the installation or equipment that renders the installation or equipment unsafe, the electrical worker is as soon as is practicable —
(a) to report the matter to the owner or occupier of the premises where the installation or equipment is located and inform the owner or occupier that the matter is required to be reported as provided in paragraph (b); and
(b) to report the matter —
(i) to the relevant network operator; or
(ii) if the electrical worker is unable to identify the relevant network operator — to the Director.
(2) If —
(a) the electrical worker is carrying out electrical work on the unsafe electrical installation or electrical equipment on behalf of his or her employer; and
(b) the employer holds an electrical contractor’s licence or in‑house electrical installing work licence,
the electrical worker shall report the matter to the employer who shall then comply with subregulation (1) as if that subregulation referred to the employer and not to the electrical worker.
[Regulation 62 amended: Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7134; 6 Sep 1996 p. 4418; 31 Dec 2007 p. 6531.]
63. Electrical accidents to be reported
electrical accident means an accident —
(a) that results from a sudden discharge of electricity or that otherwise has, or is likely to have, an electrical origin; and
(b) that causes, or is likely to cause, danger to life, a shock or injury to a person or loss of or damage to property;
employee includes a person engaged under a contract for services;
employer includes a person who engages another person under a contract for services.
(2) Subject to subregulations (4), (5) and (6), immediately after a person becomes aware that an electrical accident has taken place, the person is to report the accident —
(a) to the relevant network operator; or
(b) if the person is unable to identify the relevant network operator — to the Director.
(3) Subject to subregulation (7), immediately after a network operator becomes aware that an electrical accident has taken place (by being given a report under subregulation (2) or otherwise), the network operator is to report the accident to the Director.
(4) Immediately after an employee becomes aware that an electrical accident has taken place at the employee’s workplace, he or she is to report the accident to the employer concerned and the employer is then to comply with subregulation (2).
(5) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (2) (as read with regulation 65(1)) for the person charged to prove that, at the relevant time, the person believed on reasonable grounds that the accident had already been reported to the relevant network operator or to the Director (as the case requires) by another person.
(6) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (4) (as read with regulation 65(1)) for the person charged to prove that, at the relevant time, the person believed on reasonable grounds that the accident had already been reported to the employer concerned by another person.
(7) A network operator is not required to report to the Director that an electrical accident has taken place if —
(a) the electrical accident is an incident of which the Director is required to be given a notification under the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 regulation 23(1); and
(b) the network operator has given the required notification to the Director.
(8) Nothing in this regulation requires the Director to report that an electrical accident has taken place.
[Regulation 63 inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6532‑3; amended: Gazette 5 Aug 2015 p. 3184.]
63A. Interfering with scene of electrical accident
A person shall not do anything at the place at which an electrical accident referred to in regulation 63 occurs with the intention of hindering or obstructing an investigation of the accident by an inspector or police officer.
[Regulation 63A inserted: Gazette 6 Sep 1996 p. 4419; amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6533.]
63B. Delegation by Director to Board
(1) The Director may delegate to the Board a power of the Director under regulation 31A or 47A.
(2) The delegation is to be in writing signed by the Director.
(3) The Board cannot delegate a power delegated to it under this regulation.
[Regulation 63B inserted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6997.]
[63C. Deleted: SL 2023/30 r. 5.]
64. Fees
(1) The fees set out in Schedule 1 are payable in respect of the matters referred to in the Schedule.
(2) The fees are payable to the Director, other than the fee specified in item 8 of Schedule 1.
Note for this regulation:
The fee specified in item 8 of Schedule 1 is payable to the relevant network operator. See regulation 53A(1).
[Regulation 64 inserted: SL 2024/96 r. 23.]
64A. Refund of registration fee
(1) This regulation applies if —
(a) the Board refuses, or a person withdraws, an application made by the person under regulation 23(1), 27(2) or 39(1) for the issue of a licence or permit or the renewal of the registration of a licence; and
(b) the person has paid a registration fee in respect of the application.
(2) The Director must refund the registration fee to the person.
[Regulation 64A inserted: SL 2022/36 r. 17.]
65. General offence and penalty
(1) A person who fails to do anything that person is required to do under these regulations or does anything that that person is prohibited from doing under these regulations commits an offence.
(2) Unless otherwise provided, a person who commits an offence under these regulations is liable to —
(a) for an individual, a fine of $50 000; or
(b) for a body corporate, a fine of $250 000.
[Regulation 65 amended: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6534.]
65A. Offences by members of firms
(1) If —
(a) a firm that holds an electrical contractor’s licence does or omits to do anything; and
(b) an individual who holds an electrical contractor’s licence who did or omitted to do the thing would commit an offence under these regulations,
each member of the firm is taken to have committed the offence.
(2) It is a defence to a charge of an offence referred to in subregulation (1) for a member of a firm to prove —
(a) that the offence was committed without the member’s consent or connivance; and
(b) that the member took all the measures to prevent the commission of the offence that he or she could reasonably be expected to have taken having regard to the member’s functions and to all the circumstances.
[Regulation 65A inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6534‑5.]
[66. Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
67. Saving and transitional provisions
commencement day means the day on which the Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2007 regulation 55 comes into operation.
(2) A person who, immediately before the commencement day, was the holder of an “A” grade licence, a “C” grade licence or a restricted licence continues, on and after the commencement day and subject to these regulations, to be authorised to carry out the electrical work that the person was authorised by that licence to carry out before that commencement.
(3) A provision of these regulations that —
(a) apart from this subregulation, would cease to have effect or would have a modified effect on the commencement day; and
(b) is required to continue to have the effect it had immediately before the commencement day for the purposes of subregulation (2),
continues to have that effect for those purposes.
(4) Subject to these regulations, on the expiry of the registration of a licence listed in column 1 of the Table to this regulation that was in force immediately before the commencement day, that registration may be renewed, and the licence then has effect, as if the licence were a licence listed in the corresponding position in column 2 of that Table.
(5) When the registration of a licence is renewed in accordance with subregulation (4), the licence is to be subject to any restrictions or conditions that are necessary for the licence to authorise to be carried out only the electrical work that was authorised to be carried out by the licence immediately before the registration expired.
Table
Column 1
Column 2
“A” grade licence
electrician’s licence
“C” grade licence
electrician’s training licence
restricted licence
restricted licence
[Regulation 67 inserted: Gazette 31 Dec 2007 p. 6535‑6.]
Schedule 1 — Fees
[r. 53A(1) and 64(1)]
[Heading inserted: SL 2025/89 r. 16.]
| Item | Column 1<br>Matter | Column 2<br>Fee ($) |
| 1. | Application for electrical worker’s licence or permit (r. 23(1)) — the total of the following — | |
| | (a) application fee | 90.00 |
| | (b) registration fee, for each year of registration | 119.00 |
| 2. | Registration fee for renewal of registration of electrical worker’s licence (r. 27(3)), for each year of registration | 119.00 |
| 3. | Application for electrical contractor’s licence (r. 39(1)) — the total of the following — | |
| | (a) application fee | 136.00 |
| | (b) registration fee | 622.00 |
| 4. | Application for in‑house electrical installing work licence (r. 39(1)) — the total of the following — | |
| | (a) application fee | 136.00 |
| | (b) registration fee | 328.00 |
| 5. | Registration fee for renewal of registration of electrical contractor’s licence (r. 39(1)) | 622.00 |
| 6. | Registration fee for renewal of registration of in‑house electrical installing work licence (r. 39(1)) | 328.00 |
| 7. | Replacing or adding nominee (r. 38(2a)) — | |
| | (a) electrical contractor’s licence | 469.00 |
| | (b) in‑house electrical installing work licence | 308.00 |
| 8. | Further inspection (r. 53A(1)) — | |
| | (a) if relevant network operator is the Regional Power Corporation | 498.25 |
| | (b) otherwise | 182.00 |
| 9. | Application for restoration of name to register (r. 56(3)) — | |
| | (a) for holder of electrical worker’s licence | 93.00 |
| | (b) for holder of electrical contractor’s licence or in‑house electrical installing work licence | 170.00 |
| 10. | Replacement document (r. 60(1)) — | |
| | (a) electrical worker’s licence or permit | 47.25 |
| | (b) electrical contractor’s licence or in‑house electrical installing work licence | 60.90 |
| 11. | Replacement certificate of registration relating to electrical contractor’s licence or in‑house electrical installing work licence | 60.90 |
[Schedule 1 inserted: SL 2025/89 r. 16.]
Schedule 2 — Standards for electrical work
[r. 49(1)(c)]
[Heading inserted: Gazette 13 Apr 2012 p. 1654.]
| Item | Standard | Title |
| 1. | AS 2067‑2008 | Substations and high voltage installations exceeding 1kV a.c. |
| 2. | AS/NZS 2381.1:2005 | Electrical equipment for explosive gas atmospheres — Selection, installation and maintenance — General requirements |
| 3. | AS/NZS 2381.2:2006 | Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres — Selection, installation and maintenance — Flameproof enclosure ‘d’ |
| 4. | AS 2381.6‑1993 | Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres — Selection, installation and maintenance — Increased safety e |
| 5. | AS 2381.7‑1989 | Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres — Selection, installation and maintenance — Intrinsic safety i |
| 6. | AS/NZS 3001:2008 (sections 1 and 2 only) | Electrical installations — Transportable structures and vehicles including their site supplies |
| 7. | AS/NZS 3002:2008 | Electrical installations — Shows and carnivals |
| 8. | AS/NZS 3003:2011 | Electrical installations — Patient areas |
| 9. | AS/NZS 3004.1:2008 | Electrical installations — Marinas and recreational boats — Marinas |
| 10. | AS/NZS 3004.2:2008 | Electrical installations — Marinas and recreational boats — Recreational boats installations |
| 11. | AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2009 | Electrical installations — Selection of cables — Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 0.6/1kV — Typical Australian installation conditions |
| 12. | AS/NZS 3010:2005 | Electrical installations — Generating sets |
| 12A. | AS 3011.1‑1992 | Electrical installations — Secondary batteries installed in buildings — Vented cells |
| 12B. | AS 3011.2‑1992 | Electrical installations — Secondary batteries installed in buildings — Sealed cells |
| 12C. | AS 4086.1‑1993 | Secondary batteries for use with stand‑alone power systems — General requirements |
| 12D. | AS/NZS 4509.1:2009 | Stand‑alone power systems — Safety and installation |
| 13. | AS 4777.1‑2005 | Grid connection of energy systems via inverters — Installation requirements |
| 14. | AS 4777.2‑2005 | Grid connection of energy systems via inverters — Inverter requirements |
| 15. | AS 4777.3‑2005 | Grid connection of energy systems via inverters — Grid protection requirements |
| 16. | AS/NZS 5033:2014 | Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays |
| 17. | AS/NZS 7000:2010 | Overhead line design — Detailed procedures<br>Note: Applies to overhead lines downstream of the point of supply |
| 18. | AS/NZS 60079.0:2008 | Explosive atmospheres — Equipment — General requirements |
| 19. | AS/NZS 60079.10.1:2009 | Explosive atmospheres — Classification of areas — Explosive gas atmospheres (IEC 60079‑10‑1, Ed. 1.0(2008) MOD) |
| 20. | AS/NZS 60079.14:2009 | Explosive atmospheres — Electrical installations design, selection and erection (IEC 60079‑14, Ed. 4.0(2007) MOD) |
| 21. | AS/NZS 60079.17:2009 | Explosive atmospheres — Electrical installations inspection and maintenance (IEC 60079‑17, Ed. 4.0(2007) MOD) |
| 22. | AS/NZS 61241.0:2005 | Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust — General requirements |
| 23. | AS/NZS 61241.14:2005 | Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust — Selection and installation (IEC 61241‑14, Ed. 1.0(2004) MOD) |
[Schedule 2 inserted: Gazette 13 Apr 2012 p. 1654‑6; amended: Gazette 2 May 2017 p. 2302.]
dline
Notes
This is a compilation of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.
Compilation table
| Citation | Published | Commencement |
| Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 | 14 Oct 1991 p. 5249‑99 (corrigendum 1 Nov 1991 p. 5665) | 1 Nov 1991 (see r. 2) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1992 | 24 Apr 1992 p. 1728‑9 (corrigendum 1 May 1992 p. 1863) | 1 May 1992 (see r. 2) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1994 | 27 May 1994 p. 2243‑4 | 27 May 1994 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1995 | 23 Dec 1994 p. 7133‑5 | 1 Jan 1995 (see r. 3 and Gazette 23 Dec 1994 p. 7069) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1996 | 6 Sep 1996 p. 4410‑19 | 6 Sep 1996 |
| Reprint of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 26 Feb 1997 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1997 | 24 Apr 1998 p. 2148 | 24 Apr 1998 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 1999 | 28 May 1999 p. 2147 | 28 May 1999 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2000 | 24 Mar 2000 p. 1639‑40 | 1 Jun 2000 (see r. 2) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2000 | 2 May 2000 p. 2114‑16 | 2 May 2000 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2001 | 23 Nov 2001 p. 6030 | 23 Nov 2001 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2003 | 31 Jan 2003 p. 279 | 31 Jan 2003 |
| Reprint 2: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 14 Mar 2003 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2003 1 | 24 Oct 2003 p. 4495‑9 | 24 Oct 2003 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2004 | 13 Jul 2004 p. 2821‑2 | 13 Jul 2004 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2004 | 30 Dec 2004 p. 6990‑7 | 1 Jan 2005 (see r. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) |
| Courts and Legal Practice (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2005 r. 6 | 19 Apr 2005 p. 1294‑302 | 19 Apr 2005 |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2005 | 19 Aug 2005 p. 3866‑7 | 19 Aug 2005 |
| Reprint 3: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 2 Jun 2006 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2006 | 27 Jun 2006 p. 2283‑4 | 1 Jul 2006 (see r. 2) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2007 | 15 Jun 2007 p. 2783‑4 | r. 1 and 2: 15 Jun 2007 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2007 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2007 5 | 31 Dec 2007 p. 6485‑539 | r. 1 and 2: 31 Dec 2007 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2008 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2008 | 17 Jun 2008 p. 2564‑5 | r. 1 and 2: 17 Jun 2008 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2008 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Reprint 4: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 22 Aug 2008 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 4) 2009 | 23 Jun 2009 p. 2438‑9 | r. 1 and 2: 23 Jun 2009 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2009 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2009 | 30 Jun 2009 p. 2622‑3 | r. 1 and 2: 30 Jun 2009 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2009 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 5) 2009 | 1 Sep 2009 p. 3394‑5 | r. 1 and 2: 1 Sep 2009 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 2 Sep 2009 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2010 | 25 Jun 2010 p. 2864‑5 | r. 1 and 2: 25 Jun 2010 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2010 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Reprint 5: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 1 Oct 2010 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Public Sector Reform (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2011 Pt. 2 | 11 Feb 2011 p. 502‑7 | 12 Feb 2011 (see r. 2(d)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2011 | 10 May 2011 p. 1666‑7 | r. 1 and 2: 10 May 2011 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 11 May 2011 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2011 | 17 May 2011 p. 1813‑22 | r. 1 and 2: 17 May 2011 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 18 May 2011 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2011 | 22 Jun 2011 p. 2311‑13 | r. 1 and 2: 22 Jun 2011 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2011 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Reprint 6: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 9 Mar 2012 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2012 | 13 Apr 2012 p. 1651‑6 | r. 1 and 2: 13 Apr 2012 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 14 Apr 2012 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2012 | 15 Jun 2012 p. 2611-13 | r. 1 and 2: 15 Jun 2012 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2012 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2013 | 27 Jun 2013 p. 2707-9 | r. 1 and 2: 27 Jun 2013 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2013 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2014 | 17 Jun 2014 p. 1963‑4 | r. 1 and 2: 17 Jun 2014 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2014 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2014 | 8 Jan 2015 p. 97 | r. 1 and 2: 8 Jan 2015 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 27 Apr 2015 (see r. 2(b) and Gazette 17 Apr 2015 p. 1371) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2015 | 23 Jun 2015 p. 2171‑3 | r. 1 and 2: 23 Jun 2015 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 r. 43 | 5 Aug 2015 p. 3141-96 | 6 Aug 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Reprint 7: The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 as at 4 Sep 2015 (includes amendments listed above) | | |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2016 Pt. 8 | 3 Jun 2016 p. 1745-73 | 1 Jul 2016 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2017 | 2 May 2017 p. 2291‑302 | r. 1 and 2: 2 May 2017 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 3 May 2017 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2017 Pt. 10 | 23 Jun 2017 p. 3213‑52 | 1 Jul 2017 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2017 | 14 Nov 2017 p. 5597‑602 | r. 1 and 2: 14 Nov 2017 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 14 May 2018 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2018 6 | 7 Jun 2018 p. 1815‑24 | r. 1, 2 and 10: 7 Jun 2018 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1, 2 and 10: 8 Jun 2018 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce and Industrial Relations Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2018 Pt. 9 | 25 Jun 2018 p. 2325‑53 | 1 Jul 2018 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity Amendment Regulations 2018 Pt. 3 | 2 Oct 2018 p. 3784‑94 | 1 Jan 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2018 | 8 Jan 2019 p. 11‑17 | r. 1 and 2: 8 Jan 2019 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 9 Jan 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2019 Pt. 9 | 18 Jun 2019 p. 2077‑115 | 1 Jul 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Regulations (No. 2) 2020 Pt. 8 | SL 2020/196 27 Oct 2020 | 28 Oct 2020 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021 Pt. 10 | SL 2021/86 21 Jun 2021 | 1 Jul 2021 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Energy Regulations Amendment (Electricity Licensing) Regulations 2022 Pt. 2 | SL 2022/36 15 Mar 2022 | 16 Mar 2022 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Work Health and Safety) Regulations 2022 Pt. 3 | SL 2022/26 11 Mar 2022 | 31 Mar 2022 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2022/18 cl. 2) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2022 Pt. 8 | SL 2022/59 20 May 2022 | 1 Jul 2022 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Legal Profession) Regulations 2022 Pt. 4 | SL 2022/115 30 Jun 2022 | 1 Jul 2022 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2022/113 cl. 2) |
| Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations 2023 | SL 2023/30 6 Apr 2023 | r. 1 and 2: 6 Apr 2023 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1, 2 and 4(2): 7 Apr 2023 (see r. 2(c)); r. 4(2): 1 Aug 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2023 Pt. 8 | SL 2023/35 5 May 2023 | 1 Jul 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2024 Pt. 7 | SL 2024/96 12 Jun 2024 | 1 Jul 2024 (see r. 2(c)) |
| Electricity Regulations Amendment (Licensing) Regulations 2024 Pt. 2 | SL 2024/211 16 Oct 2024 | 17 Oct 2024 (see r. 2(b)) |
| Commerce Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025 Pt. 8 | SL 2025/89 11 Jun 2025 | 1 Jul 2025 (see r. 2(b)) |