It is also illegal for an unlicensed person to carry out electrical work, including modifications to fixed wiring.
In Western Australia, the law requires that all electrical work is carried out by a person who holds the relevant electrical licence. Licensed electrical contractors must employ licensed electricians to carry out electrical work on their behalf. Only licensed electricians meet the required competency standards. These include appropriate competencies in work practices, equipment and installation.
An electrical contractor's licence can be identified by the prefix 'EC' at the start of the licence number. An electrician's licence number will begin with 'EW'.
Check if your electrical contractor is licensed using our online licence search by clicking on the button below:
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Electrical safety certificates
When you have any electrical work done (excluding maintenance work and like for like replacement of electrical equipment), your electrical contractor must give you an electrical safety certificate within 28 days.
This certificate is your guarantee that the work has been carried out by a licensed electrical contractor, is safe and complies with safety standards. It is required to be issued for all types of electrical installation work (other than repairs) completed on residential, commercial, industrial and institutional premises.
Whether you are building a new home or having one or two lights or power points installed, make sure that you receive an electrical safety certificate. Keep the certificate in a safe place for future reference.
If you do not receive a certificate, contact your electrical contractor. If it is not provided, contact your local network operator, which in most cases will be Western Power or Horizon Power. The network operator will investigate. Failure to receive a certificate could mean the work is not safe or the person who carried it out is not licensed.
Work on switches, power points and light fittings
Damaged switches, power points and light fittings are dangerous and must be replaced. However, you should never replace fittings and switches yourself. Use a licensed electrical contractor to replace them.
When painting, never remove switches or fittings. Even when the switch is off, there are still live wires connected. Use masking tape to keep paint off fittings and switches.
Lighting points and fittings can be dangerous when you’re cleaning them, painting surrounding surface areas or replacing light globes, particularly when on a metallic ladder. Earthing protects you from them experiencing an electrical shock in these circumstances. If you have purchased lighting fittings online or from overseas they may not meet the required Australian Standard and your licensed electrician will refuse to install them unless they can be modified to comply with the safety requirements.
Electrical safety when drilling into walls
Concealed cables can pose a risk when drilling into walls. It is important to identify where electrical cables are located in wall cavities prior to drilling. Drill bits and driving nails or screws into walls can damage the insulation on a cable, which can result in electric shock or fire.
The location of power points, light switches and other fixed electrical equipment can help you locate electrical wires in wall cavities. Before you begin drilling into walls it is important that you turn off the power where you are working. If you do drill into an electrical cable, leave the power switched off and contact a licensed electrical contractor.
