How to Fill Out Electrical Safety Certificates in Australia

by Team Tradify, July 7, 2024

As licensed, professional electrical contractors within Australia, submitting electrical safety certificates correctly is critical for ensuring your work fits your state's legal and safety requirements.

Since only qualified electrical contractors can issue safety certificates, they also give customers peace of mind knowing that the work that they’ve paid for has been completed to a high standard.

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How to fill out the Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria (VIC)
How to fill out an Electrical Compliance Certificate in Queensland (QLD)
How to fill out a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work in New South Wales (NSW)
How to fill out a Certificate of Electrical Compliance in South Australia (SA)
How to fill out Certificates of Electrical Safety in Western Australia (WA)
How to fill out a Certificate of Electrical Compliance in Tasmania (TAS)
How to fill out a Certificate of Compliance in the Northern Territory (NT)
How to fill out Certificates of Electrical Safety in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

1. How to fill out the Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria (VIC)

Before filling out a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) in Victoria, electrical contractors must complete and test all the electrical installation work. Any prescribed work must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector. However, non-prescribed work, such as replacing light fixtures, does not require an inspection. A COES must still be issued in both cases, however, a COES for prescribed electrical work must be issued before the work is connected to the electricity supply. Individuals holding a Restricted Electrical Worker’s Licence (REL) cannot issue prescribed COES.

Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) must purchase COES through the Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) system, either electronically via ESVConnect or through authorised agents for paper certificates.

Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) may purchase COES if they are registered within ESVConnect.

The COES must be lodged with the appropriate regulatory body within 30 days after completing the work.

In Victoria, copies of the COES must be provided to the customer and Energy Safe Victoria and be kept on file by the qualified electrical worker(s) for at least 5 years.

2. How to fill out an Electrical Compliance Certificate in Queensland (QLD)

Qualified electricians in Queensland must fill out either a 'certificate of testing and safety' for work on electrical equipment or a 'certificate of testing and compliance' for electrical installation work.

A copy of the Electrical Compliance Certificate must be given to the customer for all electrical works, other than repair or maintenance, within 28 days.

Certificates for electrical compliance in Queensland can be found on the Electrical Safety Office website here. Otherwise, you may use a commercially available version, Tradify's version, or design your own, as long as the ES Regulations are met.

In Queensland, the certificate must be lodged within 8 days after the work is completed. Copies of the certificate need to be given to the customer and the regulatory body and kept on file by the electrician for at least 5 years.

For more information, visit the Queensland Electrical Safety Office website.

3. How to fill out a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work in New South Wales (NSW)

Before filling out a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) in New South Wales, electricians or electrical contractors must complete and test the electrical installation work to ensure it meets all local safety standards. You will need an electrical licence number to complete the certificate.

The NSW Fair Trading website provides a free PDF version of the certificate here. The CCEW must be lodged with NSW Fair Trading, to the relevant distributor and the customer within 7 days of completing the work.

In New South Wales, copies of the CCEW are provided to the customer, and the regulatory body, and kept on file for at least 5 years

For more information, visit the NSW Fair Trading website and SafeWork NSW.

4. How to fill out a Certificate of Electrical Compliance in South Australia (SA)

Anyone engaging in electrical work in South Australia must issue Certificates of Electrical Compliance (eCoC) after completing any electrical work. Both the tradesperson and any contractors involved must sign off on the eCoC before submitting it within 30 days of completing the electrical work.

The completed eCoC should be provided to the customer and uploaded to the South Australia Power Networks (SAPN) portal, plus a printed copy must be left on-site unless a clear and reasonable reason is submitted.

The eCoC must be kept on file by the registered tradesperson for at least 5 years. For more information, check out the Government of South Australia website.

5. How to fill out Certificates of Electrical Safety in Western Australia (WA)

In Western Australia, Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) and Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) are required to issue an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) after completing any electrical installation work. This certificate confirms that the work has been completed, tested, and complies with all regulatory requirements in Western Australia.

The ESC must then be provided to the customer within 28 days of completing the electrical work. The electrician, or qualified tradesperson, must keep a copy of the ESC for a minimum of 5 years. For certain types of work, preliminary notices and notices of completion must be submitted. This includes new installations, major alterations, or additions, that must be documented and inspected as required.

For more detailed information and to access the necessary forms, you can visit the Building and Energy section of Western Australia's commerce website.

6. How to fill out a Certificate of Electrical Compliance in Tasmania (TAS)

In Tasmania, electricians or electrical contractors need a complete and submit a certificate from the Certificate of Electrical Compliance Book to notify TechSafe of any completed, notifiable electrical work.

You can find these books in either service centres or online at TechSafe.

Any work that requires a Certificate of Electrical Compliance (CEC) must be provided to TechSafe Australia within three days of finishing the work.

A copy of the CEC must be provided customer. Another copy must be kept by the electrical contractor for a minimum of 10 years.

7. How to fill out a Certificate of Compliance in the Northern Territory (NT)

In the Northern Territory, Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) and Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) must issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) after completing any electrical installation, alterations, or repairs and before the system is energised.

The CoC must be provided to the customer within 30 days of completing and certifying the electrical work. The electrical contractor must retain a copy of the CoC for at least 5 years. This copy can be in hard copy or electronic format. For work involving connections to the transmission or distribution network, a copy of the CoC must be provided to a network operator, such as the NT WorkSafe website.

8. How to fill out Certificates of Electrical Safety in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) and Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) in the Australian Capital Territory must issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) after completing any electrical installation, alteration, or repair.

The CES must be completed by the licensed electrical worker who carried out and tested the work before the system is energised. The document must also be signed by the electrical contractor or their supervisory representative. For certain types of high-risk electrical work, an inspection may be required by an authorised officer. This is typically organised alongside Access Canberra. Low-risk electrical works may not require a CES, unless the customer asks for it.

The CES must be issued "within a reasonable time frame" after the completion and certification of the electrical work. A copy of the CES must be provided to the customer and submitted to the relevant regulatory bodies such as Access Canberra. The electrical contractor is required to keep a copy of the CES for at least five years. This copy can be maintained in either a hard copy or in an electronic format.

For more information, forms, and resources related to Certificates of Electrical Safety in the ACT, visit the Access Canberra website.

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