There are so many do-it-yourself (DIY) videos on YouTube regarding electrical installations. They would teach you how to do the wiring, repair electrical appliances, and so on. However, dealing with electricity can be dangerous for yourself and others if you don’t have the necessary experience and qualifications. Sometimes they can be life-threatening.
That is why the Australian government is discouraging DIY electrical works. They promote quite the opposite. That is DDIY, or don’t do it yourself.
If you have been planning to do electrical work around your house or anywhere else, don’t do it unless you have the necessary qualifications and experience. This article will show why you should hire a licensed electrician with experience for your electrical work.
Why shouldn't you do your own electrical work?
You might think you could save some dollars by doing the electrical work yourself. But this is not a wise decision at all. Unlicensed and inexperienced electrical installations could lead to various safety, legal and financial issues.
When you do any electrical work, you are exposing yourself and others to electrical hazards which can be life threatening. Faulty wiring could cause fire and could give electric shocks. The appliances also would get damaged due to the power surges caused by faulty installations.
On the other hand, you may not be able to claim insurance against any accident caused by unlicensed electrical installations. Therefore it could jeopardize your insurance and as a result, you could face serious financial losses.
Any faulty wiring in your house will not damage you alone, but it can also cause serious damage to your neighbors. That is why the Australian government has made it strictly illegal to carry out any unlicensed electrical installations; hence all types of electrical work must be done by a trained professional.
What kind of electrical work could you do yourself?
Before getting into the types of electrical work you could do yourself, you should learn which electrical works are considered illegal without a license. Most Australians would be found guilty every single day of doing these electrical works around the house. They might have performed these tasks without even knowing that they require a license to do so. Some of these tasks are:
- Installing a new light fitting.
- Installing a new power point or a switch.
- Installing a ceiling fan.
- Attaching a new plug base to the end of a lead.
- Repairing an electrical appliance.
- Replacing a lead on an appliance.
These are some electrical works that the DIY community is tempted to do. However, you should have the necessary licenses to do such activities. When you look at the above list, it is obvious that you should have a license to do any direct electrical or wiring work.
However, there are some simple activities that you are allowed to do without a license. These activities are:
- Changing or replacing a blown light bulb.
- Replacing LED downlight.
- Installing a battery-operated smoke detector
These are some simple activities you could do around the house without a license. However, if you have to make any changes to electrical wiring and appliances, then it is better to contact a licensed electrician.
What are the penalties faced for unlicensed electrical works?
Unlicensed electrical works can be life-threatening to you and the others. Therefore the government is doing everything in its power to discourage unlicensed practices.
Heavy penalties will be charged for these offenses, so the general public is discouraged. Actions will be taken against the offenders under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and other general regulations.
What qualifications should a person possess to do electrical work?
It is a legal requirement to hold the necessary licenses to do electrical work in Australia. The Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) licenses the Victoria’s electricians.
There are currently thousands of actively licensed electricians in Victoria. Therefore, when choosing an electrician, check their licenses before handing out your job. These are the electrical licenses issued by the ESV to qualified electricians.
- A-grade license
- Registered electrical contractor’s license
- Electrical inspector license
- Switchgear worker’s license
- Supervised worker’s license
- Restricted electrical worker’s license
These are all the licenses issued by the ESV for electrical installations and inspections. An electrical contractor would not possess all these licenses. However they should hold the A-grade license which is the direct license that allows them to perform electrical works. Don’t hire anyone who refuses to show and verify their licenses.
A licensed electrician would issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) for any electrical installation completed by them. Only Licensed electricians could issue this certificate. Therefore these certificates can be produced as proof and assurance that the work has been done professionally by a qualified individual.
The COES is required for all the electrical works done in Victoria. This is done in compliance with the Energy Safety Act 1998 and General (Electricity Safety) Regulations 2019. The licensed electrician will fill out the COES after a job and hand over a copy to the customer, ESV, and other relevant parties.
The COES will help with the ESV audits, helping you to stay in line with the local regulations.
How to find a licensed electrician
It is not difficult to find a licensed electrician in your area. As mentioned before, there are tens of thousands of licensed and active electricians in Victoria.
If you have difficulty finding a licensed electrician, check out this public register to find one in Victoria. This register contains the Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) in Victoria who have the necessary licenses to do your electrical jobs.
To be safe, check their licenses and whether they would issue a COES, before getting a quotation.
If you are looking for a licensed electrician in Geelong, look no further. Mr. Electric has been in the industry for decades and has earned the trust of the Geelong community. Our electricians have the required licenses, and we provide the COES, ensuring our professional work.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for any electrical work at your house or the business place. Our 24/7 emergency service will help keep you and the others safe from life-threatening situations.
