Certificate of compliance

This information bulletin details the new certificate of compliance (CoC) requirements under the Electrical Safety Act 2022 (the Act) which commenced on 1 July 2024 in the Northern Territory.

An electrical contractor or worker who conducts electrical work must complete a COC that certifies that the electrical work was tested to be safe from electrical risk and the electrical work complies with the Act and any standards prescribed or adopted by the Electrical Safety Regulations 2024.

The following are new CoC requirements under the new Electrical Safety Act 2022.

  • CoC required for all electrical work
  • The electrical licence types needing to complete a CoC has expanded
  • New online approved form
  • NT WorkSafe must be sent a copy of all CoC
  • The timeframe to complete and provide a CoC has decreased.

Electrical work requiring a Certificate of Compliance

With limited exceptions, all electrical work including new installations, alterations, additions and repairs now require a completed CoC. Because the scope of works that require a CoC has expanded, the following list of electrical license holders are now required to complete a CoC.

    1. Electrical Contractors
    2. Unrestricted Electrical Mechanics and/or Fitters
    3. Restricted electrical licence (REL) holders
      • Electrical Fitters (making, operating, testing or repairing electrical equipment).
      • Electrical Cable Jointers (installing, jointing and terminating covered cables).
      • Electrical Line Workers (transmission and/or distribution work).
      • Refrigeration Mechanics (air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment).
      • Plumbers (water heaters and water plumbing equipment).
      • Gas Fitters (installing and repairing gas equipment).
      • Instrument Fitters (instrumentation and process control equipment work).
      • Fire Protection Technicians (fire detection and protection systems).
      • Specialised Commercial and Industrial Equipment Workers.
      • Maritime Operations Workers.

Work not requiring a Certificate of Compliance

The following electrical work does not require a CoC.

  • Maintenance work that does not involve installation work or alterations or additions or repairs. For example, changing light globes or servicing accessories and equipment without replacing electrical parts.
  • Installation of a temporary builders supply.

A temporary builder’s supply is a self-contained relocatable switchboard consisting of a KWH meter, a service protective device, a residual current device and socket outlets for electrical appliances used for building purposes only. The builder’s supply must only be connected to a single-phase supply with no sub mains connected.

NOTE: Power and Water may require a CoC in order to connect power to a builder’s supply.

Certificate of Compliance approved form

The two CoC forms approved by Electrical Safety Regulator are:

  • The new online electrical certificate of compliance

(NOTE: The online electrical certificate of compliance is currently being updated. A downloadable version of the CoC is a temporary approved form until the online CoC is available.)

  • The hard copy certificate of compliance books available from the Territory Business Centre.

The decision to phase out the hard copy books has been reversed. Hard copy books will remain available for use by electrical licence holders working in the Northern Territory under automatic mutual recognition, and those licence holders who prefer to use the hard copy books.

Electrical contractors and workers still using the hard copy books can email scanned copies of the CoC to NT WorkSafe on agd.ecoc@nt.gov.au and to Power and Water on powerconnections@powerwater.com.au.

Supplementary Certificate of Compliance forms

The Electrical Safety Regulator has approved two supplementary CoC forms.

Electrical certificate of compliance – addendum

The Act requires additional information in the electrical certificate of compliance for the following types of work:

  • Electrical network
  • Energy storage system (ESS)
  • Electrical vehicle (EV) connection point
  • Generator changeover
  • Hazardous areas
  • Inverter
  • Patient areas
  • Restricted licence work
  • Solar photovoltaic system.

Electrical contractors and workers using the hard copy certificates of compliance books must use this addendum form to record the additional information required.

Electrical certificate of compliance - emergency after-hours repairs

This electrical certificate of compliance is only to be used by electrical workers or contractors who have completed emergency after-hours repairs at a property and need to provide a certificate of compliance to the network provider before they reconnect the property to the grid.

Power and Water have advised that connection crews working after-hours will not have access to the online electrical safety certificates of compliance.

Mandatory information

All fields in the CoC are mandatory, unless the information being requested is not relevant to the electrical work completed. Information should be provided in a clear legible manner without abbreviations.

Who can sign off a Certificate of Compliance?

Electrical contractors are responsible for completing and submitting the CoC. Electrical contractors can make a business decision to authorise their electrical workers to sign off a CoC on their behalf, but the electrical contractor remains liable for the work covered in the CoC.

Electrical contractors considering authorising their electrical workers should develop a policy and maintain records on who they authorised.

Electrical workers must be made familiar with any policy developed and understand the requirements on completing, signing and providing a CoC.

Restricted electrical licence holders

Restricted electrical licence holders who do not work for an Electrical contractor are responsible for completing and submitting the CoC.

Timeframe to provide a Certificate of Compliance

Within 20 business days after completing the electrical work, a CoC must be provided to the following people:

  • The owner and the occupier (if they are not the same person) of the place where the work was performed.
  • The person (other than the owner or occupier) for whom the work was performed.
  • The operator of the electricity network, for work related to the electricity network.
  • The Electrical Safety Regulator (NT WorkSafe).

Example: If you are contracted to do electrical work in a rental property, you would need to provide a copy of the CoC to the tenant, the landlord, and to the property manager, if you were contracted by one.

Record keeping requirements

Electrical contractors are required to keep a CoC for at least five years from the date the works were completed.

Restricted electrical licence holders who do not work for an electrical contractor are required to keep a CoC they issue for at least five years from the date the works were completed. It is recommended that an employer of a restricted electrical licence holder, who is not an electrical contractor, also keeps a copy of the CoC as part of their business records.

Offences relating to a Certificate of Compliance

The following are offences under Section 48 of the Act:

  • Failing to complete, provide or retain a copy of a CoC – maximum 50 penalty units.
  • Providing false information on a CoC - maximum 100 penalty units.
  • Completing a CoC for electrical work you or your worker did not complete – maximum 100 penalty units.

The value of the penalty unit changes each year and is available on the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice website.

Last updated:
23 August 2024

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