Certificate of compliance

This information bulletin details the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) requirements under the Electrical Safety Act 2022 (the Act) which commenced on 1 July 2024 in the Northern Territory and was amended in April 2026 to exempt like-for-like replacement of an existing electrical fittings or appliances with a similar electrical fitting or appliance, at the same location.

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, except for like-for-like replacements.
  • 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.

Because the scope of works that require a CoC has expanded, the following list of electrical licence holders are now required to complete a CoC.

The following list of electrical licence holders are required to complete a CoC.

  • Licence types under the Electrical Safety Act 2022
    1. Electrical Contractors
    2. Unrestricted Electrical Mechanics and/or Fitters
    Licence types under the repealed Electrical Workers and Contractors Act 1978
    1. Electrical Contractor Licences.
    2. Electrical Licences
      • Electrical Mechanic
      • Electrical Fitter

    NOTE: Licences issued under the repealed Electrical Workers and Contractors Act 1978 remain valid until the licence expires.

Electrical work requiring a Certificate of Compliance

Any alterations or additions to an electrical installation require a CoC, repairs as define by Clause 1.9.3 of AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules, specifically like-for-like replacement of parts do not require a CoC unless your customer specifically requests one. Examples include:

  1. Wiring and fitting out electrical installations or parts thereof in compliance with AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and Supply Authority requirements.
  2. Replacing switchboards or protection and control devices in a switchboard.
  3. Altering the wiring configuration of PLC’s where the controller actuates at or above low voltage devices directly or via relays and contactors.
  4. Installing, repairing or replacing interconnecting wiring operating at or above low voltage, this includes refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
  5. Any repairs to meter boxes, metered and unmetered service mains and mains connection boxes essential to connect an installation to the electrical distribution system.
  6. Solar panels, Inverters and Battery Energy Storage Systems either standalone or grid connected operating at any voltage above extra-low voltage.
  7. Electrical equipment required to connect an engine driven generator to an electrical installation for emergency backup power or as a standalone supply system.
  • Type of workExample
    Electrical installation workNew and modified domestic, commercial, industrial electrical work.
    Alterations to existing installationsAdding an additional circuit or outlet to an existing installation.
    Network connectionsConnection of an installation to the network.
    Callout with network operator interactionEmergency repairs that required disconnection and reconnection by the network operator. The operator will not reconnect without a CoC.
    Installation of hard-wired equipment or appliancesInstallation of hard-wired ovens, hot water services smoke alarms (not battery operated), air conditioners etc.

Work not requiring a Certificate of Compliance

Maintenance work does not require a CoC. Maintenance work is defined as regular routine technical and administrative actions, taken during an item’s service life, aimed at retaining it in a state in which it can perform its required functions.

Examples of work not requiring a CoC include:

  1. Basic maintenance work, for example, repair or like-for-like replacement::
    • Elements, simmerstats and fuses in an oven, cooktop or stove.
    • Elements or thermostats in a hot water system.
    • Electrical appliances or equipment which plug into an outlet.
    • Mounting screws or other fixing methods for equipment or wiring.
    • Labels, placards and signs.
  2. Preparing and supplying documentation to support an electrical installation intended to be provided to the property owner/manager.
  3. Testing an electrical installation or equipment for compliance with:
    • AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules.
    • AS/NZS 3017 Electrical installations - Verification by inspection & testing.
    • AS/NZS 3019 Electrical installations - Periodic assessment.
    • AS/NZ 3760 Inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCD's.
    • Fault-finding using instrumentation, tools and equipment.
    • Inspecting, testing and tagging power tools, leads and power boards.
    • Inspection work within switchboards, eg. thermography.
  4. Altering the wiring configuration of PLC’s or installing or replacing sensors and modules where the parts of the controller being worked on DO NOT actuate devices at or above low voltage via relays and contactors.
  5. Installing and maintaining extra-low voltage systems (extra-low voltage means not exceeding 50 V AC or 120 V ripple-free DC), such as:
    • Fire detection systems.
    • Standalone solar and battery systems operating at extra-low voltage.
    • Power over ethernet devices such as data, satellite or security systems.
    • Fire detection systems and associated wiring.
    • Audiovisual equipment.
    • Instrumentation and process control equipment

Certificate of Compliance approved forms

The two CoC forms approved by Electrical Safety Regulator are:

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 licence holders are required to complete an application form to purchase a hard copy CoC book.

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 the relevant network provider depending on your location:

Job management software generated Certificates of Compliance

CoC's generated from job management apps such as ServiceM8 will no longer be accepted once the online electrical certificate of compliance is live. The third-party apps do not generate a unique serial number which are features of the hardcopy and online CoC's from NT WorkSafe.

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.

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.

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 Attorney-General's Department website.

Last updated:
23 April 2026

Is there anything wrong with this page?

Back to top