Industry information on electrical 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.
    1. Electrical Contractor Licenses.
    2. Electrical Licenses
      • Electrical Mechanic
      • Electrical Fitter
      • Electrical Linesman
      • Electrical Cable Jointer.
    3. Restricted Electrical Licenses
      • Refrigeration / Airconditioning
      • Instrumentation & control equipment (Electrical Engineers only)
      • Electronics & Communication
      • Disconnect & Reconnect - Water plumbing equipment
      • Explosion protection equipment
      • Water plumbing equipment
      • Gas equipment
      • Domestic appliances & equipment
      • Specialised Commercial/Industrial Equipment
      • Disconnection and reconnection (basic)
      • Self-propelled high-voltage earth moving equipment.

    NOTE: Licenses issued under the repealed Electrical Workers and Contractors Act 1978 remain valid until the licence expires.

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:

* Please note the hard copy books are being phased out and will not be reprinted when the Territory Business Centres run out of stock.

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. Electrical contractors and workers still using the old hard copy triplicate certificates of compliance books should use this addendum form 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).
  • The in-house electrical licence holder, if the electrical work was carried out under the authority of an in-house electrical licence.

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.

Document type:
Information bulletin
Topics:
Electrical Industry
Last updated:
15 July 2024
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