Electrical licensing disciplinary action
In October 2025, the Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against 11 licence holders:
- An electrical contractor completed extensive electrical work at residence. The electrical installation contained serious defects. Previous disciplinary action has been taken against the electrical contractor, and the Electrical Licensing Committee disqualified the contractor from holding an Electrical Contractor licence for five years.
The contractor failed to comply with multiple improvement notices and the installation had not been tested and verified as per section 8 of the Wiring Rules. It was recognised that there may be other unidentified serious electrical risks at the site, and no certificate of test was issued to the homeowner.
The Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against a person who was the holder of an electrical contractor licence when electrical work was performed, but who is no longer the holder of an electrical contractor licence. The contractor is required to rectify the non-compliant electrical work identified, at the licence holder’s own expense, within three months.
- An electrical contractor performed electrical work at a commercial property, which involved the installation of a new refrigeration system in a cold room.
The contractor failed to implement a safe system of work, specifically relating to electrical work on energised equipment. As a result of this failure contact has been made between the energised parts of a circuit breaker and the metallic enclosure, this has resulted in a short circuit generating a significant arc flash. Consequently, the contractor and another worker received burn injuries from exposure to the arc flash and were transported to hospital for treatment.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical contractor licence, effective immediately. The contractor must complete mandatory training in competency units, within three months. The contractor was issued with a caution and a $1,000 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an infringement notice from the ESO totaling $3,600.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a residential property, which included the installation of a 6.6kW PV system, installation of a meter isolation link, a meter neutral bar, a circuit breaker for the inverter supply and a circuit breaker for the grid supply.
The worker failed to ensure that the electrical installation, to the extent it was affected by the electrical work, was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules under section 70 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
As a result of this failure the consumers mains had been connected to the service lines incorrectly resulting in a reverse polarity connection. The occupier of the property reported receiving an electric shock when contacting an external garden tap. Ergon employees attended the property for a shock investigation and testing identified the reverse polarity on the consumers mains.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to suspend the electrical work licence, effective immediately, as well as act against the workers New South Wales (NSW) electrical work licence. The suspensions will be lifted once the conditions have been complied with. The worker was instructed to complete training in competency units. The worker was issued with a reprimand and a $2,000 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an Infringement notice from the ESO totaling $200.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a residential property. The electrical work undertaken included the installation of a main switchboard, sub board and submains, lighting and power final subcircuits and associated electrical equipment within the detached outbuilding.
The worker failed to ensure that the electrical installation, to the extent it was affected by the electrical work, was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules under section 71 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
As a result of this failure the electrical installation was energised with a reverse polarity connection of the detached outbuilding submains. Ergon crews attended the residential property for the purpose of investigating reports of persons receiving electric shocks at the property. Ergon personnel tested the installation work and identified the reverse polarity connection of the submains.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical work licence, effective immediately. The worker must complete mandatory training in competency unites, within 3 months, was issued with a caution and a $1,000 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an Infringement notice from the ESO totaling $800.
- An electrical contractor performed electrical work at a residential property. The electrical work undertaken included the installation of a main switchboard, sub board and submains, lighting and power final subcircuits and associated electrical equipment within the detached outbuilding.
The contractor failed to ensure that the electrical installation, to the extent it was affected by the electrical work, was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules under section 71 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
As a result of this failure the electrical installation was energised with a reverse polarity connection of the detached outbuilding submains. Ergon crews attended the residential property for the purpose of investigating reports of persons receiving electric shocks at the property. Ergon personnel tested the installation work and identified the reverse polarity connection of the submains.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical contractor licence, effective immediately. The contractor must provide evidence from an independent and suitably credentialed third party that adequate electrical safety systems and procedures are in place. All QTPs are required to complete mandatory training in competency units. The contractor was issued with a caution and a $1,500 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an Infringement notice from the ESO totaling $800.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a residential property, which included the installation and connection of a BESS.
The worker failed to ensure the electrical work performed on the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules and any referenced standards under section 70 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
As a result of this failure the electrical installation was energised with multiple breaches of the Wiring Rules. Because of the performance of electrical work, persons and property were not electrically safe.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to suspend the electrical work licence, effective immediately and disqualify the worker from being a Qualified Technical Person (QTP) for the holder of an electrical contractor licence for a period of five years. The worker must complete mandatory training in competency unites in order for the suspension to be lifted, was issued with a reprimand and a $2,000 penalty. This was in addition to receiving Infringement notices from the ESO totaling $900.
- An electrical contractor performed electrical work at residence, which included the installation of wiring for a new tariff meter.
The contractor failed to ensure that the electrical installation, to the extent it was affected by the electrical work, was tested to ensure it was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules under section 71 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
As a result of this failure, the electrical installation was energised with single insulated meter wiring installed with exposed energised parts accessible without the use of a tool.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical contractor licence, effective immediately. The contractor must provide evidence from an independent and suitably credentialed third party that adequate electrical safety systems and procedures are in place, all QTPs are required to complete mandatory training in competency units, was issued with a caution and a $1,000 penalty.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a utility facility within a switch room. The electrical work involved a continuation of the electrical installation work being undertaken to upgrade the utility facility.
The worker provided a level of supervision that failed to properly assess the nature of the electrical work performed by an apprentice, the effectiveness of the apprentice's training, and the apprentice's overall competency.
As a result, the way electrical work was performed was not electrically safe. An electrical apprentice was tasked with performing electrical work near energised conductors and inadvertently drilled into an energised conductor. The failure exposed persons to the risk of serious injury or illness.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided that grounds did not exist for taking disciplinary action. The Committee recommended the worker complete professional development.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a utility facility within a switch room. The electrical work involved a continuation of the electrical installation work being undertaken the upgrade the utility facility.
The worker provided a level of supervision that failed to properly assess the nature of the electrical work performed by an apprentice, the effectiveness of the apprentice's training, and the apprentice's overall competency.
As a result, the way electrical work was performed was not electrically safe. An electrical apprentice was tasked with performing electrical work near energised conductors and inadvertently drilled into an energised conductor. The failure exposed persons to the risk of serious injury or illness.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical work licence, effective immediately. The worker must complete mandatory training in competency units, within 3 months, was issued with a caution and a $300 penalty.
- An electrical worker performed electrical work at a utility facility within a switch room. The electrical work involved a continuation of the electrical installation work being undertaken the upgrade the utility facility.
The worker provided a level of supervision that failed to properly assess the nature of the electrical work performed by an apprentice, the effectiveness of the apprentice's training, and the apprentice's overall competency.
As a result, the way electrical work was performed was not electrically safe. An electrical apprentice was tasked with performing electrical work near energised conductors and inadvertently drilled into an energised conductor. The failure exposed persons to the risk of serious injury or illness.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical work licence, effective immediately. The worker must complete mandatory training in competency units, within 3 months, was issued with a caution and a $700 penalty.
- An electrical contractor performed electrical work at a utility facility within a switch room. The electrical work involved a continuation of the electrical installation work being undertaken the upgrade of the preliminary treatment facility at this location.
The contractor provided a level of supervision that failed to properly assess the nature of the electrical work performed by an apprentice, the effectiveness of the apprentice's training, and the apprentice's overall competency.
As a result, the way electrical work was performed was not electrically safe. An electrical apprentice was tasked with performing electrical work near energised conductors and inadvertently drilled into an energised conductor. The failure exposed persons to the risk of serious injury or illness.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical contractor licence, effective immediately. The contractor must provide evidence from an independent and suitably credentialed third party that adequate electrical safety systems and procedures are in place, all QTPs are required to complete mandatory training in competency units, was issued with a caution and a $3,500 penalty.
The Committee’s actions were in addition to fines and notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.
A message from Keith McKenzie – Commissioner for Electrical Safety:
There is evidence of complacency from electrical work licence holders in relation to verification of the visual inspection and testing of installations. There is a significant risk to human life of the electrical licence holder, the electrical apprentice or other persons, where there is a failure to adequately undertake the appropriate tests required. I urge you to ensure the following:
Electrical worker licence holders:
- know what you are testing
- know why you are testing and the results you are expecting
- understand how to effectively execute the testing required
- record your tests, and be certain, when you leave that installation, it is electrically safe.
Electrical Contractor Licence Holders (and Qualified Technical Person (QTP’s) Responsible Person in an enterprise for electrical work - (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking):
- ensure your electrical workers are competent in testing and verification
- ensure your Safe Work Method Statements are current and reviewed regularly
- have appropriate test record sheets available and completed
- when you submit your Certificate of Testing and Safety to your clients, are you certain that the electrical installations are safe?
- have you undertaken an audit of your organisation?
With the Christmas and holiday period fast approaching, there will be jobs that are needed to be completed before the busy period or shutdown. It is more important than ever to take the time to review your Safety Management Systems in relation to electrical work and electrical testing.
Don’t be complacent, keep your head in the game, and return home safely, every day.