The laws in Australia are very clear about this: only qualified individuals are permitted to carry out electrical work. That means they must hold a current A-Grade electrical licence issued by the appropriate state or territory regulator. In this way, you know they are properly trained and up to the task.
Electricity is more important than ever to the modern lifestyle, with new equipment being introduced all the time, designed to improve our quality of life and to save time and effort. Although devices are increasingly sophisticated, the inherent dangers of electricity remain. When you hire a licensed Darwin electrician, you know you are in good hands.
In our multicultural society, there are electricians who gained their qualifications and experience in other countries, and they can work here provided they complete an assessment by Trades Recognition Australia, which can lead to full qualification.
What there is no room for in this area of work is the enthusiastic amateur who will help you out for a small fee. Electricity is not something to be messed with and must be taken seriously.
The Legal and Insurance Consequences of Unlicensed Work
While safety is the overriding consideration here, there are legal and insurance aspects to think about, too. If the work was not carried out by a licensed contractor and there is a problem, the insurers may not pay out. Similarly, in the event of a dispute going to court, unlicensed work will undermine the case for the defence.
What ‘Licensed’ and ‘Registered’ Actually Mean in the NT
In the Northern Territory, all electricians must hold an A-Grade licence to perform electrical work. However, to charge a fee for that work, they must also hold a separate electrical contractor’s licence. The licence shows that they have been properly trained, with a four-year apprenticeship. Only those with such a licence can appear on the register. A licensed electrician is an individual, whereas a licensed electrical contractor is a business employing electricians.
Those engaged in training through the official channels may work under the supervision of a qualified individual. Anyone who has achieved the required standard and received the qualifications may undertake electrical work in their own right and charge for their services, subject to gaining an electrical contractor licence.
Protecting Your Home and Family: Safety Standards and Warranties
Occasionally, incidents with unlicensed electricians do occur, and the authorities in NT have devised regulations to help protect the public.
These regulations cover both connecting and disconnecting electrical equipment and can apply to relatively simple jobs. Having a new cooker installed, for instance, may not seem much of a task, but if it is done incorrectly or insecurely, there could be harmful consequences, and if there is a problem, the warranty will be invalidated if the installation was not carried out by a qualified electrician.
The manufacturers want their products to work well and, above all, do no harm. The Northern Territory authorities want the community to be safe, and a good electrical contractor wants to do a competent job to ensure they build a reputation as a firm that can be trusted.
At the root of all this is the issue of safety, and that is the common goal of all concerned.
How to Tell if an Electrician is Qualified
Qualified electrical contractors state in their advertising and branding that they are suitably qualified. If you are in doubt about this, you can ask them to provide proof in the form of their certificates or by finding their name on the official register.
At Florance Electrical, we have a team that has the qualifications and the skills to carry out whatever electrical work you need. Get in touch with our team for more information.