The terms electrician and electrical contractor are often used interchangeably, but they’re not actually the same thing. There’s an important distinction you need to know to make sure you get the right person for your electrical needs.
Electrician
An electrician is a fully licensed tradesperson that is permitted to complete electrical services. However, if an electrician wants to work for themselves, they must acquire an electrical contractor's licence.
Registered Electrical Contractors (REC)
An electrical contractor is an electrician who has completed further training and qualifications in order to obtain an electrical contractor's licence. An electrical contractor can work for themselves and have other people work for them.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV)
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the energy safety regulator responsible for issuing electrical licences in Victoria. According to ESV, an Electrical Contractor is "a business, person or company employing electricians to carry out electrical installation work for profit".
Energy Safe Victoria requires Registered Electrical Contractors (REC) to operate in a safe and compliant manner.
Terms of registration
A registration may be issued or renewed subject to any conditions that ESV imposes, including a condition that a registration may apply to only one class of electrical work.
To be Registered Electrical Contractor (REC), you must have the skills, experience, technical and business knowledge to undertake electrical installation work. After completing an application process to show you have these skills, experience and knowledge you will be issued an REC licence. This licence needs to be renewed every 5 years.
Registered Electrical Contractor Requirements
An REC needs to have a Business Supervisor. This is the person responsible for the management and administration of the business. They need to have completed the Registered Electrical Contractors course or show equivalent qualifications.
They also need to have a Technical Supervisor. This person oversees all electrical work and must have at least 10 years experience as an electrician and have completed the Licensed Electrician Assessment (or equivalent) within the last 5 years.
Lastly, an REC needs to have public liability insurance of at least $5 million held in the REC name.
Why is it important to use a Registered Electrical Contractor?
Using a REC ensures that they have public liability insurance cover in the case of personal injury or damage to the property. This covers both the homeowner and the electrical company, as insurance companies will not cover unlicensed electrical work.
Not only does the electrical contractor have insurance, they must also ensure that they have a qualified person to take responsibility for ensuring all electrical installation work is designed and executed in a compliant manner.
Before you decide to hire an electrical contractor, you should always ensure they have the correct licences which you can check through the Energy Safe Victoria website. If you hire a licensed electrician who doesn’t have their electrical contractor licence, there is the possibility that the work they complete will not be safe and could put yourself and the property at risk.
Looking for an Electrical Contractor?
Contact our expert team today!