Whether you are looking to hire an electrician for your home or commercial premises, requesting to see their certifications and insurance coverage is essential.
Unfortunately, there are many unqualified and unlicensed operators in Australia who could potentially make your home or business electrical potentially unsafe.
While they may seem attractive because they offer lower rates to undercut valid operators, there are many reasons why you should invest in a qualified electrician in the Hills District.
What certifications are required to be a licenced electrician in Australia?
There are two different kinds of electricians: linesmen (who work on outdoor electrical equipment and infrastructure) and wiremen (the electricians who will work inside your home or business).
Linemen, also known as line electrical workers, install transmission and distribution lines for electric utilities at higher voltages. These professionals ensure the electricity produced at power plants in the area is sent to your home, business, or industrial facility through substations.
A wireman is an electrician who works with lower voltages like those in buildings. Electrical wiremen install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industries. For example, the installation of solar panels in homes falls into this category.
All electricians must complete a traineeship or an apprenticeship. Those who wish to work without supervision must then obtain an electrical licence. An apprenticeship component involves completing a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30811) at TAFE. The licensing requirements differ from state to state.
There are many important reasons why you should seek out an electrician who has completed this training and has the appropriate insurance. Let’s go through some of these below.
You are going to get a higher standard of work
All legalities aside, the bottom line is that a licenced and insured electrician will do a better job than a cowboy operator that doesn’t have their papers or the training to get the job done to the highest standard.
These certifications aren’t just about protection, they also prove that your electrician has completed the proper training to the highest standards. As a result, their work will be neater, will be less likely to fail in the future and – most importantly – will be safe so nobody in your household will be at risk of injury or worse.
They will use reputable materials
It is not just the workmanship that could be dodgy, unlicenced electrical workers could also use substandard materials. They may not have the same access to reputable wholesalers that licenced electricians have, so they could be using materials that are likely to fail more quickly than other quality materials.
Insurance is your protection against shoddy electrical work
This works in two ways. First, a licenced electrician will have insurance, which means that they are liable if any of their work or materials fails or causes harm. Secondly, by using an unlicensed and uninsured electrical worker, you are voiding your insurance policies on your home and business, which could leave you severely out of pocket if there is an incident.
How to check if your electrician has the proper credentials and qualifications
By going to Electrical Licence Holder Search, you can find out if the electrician who works on your property is insured.
In addition, you can search licence numbers and see examples of what a current and legitimate licence may look like.
Get in touch with us if you’d like more information on the type of work we can do at your home or office, or if you would like to book an appointment with our professional and licenced team of electricians in the Hills District.