Faulty electrical work is a hazard to you, your family and your home, so you should have real assurance that any work done in your house is safe. We have written before about why you should never DIY your electrical work. The other half of the picture is making sure the work you pay for comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
What is a COES?
A Certificate of Electrical Safety, or COES, is the document that certifies electrical installation work in Victoria. It records what was done, who did it and that the work complies with the safety rules. It is not an optional extra. Certificates are a legal requirement for electrical installation work in Victoria, and they are managed through Energy Safe Victoria, the state’s electrical safety regulator.
Why it matters to you
The certificate is your proof that the work in your home was done by a licensed electrician and completed to standard. That matters for peace of mind, and it can matter a great deal for insurance. If uncertified work causes a fire or an accident, you may find your insurer takes a very close interest in who did the work and whether it was certified.
It also matters when you sell. Buyers and their inspectors ask about electrical work, and having certificates on file makes that conversation easy.
Whose job is it?
Your electrician’s. It is the electrician’s responsibility to complete and lodge the certificate with Energy Safe Victoria and to give you a copy. If an electrician finishes a job at your place and no certificate appears, ask for it. A licensed electrician doing compliant work has no reason to hold it back. If you cannot get a straight answer, you can contact Energy Safe Victoria directly about obtaining a copy and raising a complaint.
Keep your copies somewhere you can find them. A folder with your house documents is all it takes.
At Quay Electrical, every job we complete comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. If you want an expert set of eyes across your home’s wiring, our electrical safety inspections cover the switchboard, wiring, safety switches and smoke alarms. To find out more, contact us here.