How to choose a licensed electrician in Melbourne: the checks that matter

We are a Melbourne electrical contractor, so we have an obvious interest here. That is also why we would rather you check us properly than take our word for it. Everything below applies to any electrician you are thinking of hiring, and the official sources are linked so you can read them yourself.

Licensed electrician vs Registered Electrical Contractor: what is the difference?

Victoria uses two separate credentials, and you want both.

• Licensed electrician (A grade). A person who has finished an electrical apprenticeship and passed the final assessments, licensed by Energy Safe Victoria. Energy Safe's own advice is to make sure you get an A grade electrician for household wiring.
• Registered Electrical Contractor (REC). The business that contracts with you. Energy Safe explains that an electrician must work for a Registered Electrical Contractor to do work for a customer. A licensed electrician on their own is not allowed to do electrical work for profit unless they also hold REC registration or work for a business that does.

So when someone says "I'm licensed", the follow-up question is "and what is your REC number?" A genuine business will have one ready. Energy Safe also requires RECs to put their registration number on their advertising, which is why you will see ours, REC 27575, at the top of every page on this site.

Step 1: look them up on the Energy Safe public register

This is the single most useful check, and it is free. Energy Safe Victoria runs a public register drawn from its live licensing data. You can search for a Registered Electrical Contractor by registration number, business name, suburb or postcode, and you can look up licensed electricians too. You will need to get past a CAPTCHA first.

1. Ask the business for its REC number and the business name it is registered under.
2. Search the register and check the registration is current.
3. Check the name on the register matches the business on the quote and invoice.
4. Ask who will actually do the work, and check that electrician's licence as well.

If the name on the register does not match the quote, or the number comes back with nothing, ask why before you go any further.

Step 2: ask to see the licence on the day

Energy Safe's advice is simple: ask to see the electrician's Victorian electrical licence, ideally before they start. It shows the electrician's name and licence number, and it is a silver-grey card. Energy Safe says not to let anyone start work if they will not show you their licence. A good electrician will not be offended by the question.

Step 3: check insurance

Under Energy Safe's rules, a Registered Electrical Contractor must hold current public liability insurance with a minimum cover of $5 million whenever it carries out or offers to carry out electrical contracting work, and the cover must be in the name of the registered contractor. You can see this on Energy Safe's Registered Electrical Contractors page.

For bigger jobs, building managers, strata and commercial sites, it is normal to ask for a certificate of currency before work starts. Check the insured name matches the business on your quote. Gloform Electrics is fully insured.

Step 4: get the scope in writing before work starts

Electrical prices vary a lot from job to job, so a number on its own does not tell you much. What matters is what the number covers. A useful written quote or scope tells you:

• Exactly what will be installed, replaced or repaired, and where.
• Whether the switchboard needs work to carry the new job, and whether that is included.
• Whether the work is prescribed, needing an independent inspection (more on that below), and who arranges it.
• Access issues the price allows for: ceiling space, under-floor, double-storey, after-hours work in a commercial building.
• What happens if something unexpected turns up once walls or ceilings are open.
• The workmanship warranty. All our work carries a 2-year workmanship warranty.

If you are comparing quotes, compare the scope line by line. A cheaper quote that leaves out the board work or the inspection can end up costing more. If a quote is hard to compare, ask the electrician to break it down. We give you a price before any work starts, and we explain what is driving it.

Step 5: make sure you get a Certificate of Electrical Safety

A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is the legal record of the electrical work done at your property. Energy Safe's guide for the community explains that only registered and licensed electrical workers can buy and lodge these certificates, which is one reason the COES is good evidence the work was done by the right people.

There are two types:

• Non-prescribed work covers everyday jobs such as lights, power points, air conditioning and hot water. No inspection is needed, the work is left on once complete, and Energy Safe says the electrician must give you a copy of the certificate within 30 days.
• Prescribed work covers higher-risk work such as consumer mains, the main switchboard, the meter box and main earthing. It has to be inspected by an independent Licensed Electrical Inspector, and your electrician organises that. Energy Safe says the inspection should be done within 8 business days of completing the work, prescribed work cannot be turned on or left on until it has been inspected, and you should get your copy within 4 days once the inspection is complete.

Two more points from Energy Safe that are worth knowing. An electrician cannot refuse to issue a COES for any reason, including a payment dispute. And if you never received one, you can ask Energy Safe to search for it. Keep your certificates with your house paperwork. They are useful when you sell, when you rent the property out, and when you do more work later.

Questions to ask before you book

1. What is your REC number, and who will do the work? Then check both on the register.
2. Will I get a Certificate of Electrical Safety? The answer should be yes for electrical installation work.
3. Is any of this prescribed work that needs an inspection? If so, who books it and roughly when?
4. Does my switchboard need work for this job? New circuits often need safety switch protection and space on the board. Our guide to when to upgrade a switchboard explains the usual signs.
5. What warranty do you give on the workmanship?
6. How do you handle surprises? Older Melbourne houses can hide old wiring in the walls. You want to hear "we stop, show you and price it before going on".
7. Can you work around my business or tenants? For shops, offices and rentals, ask about after-hours work and how access is arranged.

Warning signs to walk away from

• No REC number, or a number that does not match the business name on the register.
• They will not show a licence when asked.
• They say a certificate is not needed, or offer a lower price to skip it.
• They turn on new mains or switchboard work before the inspection.
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a scope that changes every time you ask.
• A friend or handyman offering to do "just a small bit" of wiring. Energy Safe is clear that doing your own electrical work is illegal and can be deadly, and the same goes for anyone who is not licensed.

If a contractor will not show their licence or will not give you a certificate, Energy Safe asks you to contact them. You can reach Energy Safe through its community support page.

Homes, rentals and commercial spaces: what changes

Homes. The checks above cover most jobs. For renovations, talk to the electrician before the cabinets or plaster are locked in. Our kitchen renovation guide shows how the timing works, and our renovations page covers rewires and extensions.

Rentals. Landlords have extra duties, including the two-yearly electrical safety check and the electrical safety minimum standard. Our rental electrical safety check guide and rental safety checks page go through them.

Commercial spaces. Building managers usually need the insurance certificate, induction details and after-hours access sorted before day one. Ask how the contractor labels circuits on shared boards and how they report back. Our maintenance and safety and compliance pages cover ongoing work for shops, offices and strata.

How we work

1. You call or send the form. Tell us your suburb, what is happening and, if you can, send a photo of the switchboard.
2. We look at the job. For faults we come out and find the cause. For planned work we check the board and the existing wiring first.
3. You get a clear price before work starts. If the board needs work, we tell you why.
4. We do the work and test it. Prescribed work is inspected before it is turned on.
5. You get your certificate. A Certificate of Electrical Safety is issued where the work needs one, and the job carries our 2-year workmanship warranty.

We work right across Melbourne, with regular jobs in Caulfield, Brighton, Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Dandenong, Frankston and down to Mornington. See all our service areas and services. Gloform Electrics is rated 4.9 from 52 Google reviews.

Quick answers

How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Victoria? Search the Energy Safe Victoria public register for the business's REC number or name, and ask to see the electrician's licence card before work starts. Check that the name on the register matches your quote.

Is a licensed electrician the same as a Registered Electrical Contractor? No. A licensed electrician is the qualified person. A Registered Electrical Contractor is the registered business that contracts with you. To do work for a customer, an electrician has to hold REC registration or work for a business that does.

Do I get a certificate for small jobs like a new power point? Yes. A Certificate of Electrical Safety is needed for electrical installation work, including everyday non-prescribed jobs like lights and power points. Energy Safe says you should receive it within 30 days.

What insurance should a Victorian electrical contractor have? Energy Safe requires Registered Electrical Contractors to hold current public liability insurance with a minimum of $5 million cover, in the name of the registered contractor.

What if my electrician never gave me a certificate? Ask them first. They cannot refuse to issue one, even over a payment dispute. If that does not work, Energy Safe can search for the certificate and take a complaint.