Electricity makes daily life easy. But it can also be deadly when handled incorrectly.
In Australia, electrical work is strictly regulated for a good reason. The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) reports that electrical faults cause around 4,000 house fires across the country every year. Many of these trace back to work done by someone without the right licence.
At Stuart Johnston Electrical, we have been working across Wollongong and the Illawarra since 1995. Over the years, we have been called out to fix jobs that went wrong because someone tried to do it themselves or hired an unlicensed person. It happens more often than people expect.
This guide explains what electrical work legally requires a licensed electrician, what you can do yourself, and what the risks are if you get it wrong.
The Rules in Australia
Every state and territory in Australia requires electrical work to be done by a licensed electrician. The national standard behind this is the AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules, which sets the minimum requirements for all electrical installations.
In New South Wales, where Stuart Johnston Electrical operates, the rules fall under the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004, managed by NSW Fair Trading. Doing electrical work without a licence here is a criminal offence.
Each state has its own licensing body:
- NSW – NSW Fair Trading
- Victoria – Energy Safe Victoria
- Queensland – Queensland Building and Construction Commission
- South Australia – Consumer and Business Services SA
- Western Australia – Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
- Tasmania – Consumer, Building and Occupational Services
- ACT – Access Canberra
- Northern Territory – Electrical Licensing Board NT
What Electrical Work Requires a Licensed Electrician?
In simple terms, if a task involves your home or building’s fixed wiring in any way, a licensed electrician must do it. Here is a breakdown by category.
Power Points and Wiring
- Installing or moving a power point
- Running new cables through walls or ceilings
- Adding new circuits to your switchboard
- Rewiring any part of a home or building
A lot of homeowners think swapping a power point is a quick DIY job. It is not. Even a single power point connects to your fixed wiring system, which makes it licensed work under Australian law.
Lighting and Ceiling Fans
- Installing any light fitting connected to fixed wiring
- Adding new lighting circuits
- Installing a ceiling fan
- Replacing a dimmer switch
- Installing outdoor lighting
You can change a light bulb. But replacing the fitting itself requires a licensed electrician because you are disconnecting and reconnecting a fixed electrical connection.
Switchboards and Safety Switches
- Upgrading an old fuse board to a modern circuit breaker panel
- Installing or replacing safety switches (RCDs)
- Adding new circuits to a switchboard
- Upgrading from single phase to three phase supply
Switchboard work carries high risk. A fault here can affect the entire property and create a serious fire hazard. Many older homes in the Wollongong area still have original ceramic fuse boards that no longer meet today’s safety standards. This is one of the most common upgrades we carry out.
Hot Water and Appliances
- Connecting an electric hot water system
- Wiring in an electric oven or cooktop
- Installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger
- Hardwiring any fixed appliance
These appliances draw high amounts of power. An incorrect connection is a direct fire risk.
Solar Power
- Installing solar panels and wiring
- Connecting a solar system to the grid
- Installing battery storage
- Setting up solar metering
Solar work involves both DC wiring from panels and connection to your home’s AC wiring and the grid. In NSW, grid connection also requires an Accredited Level 2 Service Provider. Stuart Johnston Electrical holds this accreditation through Endeavour Energy.
Level 2 Work
Level 2 work covers the connection between the electricity network and your property. This includes:
- Overhead and underground service connections
- Metering installation and removal
- Consumer mains repairs
- Emergency overhead or underground repairs
Level 2 work needs a separate licence beyond the standard electrical contractor licence. Not all electricians hold this. In the Wollongong and Illawarra area, this work must be done by an Endeavour Energy Authorised Level 2 Provider.
Data and Communications Cabling
- Phone and data cabling connected to the NBN or telephone network requires an ACMA-registered cabler
- Where data cabling connects to electrical systems, a licensed electrician is also required
Stuart Johnston Electrical holds ACRS (Austel) accreditation for data and communications work, covering NBN installations, Cat 5, 6 and 7 cabling, and network cabinet setups.
Commercial Work
All the same rules apply in commercial settings, with added requirements:
- Three phase power installations
- Emergency and exit lighting
- Testing and tagging of equipment
- Thermal imaging inspections
- Shop fitouts involving electrical work
Commercial sites have stricter compliance obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in NSW.
What You Can Do Without a Licence
The law does allow homeowners to do a small number of tasks themselves:
- Changing a light bulb
- Resetting a tripped circuit breaker or safety switch
- Plugging in or unplugging appliances
- Using power boards and extension cords with the RCM mark
- Replacing a battery in a battery-operated smoke alarm
None of these tasks involve touching fixed wiring. That is the key difference.
Why Unlicensed Electrical Work Is Dangerous
The risks are real and serious.
Electric shock can occur from a single incorrectly wired connection. At 100 milliamps, which is a fraction of what runs through a standard household circuit, cardiac arrest is a real possibility.
House fires are another major risk. According to Fire and Rescue NSW, electrical faults are consistently among the leading causes of residential fires in New South Wales. Many start inside walls or in roof spaces, where a wiring fault can smoulder for hours before anyone notices.
Hidden faults can sit undetected for months or years before something goes wrong. By then, a property may have changed hands, making it even harder to trace the cause.
Penalties for Unlicensed Work in NSW
The Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 sets out serious penalties:
- Fines of up to $110,000 for individuals
- Fines of up to $220,000 for businesses
- Rectification orders requiring the work to be properly completed at your own cost
- Potential criminal prosecution for serious or repeated offences
NSW Fair Trading actively investigates reports of unlicensed electrical work.
How Unlicensed Work Affects Your Insurance
Home insurance policies require work to comply with Australian Standards and building regulations. If unlicensed electrical work causes a fire or injury, your insurer has grounds to:
- Deny your claim
- Void your policy
- Hold you personally liable for any damages
Insurance companies investigate the cause of electrical claims. If a fault is found in unlicensed work, the outcome for the homeowner is rarely good.
For landlords, the exposure is even greater. Under NSW tenancy and WHS legislation, landlords have a legal duty to keep rental properties safe.
How to Check If an Electrician Is Licensed in NSW
Before any work starts, take a few minutes to check:
- Ask for their licence number. Any licensed electrician will give this without hesitation.
- Check the NSW Fair Trading register at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. You can search by name or licence number.
- Ask about Level 2 accreditation if you need service connection or metering work done.
- Request a Certificate of Compliance once the job is finished. This confirms the work was done to standard and is important for insurance and future property sales.
Quick Reference Table
| Task | Licensed Electrician Required? |
| Changing a light bulb | No |
| Resetting a circuit breaker | No |
| Replacing a power point or light fitting | Yes |
| Installing a ceiling fan | Yes |
| Adding a new power point | Yes |
| Switchboard upgrade | Yes |
| Solar installation and grid connection | Yes |
| Level 2 service connection work | Yes (Level 2 licence required) |
| EV charger installation | Yes |
| NBN and data cabling | Yes (ACMA registration required) |
Need a Licensed Electrician in Wollongong?
Stuart Johnston Electrical has been serving Wollongong, Shellharbour, Dapto, Fairy Meadow, Corrimal, Albion Park, and the wider Illawarra since 1995. We are fully licensed, Endeavour Energy authorised for Level 2 work, and ACRS accredited for data cabling. Every job comes with a Certificate of Compliance.
Whether you need a single power point, a full switchboard upgrade, a solar connection, or an emergency callout, we will do the job properly and safely.
Call us today or email info@stuartjohnstonelectrical.com.aufor a fixed-price quote.