$10K fine for aircon company

A Perth air-conditioning repair company has appeared in court for carrying out unlicensed electrical work.

The company had been contracted to install two new air-conditioning units at a property in Success. This involved electrical work such as running new circuits, installing safety switches with circuit-breaker protection and replacing lights.

Subsequently, the company issued an invoice for the completed electrical installing works, which by law must only be carried out under the authority of a licensed electrical contractor. However, the business had never held an electrical contractor’s licence.

Following prosecution by WA’s energy safety regulator, the company pleaded guilty to breaching the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. It was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $770 in costs.

Magistrate Thomas Hall acknowledged the company’s early guilty plea and steps taken since the incident to improve compliance, but highlighted the seriousness of electricity and the importance of the regulations for safety.

WA Director of Energy Safety Daniel Kearney encouraged consumers to check that any business they engage for electrical work holds an electrical contractor’s licence.

“As well as having the appropriate skills and experience to do this work correctly and safely, a licensed electrical contractor is required to hold public liability insurance and lodge official notices for electrical work, which may then be inspected for compliance,” Kearney said.

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