Electrical inspector found to have issued false certifications

In Victoria, a former electrical inspector has been convicted and fined $5000 for certifying home battery system installations as safe without inspecting them.

On Monday, 24 August, the man pleaded guilty to four charges under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 for giving false information to Energy Safe Victoria within a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES).

The charges related to certificates for batteries installed at four properties in May and September 2025. These certificates falsely stated that the man, at the time a licensed electrical inspector, had inspected, tested and certified the electrical work.

Electricians must complete and issue a COES to their customers whenever they carry out electrical work. The certificate records their work and verifies it has passed all the required tests and complies with energy safety legislation.

With higher-risk work of the type undertaken to install the batteries, a COES is only valid with a Certificate of Inspection. This documentation confirms a licensed electrical inspector attended the site, assessed the installation and certified it as safe and compliant before it was connected to the power supply.

An Energy Safe investigation was opened after residents separately reported concerns that their home battery systems had been certified without being inspected. The residents became suspicious after being told inspections had already occurred and COES had been issued, despite not being aware of any inspector attending their properties. In some cases, the battery systems were installed in locked areas of homes only accessible by the residents.

“Homeowners rely on independent inspections and electrical safety certificates to provide assurance that electrical work has been properly checked and is safe,” said Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson.

“Providing false information to Energy Safe undermines confidence in that system and compromises an important safeguard designed to protect Victorian households. We will continue to take enforcement action where those obligations are not met.”

During sentencing at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Halse highlighted the man’s significant position of trust and responsibility as a licensed electrical inspector and said it was only through good fortune that his failure to inspect the installations had not resulted in serious injury or death.

Halse added that he would have imposed a $15,000 fine if not for the man’s early guilty plea, lack of prior offending and the fact he had since retired.

For more information about Certificates of Electrical Safety and industry responsibilities, visit: www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/certificates-electrical-safety.

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