Residents receive electric shocks after wiring error

A serious wiring error at a property in Geraldton, WA, has led to residents receiving electric shocks and an electrician being hit with a $5000 fine.

Geraldton Magistrates Court heard that the homeowner had engaged an electrical company in November 2023 to undertake upgrades to the property’s electrical installation. As part of these works, the electrician attended the property and replaced the cabling between the network meter and the main switch within the switchboard.

Over the following three days, the homeowner and a family member received electric shocks in separate incidents while tiling the bathroom and laying turf outside.

Western Power inspected and found that the connection of the active and neutral load conductors at the meter was transposed — this caused all parts of the house connected to the earthing system, such as water pipes and taps, to become live with electricity.

Following prosecution by WA safety regulator Building and Energy, the electrical worker pleaded guilty to breaching the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The worker was not named because the court granted a spent conviction.

In March 2026, Magistrate Andrew Wadham noted the electrician’s early guilty plea and medical issues, but emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating it can only take one shock to kill someone. Costs of $968 were awarded.

WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Daniel Kearney, said it was fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed.

“The consequences could have been devastating, clearly showing why electrical work must be done correctly every time, including carrying out mandatory checks and tests,” Kearney said.

“This case should remind all electricians, and the electrical contractors that employ them, that they must have robust procedures to be confident that all electrical installing work is safe and compliant.

“This incident is a timely reminder that if anyone experiences a shock or tingle from their tap or other metal objects, they should immediately report the incident to the network operator, such as Western Power or Horizon Power, as the homeowner correctly did in this case.”

Image credit: iStock.com/sommart