Second electrical offence leads to $43K penalty

For the second time in four years, an East Perth electrical contractor has been ordered to pay a substantial fine for submitting an inaccurate compliance notice.

The earlier penalty was imposed in June 2022, when the company was fined $25,000 in relation to hazardous electrical work carried out in 2020.

The more recent case concerned defective and dangerous electrical work at a Goldfields property in July 2022. This led to prosecution by WA’s energy safety regulator Building and Energy (a division of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety).

Perth Magistrates Court heard that an employee of the company had carried out electrical work at a Norseman home. The company then submitted a notice of completion to Horizon Power declaring the electrical work was complete, compliant with applicable legislation, and safe based on compulsory checks and tests.

An inspection later found that the electrician had incorrectly earthed the remote metering enclosure. This could have caused an electric shock to anyone who touched it if a fault occurred while the installation was energised.

The company was convicted under the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 for submitting an inaccurate notice of completion for the non-compliant electrical work. On 18 May 2026, it was fined $28,500 and ordered to pay costs of $14,827.

Pointing out that the earthing error could have caused an electric shock, WA Director of Energy Safety Daniel Kearney said it was fortunate the issue was identified and rectified before anyone was injured.

“Notices of completion are official documents designed to ensure electrical work is safe, compliant and subject to inspection,” Kearney said. “Electrical contractors must not submit a notice unless they are confident it is accurate.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Nicola Forenza