Workers placed at risk of electric shock

An electrical contractor and an electrician have been fined at Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to breaching WA’s electrical licensing regulations.

The electrician and contractor received fines of $5000 and $20,000 respectively for installing an incorrectly wired home battery storage system that put workers at risk of electric shock.

The court heard that the electrician and two apprentices under his supervision installed solar panels and a battery storage system at a Maylands property in October 2025 on behalf of the electrical contractor.

A fortnight later, an inspection identified incorrect wiring associated with the battery storage system, which could unintentionally back-feed electricity to the network during a power outage. This is classed as a dangerous defect as workers could receive an electric shock while working on equipment that is not meant to be ‘live’.

The equipment was isolated for safety and the defects were later rectified.

WA’s Director of Energy Safety — part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety — prosecuted the company for submitting a notice of completion that incorrectly declared the electrical work was complete, compliant and safe.

The electrician was prosecuted because his work did not comply with the required wiring rules. During sentencing on 19 June 2026, Magistrate Jennifer Hawkins noted the electrician’s remorse, lack of prior offences and measures to prevent similar errors.

Director of Energy Safety Matthew Peacock said it was fortunate no one was injured.

“The dangers are significant for people working on the network during an outage. They would expect this equipment to be de-energised when it could in fact be receiving hazardous voltages from a wrongly wired battery storage system,” Peacock said.

“Electricians must always comply with the wiring rules and carry out mandatory checks and tests to ensure their work is safe. The significant penalty in this case should also remind electrical contractors of their responsibility to uphold safety and compliance at all levels.”

Peacock urged the electrical industry to access the Department’s suite of resources on the safe installation of battery storage systems.

Image credit: iStock.com/Michał Chodyra