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Common questions and answers about energy safety, systems and services

Solar and renewable energy

Energy Safe Victoria does not conduct inspections of home solar.
The Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) that you have engaged is to provide the solar installation is required to arrange the inspection with a Licensed Electrical Inspector.
Please contact the Registered Electrical Contractor regarding this matter so they can notify you of when to expect the inspection.
If you have purchased your Solar System through a solar retailer contact the retailer to obtain an inspection date from the REC they have contracted to provide the installation.

Electrical installations and electricians, electrical workers and electrical inspectors

Registered Electrical Contractor (REC)
A Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) employs licensed electricians. An electrician employed by an REC can carry out electrical installation work for profit.
An REC might be a:
- person
- business
- company.
Electrician
Energy Safe will issue an electrician's licence to a person who has:
- successfully completed an electrical apprenticeship
- passed their final assessments.
An electrician is not allowed to carry out electrical work for profit or reward. To carry out work for profit or reward, they must also hold registration as an electrical contractor – or work for an electrical contractor.
Public registers
We have public registered that you can search for licensed electricians and RECs.
Search a public register here.
Yes.
An electrician should show you their Victorian electrical licence if requested. – it's good to request this before they commence any electrical work.
An electrician's licence will:
- state the electrician's name
- show the electrician's licence number
- be a silver-grey colour.
Don't allow anyone to commence work if they won't show you their electrical licence.
Energy Safe may carry out inspection of an electrical installation to gather evidence. This usually follows a serious incident or to check for compliance after a complaint is made.
Energy Safe also engages contract licensed electrical inspectors for a random audit scheme. In this process, we check to ensure electrical installation work – described on a Certificate of Electrical Safety – is compliant with legislation and technical standards.
Learn more about the Certificates of Electrical Safety Auditing Scheme.
Energy Safe may make inquiries seeking to:
- establish the identity of a person
- establish if a person holds an electrician’s licence or registration as an electrical contractor
- determine the entity that is legally responsible for the carrying out of electrical work
- determine whether that work is safe and compliant with technical Standards.

Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES)

A Certificate of Electrical Safety is a legal document. It's issued by a licensed electrician that has completed electrical work.
A Certificate of Electrical Safety must be issued whenever any electrical work has been completed – and is issued by the electrician that carried out that work.
If you have not been provided with a Certificate of Electrical Safety, please contact your electrician and request the certificate before contacting Energy Safe.
Learn more about Certificates of Electrical Safety.

Contact forms

If your question or concern hasn't been answered, contact us for help and information.

Contact our departments

For life-threatening emergencies, call triple zero (000).

Energy Safe Victoria is here to help

General queries info@energysafe.vic.gov.au
Call Reception on 03 9203 9700 or 1800 800 158 (free call).

Note: we no longer have a fax number. Please use email or post to send us printed materials.

Contact details for all departments

Date: 20/01/2025 11:35

The currency and accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the Energy Safe Victoria website for the current version.