Three further prosecutions of unlicensed electrical workers

The recent prosecutions of a further three unlicensed electrical workers should serve as a timely reminder to consumers to ensure they always use a licensed electrical worker and ask for certification for all work carried out.

The warning comes from the Registrar of the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) John Sickels, who says a practising licence holder is a professional who is legally allowed to do electrical work, is up to date with current safety procedures and has access to electrical standards.

“Consumers should ask to see the practising licence of any electrical worker they intend to engage, before any electrical work is commenced and also get an assurance that certification will be issued when the work is completed.”

The warning comes after a total of 19 people have been prosecuted over the past year for carrying out unauthorised electrical work, under the Electricity Act 1992.

On 1 October 2014, Robin Matthysen was sentenced in the Hutt Valley District Court after pleading guilty to installing a heat pump in an Upper Hutt house in July 2013 without being registered or licensed as an electrical worker. He was fined $2,000, plus costs.

John Sickels says this latest prosecution follows two others last month. On the 24th of September Raphael Eleftheriadis was found guilty in the Levin District Court of one charge of performing unauthorised electrical work when he was hired to install a heat pump at a residential property in July last year. The homeowner found that the heat pump did not work to full capacity and some parts of it were damaged. Mr Eleftheriadis was fined $4,500, plus costs.

On 3 September, Robert Hughes was found guilty in the Christchurch District Court of one charge of performing unauthorised prescribed electrical work when he installed electrical wiring, two internal lights, four power points and one external light in a self contained sleep-out which he sold online.

An electrical inspector found that almost all the terminations were loose and the twisting of copper strands substandard. Taking into account his limited financial circumstances, Mr Hughes was fined $1,000, plus costs.

John Sickels says the role of the EWRB is to help keep consumers safe and ensure that high quality electrical work is being carried out across New Zealand.

“We hope these latest prosecutions serve as a timely reminder to consumers to always use a licensed electrical worker and always ask for certification for all electrical work carried out in your home. That way, you know the work is safe and of a high standard.”

John Sickels says consumers can find a licensed electrical worker by visiting the EWRB website here:
http://www.ewrb.govt.nz/for-consumers/find-an-electrical-worker/

ENDS

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