Electrical compliance requirements
Whenever electrical work has been undertaken, electricians in NSW must submit Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) to prove compliance and installation safety inspections have taken place. Penalties apply for non-compliance or unsafe installations.
What is a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW)?
By law, any electrical wiring work must be done by, or under the supervision of a licensed electrician.
Electricians are required to provide Building Commission NSW with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) to show that the work has been tested and complies with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018, relevant Australian Standards and the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 legislation.
A CCEW can assist a customer for warranty purposes for the electrical article that has been installed. Electricians can give a copy of the CCEW to the customer by:
- adding the customer’s email address when completing the CCEW in BCNSW eCert portal. The system will automatically send a copy when the certificate is lodged
- logging in to the system at any time to download a copy, which can then be printed or shared with the customer
Relevant standards include AS/NZS 3000 Australia/New Zealand Wiring Rules.
When does a CCEW need to be submitted?
The person who carries out the electrical test must submit a CCEW as soon as practical, but no later than seven days after the electrical test has been completed.
How to submit a CCEW
From 1 July 2026
You must submit all CCEWs through the BCNSW eCert portal.
Previous submission methods, including the CCEW PDF form, Essential Energy portal or hard copy (NECA book) forms will no longer be accepted.
Visit BCNSW eCert portal to register, submit a CCEW, or access user guides for the portal.
Find out more about BCNSW eCert portal
Who receives a copy of the CCEW?
The tester is responsible for submitting the CCEW to Building Commission NSW.
Once submitted through the BCNSW eCert portal, copies of the CCEW can be automatically provided to relevant parties based on the information in the certificate.
This may include:
- the electrical distributor, where required (for example, new installations or work affecting network connection)
- to the customer email (where their email is provided)
- to the electrician’s employer or principal contractor (where their email is provided).
What are the penalties for not submitting a CCEW?
Under the legislation, substantial penalties apply, including on the spot fines of up to $1000, for each occasion when a CCEW is not supplied to Building Commission NSW.
Substantial penalties also apply (up to $550,000) for failure to carry out electrical installation work in accordance with the technical standards set out in the Regulation.
Electrical installation safety inspection prior to remote re-energisation of premises
If an electrical installation has been de-energised for 6 months or more, an electrical installation safety inspection is required by a qualified electrician to ensure, as far as practically possible, the electrical installation is safe to re-energise.
After the safety inspection has been conducted, an Electrical Installation Safety Inspection Certificate (remote re-energisation safety statement), on the approved form, is completed and provided to the customer.
The remote re-energisation safety statement includes details of the minimum checks and tests required prior to issuing the certificate.
The customer will need to provide a copy of the certificate to their electricity retailer when arranging for re-energisation to be undertaken.