Four checks, in this order
The licence
Ask for the licence number and look it up. Our licence guide lists every state's register. In Victoria the business should be a Registered Electrical Contractor; in WA, look for an EC number for the business and an EW number for the electrician.
The insurance
Ask for a certificate of currency for their public liability insurance, as Access Canberra suggests. Some states set a floor: a Victorian Registered Electrical Contractor and an NT electrical contractor both need public liability insurance of at least $5 million.
The right specialist
Electrical work is broad. Someone who fits EV chargers every week knows the network rules and the switchboard questions; someone who mostly wires new builds may not. Energy NSW suggests getting quotes from licensed electricians with EV charger experience, and Solar Victoria makes the same point.
A written quote
You want the scope, the parts, who handles any network or meter work, and the certificate you'll get. Our guide to reading an electrical quote goes through it line by line.
Which kind of electrician does your job need?
Most jobs inside the house need a licensed electrician who does that work regularly. A few need someone more specific.
Service lines, connections and meter work in NSW are done by a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider, under a scheme NSW runs. Energy NSW suggests getting at least three quotes and checking the provider's level and class suit the job. See Level 2 electricians.
Supply changes in Victoria, like going to three phase, upgrading a meter panel or moving the supply underground, can only be applied for by a registered electrical contractor on the CitiPower and Powercor networks.
Old switchboards can hide asbestos in the backing board. Essential Energy suggests telling the electrician the board may contain it and asking how they'll manage the risk before work starts. That's a question for someone who replaces old boards often.
Hardwired smoke alarms, EV chargers and rewiring are all licensed work where experience shows: in the questions they ask, the things they spot, and how tidy the finished job is.
Red flags worth walking away from
- No licence number, or a number that belongs to someone else.
- No licence number on their ads or website where the law requires one: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, the ACT, and the NT since 1 July 2026.
- A figure over the phone with no written scope.
- They suggest skipping the certificate, or say you won't need one.
- Pressure to decide on the spot.
- They can't say who arranges the meter or network side of the job.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- How often do you do this exact kind of job?
- Who does the work on the day, and what licence do they hold?
- Does my switchboard have room for this, or will it need work first?
- Will you handle any network application or notice?
- Which certificate will I get, and when?
- What isn't included in this quote?
When two quotes look very different
Usually they're quoting different jobs. One might include a switchboard upgrade, the network paperwork and patching the plaster; the other might not. Line them up item by item before you compare the totals.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a service you pay for must be done correctly and with care and skill, and what you buy has to match what the salesperson or ad promised. That protection applies whoever you choose, but it's far easier to lean on when the scope is in writing.
What you can line up, and what's theirs
You can
- Take a clear photo of the switchboard with the meter box door open, without touching anything inside.
- Write down when the problem happens and what's running at the time.
- Find any old certificates or receipts for past electrical work.
- Check the licence and insurance before the first visit.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Finding the fault and testing the circuits.
- Anything behind a power point, switch, light or switchboard cover.
- Applying to the network for a bigger supply or a new connection.
- Lodging the compliance certificate.
How we'd pick
We'd choose the electrician who does our kind of job every week, after checking their licence, and we'd want the scope in writing before saying yes. That's the idea behind how we match: one licence-checked local electrician who specialises in the job, rather than a list of five to ring around.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.