Electricians in TasmaniaEvery electrical job here is licensed work.

Practitioner and contractor licences

Under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005, the person doing the work needs a practitioner's licence of the right class, unless they're in approved training under a licensed practitioner's supervision. The business needs a contractor's licence, which is only issued or renewed while it holds the insurance the Administrator requires. Work on a fixed home battery counts as electrical work as well.

Unlicensed work carries penalties of up to 200 penalty units for an individual and 400 for a company. Claiming to be licensed when you're not, or offering a contract for electrical work without the right contractor's licence behind it, is also an offence.

Checking a licence in Tasmania

The Administrator must keep a register of licence holders and publish details such as each holder's preferred name, business name and business premises address online. We couldn't open CBOS's own search to confirm how it works, so ask for the practitioner and contractor licence numbers, and confirm them with CBOS if you can't find them yourself.

The record you get after the work

The regulations we've read call it an approved form rather than naming a certificate, so ask the electrician what you'll receive. Once the work is energised, or can be, they must give you a copy as soon as practicable and keep the record for at least 10 years. These rules still apply when a licensed electrician does a job for free.

Smoke alarms in Tasmanian homes

Every residential property needs smoke alarms, to the Building Code standard that applied when it was built or majorly renovated. Tasmania Fire Service's timeline says alarms had to be hard-wired from 1 August 1997, and hard-wired and interconnected from 1 May 2014 where there's more than one, though it doesn't say whether those dates reach back to older homes. Put one in every hallway serving bedrooms and on each level.

Rentals have been covered since 1 May 2013. Alarms there must be mains powered or run on a 10-year non-removable battery, sit in all hallways and at the top of all stairways, and be cleaned and tested before a new tenant moves in. Tasmania Fire Service recommends photoelectric alarms and a full replacement every 10 years.

Renting: wiring and power points must be safe

An owner can't enter into, extend or renew a lease unless the power points and the wiring in the walls and ceiling are safe and supply electricity, apart from any the condition report notes as not working. The home must also be connected to mains power or a working generator. We haven't confirmed a Tasmanian rule on safety switches for sales or rentals.

TasNetworks, storms and your own poles

TasNetworks runs the grid statewide, and only licensed electrical contractors can register to lodge works requests with it. Private poles and lines generally start at the first pole on your property and are yours to look after. Keep trees at least 3 metres from overhead lines, using an authorised contractor.

Storms here can be long ones. The storm that began on 26 August 2024 brought winds up to 156 km/h, and some customers waited up to 23 days for power.