Key Takeaways
- In Victoria the correct name is Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES), not “compliance certificate”. They refer to the same thing.
- Only a Licensed Electrical Inspector or Registered Electrical Contractor can issue one.
- Two types: prescribed COES (high-risk work, independent inspection required) and non-prescribed COES (most household jobs).
- Cost is usually $40 to $120 for the certificate itself, often bundled into the job price.
- Keep your copy for Section 32 sale disclosure, insurance claims, and warranty proof.
If you just had an electrician work on your home in Geelong, Melbourne’s west, or anywhere in Victoria, you should walk away with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. This guide explains what the certificate is, when it’s required, who can issue one, what it costs in 2026, and what to do if you never received yours. Written for Victorian homeowners and property investors who want a plain-English answer rather than a regulatory wall of text.
What is a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is the official record that electrical work in Victoria has been tested and complies with the wiring rules. According to Energy Safe Victoria, it’s a legal document issued by an electrician to record the details of their work, confirm it has been tested, and certify it meets Australian standards.
Other states use different names for the same idea. NSW calls it a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW). Queensland uses Certificate of Testing and Compliance. The Northern Territory and South Australia call it a Certificate of Compliance. In Victoria the formal name is Certificate of Electrical Safety, abbreviated COES, but most homeowners still ask for “an electrical compliance certificate”. Same document, same purpose, different label.
What the certificate actually proves:
- The work was carried out by a licensed person.
- Testing was done (insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity, RCD function).
- The installation complies with AS/NZS 3000:2018.
- The work has been notified to Energy Safe Victoria through the ESVConnect online system.
When do you need a Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria?
You need one for almost every paid electrical job. The Electricity Safety Act 1998 splits work into two categories, and the rules for each are slightly different.
| Type | What it covers | Inspection? | Customer copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescribed COES | New installations, switchboard upgrades, additions or alterations to mains, anything covered by Schedule 3 of the regulations | Independent Licensed Electrical Inspector must verify before energising | Within 30 days, signed by both electrician and inspector |
| Non-prescribed COES | General repairs, replacing a powerpoint or light fitting, ceiling fan install, ducted heating wiring, most domestic jobs | No independent inspection required, electrician self-certifies | Within 30 days, signed by the electrician only |
Common Geelong jobs that almost always need a prescribed certificate: switchboard upgrades, mains tail replacements, new sub-mains, solar inverter changeover, and EV charger installs on a new dedicated circuit. The job cannot be energised until a Licensed Electrical Inspector has signed off, so plan the timing around inspector availability.
The only paid work that escapes the COES requirement is genuinely minor like-for-like replacement that doesn’t touch the wiring, for example swapping a corded appliance or replacing a plug top on a lead. Anything hardwired, anything new, anything tested needs a certificate.
Who is allowed to issue an electrical compliance certificate?
Only two people can issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria:
- A Registered Electrical Contractor (REC), or an A-Grade Licensed Electrician working under one, signs non-prescribed certificates.
- A Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI), working independently of the contractor, countersigns prescribed certificates after testing.
An unlicensed handyman, a builder without an electrical licence, or an apprentice working alone cannot issue a COES, even if the work looks tidy. If you’ve paid for electrical work and the person who did it can’t give you a COES, the job is unlawful. Energy Safe Victoria publishes a public register of licence holders, so you can verify before booking. Every LCK Electrical job is completed under our REC, and the certificate gets to you through ESVConnect, the same online portal Energy Safe Victoria uses.
What does an electrical certificate of compliance cost in 2026?
For most homeowners, the certificate itself is a small line item on the invoice rather than a separate fee. Energy Safe Victoria sets the lodgement charges, and the electrician typically passes them through.
| Certificate type | ESV lodgement fee | Typical customer price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-prescribed COES | $10 to $30 | Often included in job price | Most domestic jobs |
| Prescribed COES | $30 to $60 | $120 to $250 with inspection | Switchboard, mains, new circuits |
| Standalone safety inspection | n/a | $200 to $450 | When checking work done by someone else, or for landlord compliance |
Standalone inspections cost more because the electrician has to test the installation, write the report, and lodge it. If you bought a property and the previous owner can’t produce a certificate for recent work, factor in a standalone inspection. The Moonlight Electrical guide pegs this between $200 and $450, and LCK’s experience around Geelong and Melbourne’s west matches that range.
One tip worth knowing: a separate emergency call-out fee still applies if you need same-day documentation outside business hours. Plan ahead where you can.
How long does it take to receive the certificate?
For non-prescribed work, the electrician has 30 days to lodge with Energy Safe Victoria and provide your customer copy. In practice, most reputable Geelong electricians lodge the same day or within a week and email the PDF directly. Prescribed certificates take longer because the Licensed Electrical Inspector has to physically attend, test, and sign before the power can be energised, so the customer copy usually arrives a few days after the inspection.
If you haven’t received your COES within 30 days, follow up. Email or call the contractor, ask for the ESV reference number, and request the PDF copy. If they stop responding, the next step is to lodge a complaint directly with Energy Safe Victoria. They take this seriously because unrecorded work undermines the safety register, and contractors who repeatedly fail to lodge can lose their registration.
What if you never received a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
This is the most common issue we see. Someone had a powerpoint added two years ago, didn’t get the paperwork, and now they’re selling the house and the buyer’s conveyancer is asking. Three options:
- Contact the original electrician. If they’re still trading, they can usually retrieve and re-issue from ESVConnect even years later. Free, fast, simple.
- Search the ESV portal yourself. Energy Safe Victoria offers a public COES search at energysafe.vic.gov.au where you enter the property address and date range. If the certificate was lodged, you can request a copy.
- Book a standalone safety inspection. If no certificate exists, hire an independent Licensed Electrical Inspector to assess the work and issue a fresh certificate. Expect $200 to $450 depending on the scope.
One scenario where this matters more than usual: insurance claims after an electrical fire. Insurers routinely ask for certificates for any electrical work done in the previous five years. No certificate, no proof the work was compliant, and the claim can be reduced or refused. Worth keeping every COES filed somewhere you can find it. We’ve seen Geelong homeowners scramble through old emails the morning after a switchboard fire, and the certificate they thought was lost in 2023 is usually still sitting in ESVConnect.
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Get a Quote ↓Selling a property: Section 32 and the COES
In Victoria, the Section 32 vendor statement is the legal disclosure document a seller gives a buyer before contracts are signed. It must include details of any building or electrical work done at the property in the past seven years that required a permit or compliance certificate. The Certificate of Electrical Safety is the primary evidence for the electrical side.
If you’ve done a switchboard upgrade, rewired part of the house, added an EV charger, or installed solar in the last seven years, dig up the certificates before listing. Missing paperwork delays settlement, gives buyers grounds to renegotiate, and can sink the deal if the conveyancer can’t get clarification fast. Builders’ warranty insurance and home warranty schemes also reference COES records.
For Geelong landlords, the Residential Tenancies Act adds a separate obligation: electrical safety checks every two years for every rental property, and the resulting report is a different document again. The two records (compliance certificate for new work, periodic safety report for rentals) sit alongside each other in a properly maintained property file.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for any paid electrical work that involves installation, alteration, addition, or repair to fixed wiring. The only exemption is minor like-for-like replacement of a corded appliance or plug top. Hardwired powerpoints, light fittings, switches, fans, switchboards, and circuits all require a COES.
The customer pays, but it’s usually bundled into the job quote rather than itemised. Most Victorian electricians, including LCK Electrical, include the COES in the standard price for the job. Always ask for the certificate explicitly so it doesn’t slip through the gaps on small jobs.
The certificate doesn’t expire. It’s a permanent record of the work done on that date. The installation itself can degrade over time, which is why Energy Safe Victoria recommends a periodic safety inspection every five to ten years for owner-occupied homes and every two years for rental properties.
A COES is issued at the end of a specific job and confirms that work meets the wiring rules. A safety inspection report is a separate assessment of the existing installation, usually for landlords, insurance, or pre-purchase due diligence. Different document, different purpose, different price.
Yes. Contact the electrician who did the work, or search the Energy Safe Victoria public register at energysafe.vic.gov.au using the property address. Certificates are retained in the ESV system, so even certificates from years ago can usually be retrieved.
Bottom line for Victorian homeowners
Treat the Certificate of Electrical Safety the same way you treat a Roadworthy Certificate for a car: it’s the document that proves the job was done properly, and you’ll need it sooner than you think, usually when you’re selling, claiming on insurance, or arguing with a warranty provider. Every LCK Electrical job in Geelong and Melbourne’s west is lodged through ESVConnect and emailed to you as a PDF. If you’ve had electrical work done recently and don’t have your copy yet, call us on 1300 522 446 and we’ll sort it. If you’re booking new work, ask the question upfront before the electrician quotes: “is the Certificate of Electrical Safety included in this price?”. The answer should always be yes.
Related reading: domestic electrical services in Geelong, switchboard upgrades, emergency electrician callouts, and our guide to electrical safety inspections.
