Australia is currently in the midst of an ambitious energy transition. In 2024 alone, 4,346 MW of new generation capacity has been approved, representing over $9 billion in capital value.
This means electrical contractors targeting high-value infrastructure or large-scale commercial developments have a significant commercial opportunity. However, success in securing these contracts is in part reliant on demonstrating regulatory compliance and specialised certification during the tendering phase. This is particularly important in government procurement, where assessment criteria mandate various compliance documentation as a non-negotiable.
Does compliance matter when tendering?
As electrical tendering is one of the main ways a contracting business can grow and find new clients, and compliance is a core commercial metric, failing to meet technical, administrative, or ethical thresholds is a big problem. During the Request for Tender (RFT) process, a lack of compliance invalidates your commercial competitiveness, even if you have the best price.
A contractor’s compliance history is linked to commercial viability through probity rules, especially in government tendering. These rules ensure supplier practices are honest, ethical, and most importantly, safe. In 2024, the construction industry accounted for 47% of all Work, Health & Safety (WHS) prosecution cases in Australia, with 97% resulting in a financial penalty averaging $116,979 per case. A demonstrable history of WHS violations creates a probity risk that will make your tender efforts near pointless.
How do electricians ensure good compliance?
Electrical work requires proper licensing, which is non-negotiable and primarily administered at the state level. All personnel must hold the correct category of licence, and if you are working in a different state, Mutual Recognition schemes, such as the East Coast Electricians Scheme, will allow holders of unrestricted electrician’s licences from Victoria, NSW, or Queensland to operate within participating areas.
Beyond the standard low-voltage licensing, here are some other important licences to consider based on the type of work the project requires:
- HV Switching Certification
Electricians performing the role of an authorised High Voltage Switching Operator must hold a current Unrestricted Electrical Workers Licence and demonstrate competency through specific training units.
- Accredited Service Providers (ASPs)
For work on or near electricity distribution networks, ASP accreditation is essential in states like NSW. Level 1 ASP Grade ‘A’ status permits involvement in the design and construction of assets connecting to the grid, including critical infrastructure works such as 33kV and 132kV transmission lines.
- Statutory Design Sign-off
In Queensland, a Design Engineer (Electrical Level 2) working on complex infrastructure projects requires registration as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ). A relevant engineering degree and extensive post-graduate experience are also required.
What are the specifics of WHS compliance for electrical work?
There are high-risk failures that electrical contractors must specifically address in their WHS plans. As we all know, electrical work is dangerous, but what you may not be aware of is that 27% of all people electrocuted in 2023–2024 were electrical workers.
In response to this, regulators have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to serious risks, with SafeWork NSW issuing over $134,820 in fines for hazards identified during audits.
Here are two of the most important WHS-specific Compliance risk areas to consider based on stats from the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) report:
- Powerline Voltage Identification
A significant 48% of audited construction sites failed to identify the voltage of nearby powerlines. This failure is critical in projects involving large easements or proximity to transmission infrastructure.
- Construction Switchboard Compliance
25% of the construction switchboards audited were found to be non-compliant with AS/NZS 3012. In the case of tenders, for example, builders must guarantee that all temporary and permanent construction wiring, switchboards, and transportable structures will be inspected, tested, and tagged by licensed personnel.
What are the wiring rules that must be adhered to for good electrical compliance?
In Australia and New Zealand, all electrical design and installation work must comply with AS/NZS 3000:2018. These are the requirements for the design, construction, and verification of electrical installations. The National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 also dictates minimum required levels for safety, health, and amenity in buildings.
For public infrastructure projects that are a little more complex, such as transmission or road assets, formal external reviews are also run. Asset owners require a comprehensive design review of all proposed changes to ensure the integrity of the existing asset base.
Important note: Technical specifications, especially in tenders, cannot mandate a particular brand or proprietary system unless strictly necessary for interoperability with existing equipment. Tenders can be rejected based on material procedural non-compliance.
Which certification and compliance documents are non-negotiable for electrical subbies?
The Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW or COES) is the main required legal document in Australia. Electricians must provide a CCEW to demonstrate that work has been tested and complies with relevant Australian Standards and state safety legislation.
Failure to lodge compliance certificates is a common electrical licensing violation. This can be tricky for those working on major projects, where thousands of individual installations and modifications are made, but non-compliance can result in the issuance of formal notices and further enforcement actions, including prosecution.
Tips to stay successfully compliant
The best way to make sure you are accurately compliant is to adopt a strategic, proactive compliance model. Here are some tips to do this:
- Run internal audits to stop any WHS or financial history weaknesses that could threaten bids under probity rules.
- Make sure you have the correct state contractor licences for the regions you are working in.
- Use digital systems where possible for real-time tracking, management, and guaranteed digital lodgement of all Certificates of Electrical Safety, transforming documentation. E1 helps you compile all of this for your tender bids to make things simpler.
- Ensure your WHS plans explicitly address high-frequency regulatory concerns (especially any that have been identified in recent audits), including powerline voltage identification and AS/NZS 3012 compliance for construction switchboards.
Staying compliant and winning new work
Remember, compliance is a strategic competitive advantage. Poor performance transforms into non-negotiable probity failure, which makes your tendering efforts redundant and blocks the opportunity for new work.
Compliance should be a core element of your electrical commercial tendering strategy, and E1 is here to make it easier to navigate Australia’s multi-jurisdictional regulatory landscape.
Alexander
Green
General Manager - Subcontractors
