Your electrical safety & licensing guide.
A plain-English rundown of the rules that matter for electrical work in Wollongong and the Illawarra — who is allowed to do it, what a Level 2 electrician is, the standard every job must meet, the safety-switch and smoke-alarm laws, and how the local network fits in. Every reference below links to the official source so you can check it yourself.
The rules every Illawarra homeowner should know.
- NSW Fair Trading — electrical licence check. All electrical work in NSW must be done by a licensed electrician, and you can verify any licence on the public register. It is illegal (and dangerous) for an unlicensed person to do fixed wiring — always confirm before work starts. NSW Fair Trading
- Level 2 ASP (Accredited Service Provider). Only a Level 2 electrician can work on the service mains, metering and the point of supply that connect your home to the grid — the work an EV charger upgrade, new connection or switchboard relocation often requires. Ausgrid lists accredited service providers for its network. Ausgrid — ASP & contestable works
- AS/NZS 3000 — the Wiring Rules. The Australian/New Zealand Standard that all electrical installation work must comply with, including the requirement for RCD protection on every final subcircuit when a switchboard is replaced. Published by Standards Australia. Standards Australia
- SafeWork NSW — electrical safety. The NSW regulator for workplace and electrical safety, with guidance on safe electrical practices, working near power, and your rights and obligations around electrical work. SafeWork NSW
- Ausgrid — your local network. Ausgrid owns and operates the poles, wires and meters across the Illawarra. New or increased loads (like an EV charger) are notified to Ausgrid, and the network is who you report fallen lines and supply outages to. Ausgrid
- Wollongong City Council. For development, building approvals and local requirements that can intersect with electrical work on renovations, additions and new builds across the Wollongong LGA. Wollongong City Council
Safety switches and smoke alarms.
Safety switches (RCDs).
An RCD — a safety switch — cuts the power in milliseconds when it detects current leaking to earth, which is what saves you from a fatal shock. Under the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules, replacing a switchboard requires RCD protection on every final subcircuit, and NSW rental properties must have RCD protection on power-point circuits. A lot of older Illawarra homes still have no safety switches at all — adding them is the single most important electrical safety upgrade you can make. We cover this on our switchboard upgrades page.
Smoke alarms.
Every home and rental in NSW needs a working smoke alarm on each level, meeting AS 3786 (photoelectric type), with hardwired interconnected alarms required in homes built or substantially renovated after May 2006. Since March 2020, landlords must keep them working, fix or replace a faulty alarm within two business days, and replace alarms within 10 years of manufacture. We check and fit alarms as part of an electrical safety inspection.
If you smell burning or see sparks.
Turn off the main switch at the board if it is safe to reach, keep everyone clear, don’t touch wet or scorched fittings, and never go near fallen wires. Then call a licensed electrician. A live fault is a fire risk and shouldn’t wait — see emergency electrician for what to do and what it costs after hours.
Common electrical questions in the Illawarra.
Do I need a licensed electrician for small jobs?
Yes — any fixed wiring (power points, light fittings, hardwired appliances, switchboard work) must be done by a licensed electrician in NSW, no matter how small. Plugging in an appliance is fine; wiring one in is not. It’s about safety and about your insurance being valid if something goes wrong.
Will an EV charger need network approval?
Often yes. A home charger is a significant new load, so the installer notifies Ausgrid, and larger or three-phase installs may need pre-approval before connection. Because the work can involve the consumer mains and metering, it’s Level 2 ASP territory — see EV charger installation.
How do I know if my switchboard is unsafe?
Tell-tale signs: ceramic fuses with fuse wire, no safety switches, a board that buzzes or smells of hot plastic, fuses or breakers that blow often, scorching, or no room to add circuits. Any of these is worth a look — we cover it on our switchboard upgrades page, and we work right across Wollongong and the Illawarra.
Free quote — honest, licensed electrical work.
Emergency callouts, switchboard upgrades, EV chargers, lighting and power, and safety inspections across Wollongong and the Illawarra. NSW Fair Trading licensed, Level 2 ASP, every job to AS/NZS 3000.