What Is a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) in Victoria?

Quick answer

A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is the legal document a licensed electrician lodges with Energy Safe Victoria after completing prescribed electrical work — new wiring, switchboard upgrades, safety switches, or fixed appliance connections. It certifies compliance with AS/NZS 3000, must be lodged within 28 days, and is worth keeping on file for insurance and property sales.

If you've recently had electrical work done on your Mornington Peninsula property — a new power point, a switchboard upgrade, safety switch installation, or a solar connection — you may have heard the term "Certificate of Electrical Safety" or "COES." You might even have received one (or wondered why you haven't).

This post explains exactly what a COES is, who issues it, when it's legally required, and what happens if your electrician didn't lodge one.

What Is a Certificate of Electrical Safety?

A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) — sometimes also called a Certificate of Electrical Work, CES, or electrical compliance certificate — is a legal document issued by a licensed electrician to Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) after completing prescribed electrical work. It certifies that:

• 📋 The work was performed by a licensed or registered electrician
• 📋 The installation complies with AS/NZS 3000:2018 (the Wiring Rules)
• 📋 The work complies with the Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Victoria) and associated regulations
• 📋 The installation was tested and inspected before connection

Think of it as the building permit equivalent for electrical work. Just as a building permit gives you legal confirmation that a structure was built to code, a COES confirms your electrical installation is safe and compliant.

Who Issues a COES?

In Victoria, only a licensed or registered electrician can issue a COES. Specifically:

• 👷 A Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) — a business entity licensed to do electrical work
• 👷 A Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) — similar, covers some types of work
• 👷 The individual performing the work must hold an A-Grade, E-Grade, or appropriate limited licence

I hold Licence A53308 and REC 25266, which means I'm authorised to perform and certify all domestic and commercial electrical work. The COES is submitted electronically to Energy Safe Victoria — typically the same day or within a few days of completing the work.

When Is a COES Required?

A COES is required after any "prescribed electrical installation work" under the Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 2009. This includes:

• ✅ New wiring — power points, light circuits, any new cabling
• ✅ Switchboard upgrades and modifications
• ✅ Safety switch (RCD) installation
• ✅ Fixed appliance connections — hot water, oven, AC, EV charger
• ✅ Solar PV system connection (inverter to grid connection)
• ✅ Any alteration or addition to fixed electrical equipment
• ✅ Reconnection of a hot water system or any appliance after replacement

Work that does NOT require a COES (though still must be done safely) includes:

• ℹ️ Replacing a light globe
• ℹ️ Replacing a plug on a portable appliance
• ℹ️ Routine inspection or testing (without finding/rectifying defects)

How Long Does It Take?

The licensed electrician must lodge the COES with Energy Safe Victoria within 28 days of completing the work. ESV processes these electronically. You may receive a copy directly from ESV via email, or your electrician may provide it to you. Either way, you should have a COES number you can quote if asked. If 28 days have passed and you haven't received one, follow up with your electrician — it's their legal obligation, not optional.

Why Does It Matter?

Insurance Claims

If an electrical fault causes a fire or damage, your insurer will ask for evidence that the installation was done correctly. If there's no COES on record, the insurer may investigate and find that the work was unlicensed — leading to a rejected claim. The COES is your documentation that the work was done to standard.

Property Sales and Conveyancing

When you sell a property, buyers and their solicitors may request COES documentation for significant electrical work completed in recent years. If you can't produce it, it raises questions about the quality of the work and may affect the sale. Having all your COESs on file — especially for major work like switchboard upgrades or solar — is good practice.

Rental Properties and Compliance

For rental properties, the COES is directly linked to compliance. When an electrician performs remediation work during a rental electrical safety check — installing a safety switch, replacing a faulty outlet — that work must be certified. Landlords should maintain a file of all COESs for their rental properties as evidence of compliance with the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021.

As of 2026, property managers across Frankston, Mornington and Rosebud are routinely requesting COES documentation from landlords as part of rental compliance reviews. If work has been done on your rental property in the past few years without a COES on file, it's worth having a licensed electrician inspect the installation, rectify any gaps, and ensure the certification record is complete before your next compliance check or tenancy renewal.

See our rental electrical safety checks page for more on landlord compliance.

What Happens if No COES Was Issued?

If a licensed electrician completed work that required a COES but didn't issue one, they have breached the Electricity Safety Act 1998. You can report this to Energy Safe Victoria, who may investigate and take action against the tradesperson.

If the work was done by an unlicensed person — a handyman, a "mate," or even a licensed tradesperson from another trade — then no COES exists and the work is illegal. In that case, the safest course of action is to have a licensed electrician inspect the work, rectify any issues, and lodge a COES for the installation as it currently stands.

The cost of doing this properly is far lower than the cost of an insurance dispute or personal liability after a fire or injury.

How to Check if a COES Was Issued

You have two options:

• 🔍 Ask your electrician — any legitimate licensed tradesperson can provide the COES number for work they've completed
• 🔍 Contact Energy Safe Victoria directly at esv.vic.gov.au — they can verify whether a COES was lodged for your property address and the approximate date of work

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) in Victoria?

A COES is a legal document issued by a licensed electrician to Energy Safe Victoria after completing electrical work. It certifies that the work complies with AS/NZS 3000 and Victorian electrical safety legislation.

When is a COES legally required in Victoria?

A COES is required after any prescribed electrical installation work, including new wiring, switchboard upgrades, safety switch installation, hot water system connections, solar PV connections, and any alteration to fixed electrical equipment.

How long does it take to receive a COES after electrical work?

The licensed electrician must submit the COES to Energy Safe Victoria within 28 days of completing the work. If your tradesperson hasn't issued one after 28 days, follow up with them directly or contact ESV.

How do I check if my electrician issued a COES for work on my property?

You can contact Energy Safe Victoria directly and ask them to check whether a COES was lodged for your property address and the approximate date of work. Alternatively, ask your electrician for their COES number — a legitimate tradesperson will always be able to provide it.

For more on electrical compliance for your home or rental property, visit our homepage or our rental electrical safety checks service page.

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