A Perth air-conditioning repair company has been fined $10,000 for operating as an electrical contractor without holding the required electrical licence.
A Perth air-conditioning repair company has been fined $10,000 for operating as an electrical contractor without holding the required electrical licence.
At Fremantle Magistrates Court, Craig Mechanical Contracting (WA) Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 following prosecution by WA's Director of Energy Safety - part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety.
The court heard Craig Mechanical was contracted to install two new air-conditioning units at a property in Success, which involved electrical installing work such as running new circuits, installing safety switches with circuit-breaker protection and replacing lights.
The company issued an invoice for the completed electrical installing works, which by law must only be carried out under the authority of a licensed electrical contractor. Craig Mechanical has never held an electrical contractor's licence.
At sentencing on 21 August 2026, Magistrate Thomas Hall also ordered Craig Mechanical to pay $770 in costs. His Honour acknowledged the company's early guilty plea and steps taken since the incident to improve compliance but highlighted the seriousness of electricity and the importance of the regulations for safety.
WA's Director of Energy Safety, Daniel Kearney, encouraged consumers to check that any business they engage for electrical work holds an electrical contractor's licence.
"As well as having the appropriate skills and experience to do this work correctly and safely, a licensed electrical contractor is required to hold public liability insurance and lodge official notices for electrical work, which may then be inspected for compliance," Mr Kearney said.
The public can check electrical licences via the LGIRS online licence search or the ServiceWA app or by asking to see their credentials including an EC number.
