How to Find a Licensed Electrician in Melbourne (2025)
• Updated
TL;DR
- Verify the electrical worker licence and the Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) before work starts.
- For installation work, you must receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) (and, for prescribed work, an inspection).
- Compare quotes with clear scope, call-out fee, hourly rate, and warranty; request proof of public liability insurance.
Key facts
- Victoria regulates electrical licences via Energy Safe Victoria (ESV). Workers need a licence; businesses that contract for profit must be RECs.
- COES is your legal record of installation work—keep it for insurance, resale, and future troubleshooting.
- Emergency work often carries after-hours surcharges; confirm these in writing.
Prescribed vs non‑prescribed work
Some jobs are “prescribed” — for example, a switchboard upgrade in Melbourne — which must be inspected by a Licensed Electrical Inspector before energisation. Non‑prescribed work still requires a COES but no inspection. Ask your contractor which category applies.
A safe, smart 7‑step process to hire in Melbourne
1) Define the scope
Describe the job plainly (locations, cable paths, heights, finishes). If your scope is a simple refresh, e.g., bedroom lighting installation, list the number of fittings, switching points, and any dimming so quotes are comparable.
2) Verify licence + REC
Ask for the worker’s licence and the REC number. Check status, class, and expiry on the public register; keep a screenshot with your records.
3) Ask for essentials up front
Every quote should state call‑out, hourly rate (standard and after‑hours), inclusions/exclusions, materials/brand, warranty, and lead time. For exteriors, security sensor light installation needs the right IP rating, beam angles, and mounting height—ask your contractor to specify these.
4) Identify prescribed elements
If any part of the job is prescribed (e.g., switchboard changes), confirm the inspection is included and who books it.
5) Check insurance
Request the contractor’s public liability insurance certificate and ensure the insured name matches the REC.
6) Compare like‑for‑like
Line up quotes against the same scope. If one quote is far lower, ask why (brand, warranty, cable run, breakers/RCDs included?).
7) Confirm paperwork flow
Agree on delivery of invoice, COES, and warranty and the timeframe (COES within 30 days for non‑prescribed work).
Price expectations: how pros build a quote
While hourly rates get attention, your final cost is driven by access/run length, compliance components, and timing. For aesthetic upgrades like a pendant light installation, confirm mounting height, bracing, and dimmer compatibility are included in the quote.
Melbourne Electrician Price Snapshot (Jan–Jun 2025)
| Job type | Median (A$) | Call-out (A$) | Hourly (A$) | Sample (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerpoint install | 180 | 110 | 120 | 76 |
| Lighting circuit fault-find | 210 | 120 | 130 | 54 |
| Oven/hotplate hard-wire | 250 | 110 | 125 | 42 |
| Switchboard upgrade (RCDs) | 1800 | 0 | 130 | 33 |
| EV charger install (single-phase) | 1250 | 0 | 135 | 28 |
| Ceiling fan install | 280 | 110 | 120 | 67 |
| Recessed downlight install (per light) | 95 | 110 | 120 | 51 |
| After-hours emergency (per hr) | 260 | 180 | 260 | 39 |
Special case: rentals and safety checks
Rental providers in Victoria must arrange an electrical safety check at least every two years and disclose the date of the last check before an agreement is signed. Keep reports and any COES related to work at the property.
Red flags
- “We don’t issue COES.” (Non‑compliant for installation work.)
- No REC number or licence “pending”.
- Cash‑only with no paperwork for work that should be certified.
- Refusal to discuss inspection for work that sounds prescribed.
FAQ
Do electricians in Victoria need both a licence and an REC?
The person doing the work must hold the appropriate electrical worker licence; the business that contracts for profit must be a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC). Many sole traders hold both; larger firms list a REC and employ licensed workers.
What exactly is a COES, and when should I get one?
A Certificate of Electrical Safety records the installation work and confirms testing/compliance. For non‑prescribed work you receive a copy within 30 days; prescribed work also requires an inspection.
How do I check an electrician’s licence or a contractor’s REC?
Use Energy Safe Victoria’s public register. Search by name, licence/REC number, suburb, or postcode, and confirm status and expiry.
What about bathrooms and moisture?
In wet areas, a compliant bathroom exhaust fan installation with proper ducting and an isolation switch helps manage moisture, prevent mould, and protect fixtures and wiring.
Methodology
This guide follows Victorian regulatory guidance (licensing, COES, prescribed work) and best‑practice procurement so quotes are comparable and work is verifiable. The price snapshot uses normalised, anonymised quotes from Greater Melbourne for Jan–Jun 2025.
Limitations
Prices vary by site conditions and scope; emergency/after‑hours surcharges differ by provider. Data reflects quotes, not final invoices.
Sources (add official links)
- Energy Safe Victoria — Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES)
- Energy Safe Victoria — Prescribed vs non‑prescribed work & inspections
- Energy Safe Victoria — Public register (licensed workers & RECs)
- Consumer Affairs Victoria — Rental electrical safety obligations
Tip: Link to primary sources and keep visible updated dates.