An electrician and an electrical contractor are two distinct electrical professionals who play a significant role in homes and businesses. If you want to hire professionals for electrical servicing and repairs in Perth, you must know the distinction between them.

A licenced electrical professional ensures safe and reliable electrical work for every residential or commercial project, and hiring them is a compliance requirement according to Western Australian safety regulations and insurance.

At AJ Coast Electrical, we want to empower our clients with knowledge, and so we’ve put together this guide to help you uncover major differences between electricians and electrical contractors and find suitable professionals for your needs quickly.

Electrician vs Electrical Contractor: Key Differences

An electrician holds the technical qualifications to perform electrical work. An electrical contractor has the legal authority to run a business that offers electrician services. This variation in legal authority and business structure constitutes the major difference between an electrical contractor and an electrician.

AJ Coast Electrical belongs to the professional electrical contractor category. We provide quality electrical solutions for residential and commercial properties across Perth with full focus on safety, professional workmanship, and exceptional customer service.

Can an Electrician Also Be an Electrical Contractor in Perth?

Yes. In Perth and Western Australia, a licenced electrician can also become an electrical contractor. But the two roles require different licences, which is where electrician vs electrical contractor differences come into play.

The electrician can also have an EC licence that allows them to contract with customers and operate the electrical contracting business. In the same way, a company can hold the contractor licence and provide professional commercial electrical services by licenced electricians who are its employees.

What Services Does an Electrical Contractor Provide?

Electrical contractors handle the entire lifecycle of electrical work for their customers, be it residential or commercial, from original planning to final inspection. For instance, AJ Coast Electrical advises on electrical installation and helps commercial spaces with the right electrical appliances. We install and maintain electrical systems at competitive prices in warehouses or manufacturing plants. Here are the major services carried out by an electrical contractor:

·         Suggest alterations or additions in the electrical layout of a property

·         Produce a thorough electrical layout plan before construction begins

·         Ensure that the proposed layout follows applicable standards

·         Install and maintain electrical systems

·         Inspect electrical equipment for damage

·         Lead and co-ordinate the team of electricians

·         Handle finances and deal with permits

·         Line contractors handle high-voltage power transmission and distribution lines.

·         Integrated building systems contractors install and maintain systems that integrate security systems, lighting, and communication networks.

When Should You Hire an Electrician?

You should hire a licenced electrician in Perth whenever you need to install, alter, repair, or maintain any fixed electrical wiring or equipment in your home or business. Using DIY fixes for managing electrical systems is illegal.

According to WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, “By law, no one should work on electrical or gas installations at your home or business unless they are a licenced electrician or a licenced gasfitter.’’ Hire a licenced electrician for the following tasks:

·         When you need to add power points, or upgrade aging switchboards

·         When you are transitioning from halogen to energy-efficient LED downlights, or installing outdoor, garden, and pool lighting.

·         Hire an electrician to extend circuits for home additions, undertake renovations, or commercial shop fit-outs.

·         Installing and servicing split system or evaporative air conditioning units.

·         An electrician should be hired to test RCD safety switches and safety checks on existing power points.

When Should You Hire an Electrical Contractor?

In Western Australia, if you are engaging someone to do contracted electrical installation work at your home or business, you should use a licenced electrical contractor. Here, it is important to understand the electrician vs electrical contractor differences. The right electrical contractor depends on the type and scale of work you need to complete.

1. For Electrical Repairs or Emergency Assistance

Burning smells, sparking outlets, electrical shocks, repeatedly tripping safety switches, damaged wiring and unexplained loss of power can indicate a serious fault. This requires you to contact a licensed electrical contractor.

AJ Coast Electrical provides 24/7 emergency electrical services. We find faults and perform general electrical repairs for residential and commercial properties.

2. Building or Home Renovation

A new build or renovation involves a lot of planning, and an electrical contractor ensures that the layout suits how the property will actually be used. Electrical requirements to be taken care of include:

• New circuits and power points
• Switchboard work and safety switches
• Indoor and outdoor lighting
• LED lighting upgrades
• Hard-wired smoke alarms
• Air conditioning
• Home automation
• Data and entertainment cabling
• Security lighting and systems
• Power for sheds, garages and outdoor areas

3. Commercial Fit-Outs and Renovations

Commercial spaces may need specialised lighting and additional power. These spaces require electrical systems particular to the equipment being used. For a fit-out or commercial renovation, look for an electrical contractor with experience working with builders and business owners, and other trades. The contractor must work in a way that reduces disruption, which is significant for a well-functioning business.

4. Industrial and Warehouse Electrical Work

A business may need electrical supply for:

• Machinery
• Upgraded switchboards and circuitry
• Warehouse lighting
• Surge protection
• Additional commercial power or modifications when the premises change use

Regular inspection and maintenance make electrical problems easier to identify before they result in unwanted business disruption.

When we provide services to small to medium warehouses and industrial sites, we make it a priority to work efficiently, in a way that reduces operational downtime. In fact, one of our clients has remarked that we are ‘amazingly efficient with work, completing the jobs quickly and to an excellent standard.

How Do You Choose the Right Electrical Professional?

Homeowners and business owners normally contact a licenced electrical contractor, whose licenced electricians then carry out the required work. Thus, you engage with both an electrician aan nd electrical contractor.

By law in Australia, electricians cannot work independently or bill you directly unless operating under an Electrical Contractor licence. A licenced electrical contractor comes in handy for the following kinds of work:

• Electrical repairs
• Fault finding
• New power points or lighting
• Switchboard upgrades
• Renovation wiring
• New-build wiring
• Commercial electrical installations and fit-outs
• Strata and property maintenance
• Industrial electrical work
• Emergency electrical repairs

The complexity of your project and its size also influence the choice of professional. For small repairs or installations, contact a licenced electrician. Bigger projects or those that require co-ordination with other trades are best done with the aid of a contractor.