Defining electrical work on solar installations

Further on the issue of solar installations, NECA will be lobbying to classify all solar installations as being licensed electrical work. 

This follows Queensland’s recent legislation confirming that installing solar panels for solar farms is considered electrical work.  

We have put the following three options to members:

• Option 1 - all work involving solar panels including mounting of the rails, panels, earthing and interconnecting between the panels even by plug and socket should be deemed as electrical work and hence require an electrical licence.
• Option 2 - the mounting of supporting rails and solar panels should not be considered electrical work and be able to be undertaken by any competent person. However,  confirmation of earthing between panels and interconnecting between the panels even by plug and socket should be deemed as electrical work and hence require an electrical licence.
• Option 3 – no electrical licence required.

The feedback we have received from members to date is that we adopt option 2 as our preferred option. If you have an opinion on this issue, please email aogrady@ecawa.org.au or phone (08) 6241 6100 and let us know your view.

NECA WA will be seeking to extend the definition to include both domestic and commercial installations.