10 Questions to Ask an Electrician Before You Hire
Hiring a sparky is one of the few decisions where the wrong call can burn your house down — literally. These are the 10 questions a good electrician will be happy to answer, and the ones that filter out the chancers in about three minutes.
Why this guide exists: we run AI receptionists for sparkies across Australia and listen to thousands of customer calls a month. We hear exactly which questions trip up the bad operators and which ones the good ones love being asked. This is that list.
The 10 questions
1. “Are you a licensed electrical contractor or just a licensed electrician?”
This is the single most important question and almost no homeowner asks it. In NSW, QLD and most states there's a critical legal difference. A licensed electrician can do electrical work — but they can't legally quote, contract for, or take payment for a job. Only a licensed electrical contractor can do that. Ask for the contractor licence number and look it up on your state regulator's register (NSW Fair Trading, QBCC, ESV in Victoria, EnergySafety WA).
2. “Will you give me a fixed price or quote by the hour?”
For defined jobs — installing a ceiling fan, a power point, a switchboard upgrade — insist on a fixed quote in writing. Fault-finding is genuinely hard to fixed-price, and hourly is fair there ($110–$180/hr in metro areas). A good sparky will quote a fixed fault-finding fee for the first hour, then move to hourly with your sign-off if it goes deeper.
3. “Is the Certificate of Compliance included in the price?”
Every state requires the electrician to issue a compliance certificate after notifiable electrical work. In NSW it's the CCEW (Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work), in Victoria it's the COES (Certificate of Electrical Safety), in QLD it's the Electrical Safety Certificate. This document is your legal proof the work meets AS/NZS 3000 and it's what your insurance company wants. It should be included in the quoted price, not added on after.
4. “Who actually does the work — you or an apprentice?”
Apprentice electricians can do live electrical work but only under direct supervision of a licensed electrician. An apprentice on their own at a residential callout is often outside the rules. Ask: 'Will a fully licensed sparky be on site?' You're paying for licensed work — make sure that's what you get.
5. “Do you carry $20 million in public liability insurance?”
$20M is the modern standard for residential electrical contractors. Electrical work has the worst-case potential to start a house fire or electrocute a future occupant — this insurance backs you if something catastrophic happens years later. Ask for a Certificate of Currency and check the expiry date. Anything under $10M for residential work is light.
6. “How long will the job take and what's the access situation?”
A sparky who's already thought through the job will answer specifically: 'Two hours, but I'll need to isolate the main switch for about 20 minutes.' A sparky who hasn't scoped it properly will give you something vague. The detail of the answer is a near-perfect predictor of how the job will run.
7. “What brand of materials do you use, and can I supply my own?”
Reputable sparkies use trusted brands — Clipsal/Schneider, HPM, Hager, NHP for switchgear; Olex or Prysmian for cable. On supply-your-own: most will install customer-supplied fittings but the workmanship warranty covers their install only, not the product. Anything mains-connected must carry the RCM mark — no RCM, they can't legally fit it.
8. “Can you diagnose the problem over the phone or do you need a paid site visit?”
A genuinely experienced sparky can often pinpoint a problem from a 90-second phone description. A sparky who insists on a paid callout for every question, even basic safety triage, is either inexperienced or running a callout-fee business. Neither is great.
9. “What's your after-hours policy if something goes wrong with the job?”
Get the workmanship warranty in writing — 12 months minimum. Then ask: 'If a power point you installed fails on a Saturday night, what's the process?' A pro will tell you exactly which number to ring and the expected response time. A vague answer here means you'll be on your own.
10. “Do you have an emergency line or AI receptionist so I can reach you out of hours?”
Electrical faults don't politely wait for business hours. The best sparkies in 2026 either have a 24/7 answering service, a partner taking after-hours calls, or an AI receptionist that picks up immediately and books an emergency slot if needed. Ring the after-hours number on the quote and see what happens. If it rings out, that's your answer.
Green flags vs red flags
Green flags
- Holds both an electrician licence AND a contractor licence
- Quotes in writing with materials, labour, GST and CCEW broken out
- Mentions AS/NZS 3000 without prompting
- Vehicle is sign-written with the licence number visible
- Picks up the phone, or has a real receptionist or AI answering 24/7
- Offers a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing
Red flags
- “CCEW costs extra” — it's legally required, it should be in the price
- Cash-only with a discount for no invoice
- No ABN, no business name, just a mobile number
- Won't put the warranty in writing
- Sends an apprentice on their own to a residential callout
- Doesn't pick up, doesn't call back, ghosts mid-quote
What to do if the job goes wrong
Step 1: contact the electrician in writing — text or email — and give them a reasonable chance to come back and rectify. Most reputable sparkies will. Keep all correspondence.
Step 2: if there's no response or they refuse, escalate to the state safety regulator:
- Victoria: Energy Safe Victoria (ESV)
- NSW: NSW Fair Trading / SafeWork NSW for serious safety issues
- Queensland: Electrical Safety Office (ESO); QBCC for contract disputes
- WA: EnergySafety (Building and Energy)
- SA: Office of the Technical Regulator
The phone test (try it before you book)
Before you sign any quote, ring the sparky's number at three different times — say 10am, 5pm, and 7pm. A sparky who picks up — or who has an electrician answering service or AI receptionist that books your job on the spot — has their business sorted. For current rates, see our electrician pricing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to use a licensed electrician for every electrical job?
A: Yes. In Australia, almost all fixed electrical work — including installing power points, light fittings, ceiling fans (hardwired), and switchboard work — must be done by a licensed electrician. DIY electrical work on fixed wiring is illegal in every state and territory.
Q: What's a fair callout fee for an electrician in Australia?
A: $80–$150 in metro areas during business hours, $180–$300 after-hours and weekends. Some sparkies waive the callout if you proceed with the work. Always confirm the callout fee on the phone before they roll the truck.
Q: What is a CCEW and why does it matter?
A: A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is a NSW document an electrical contractor must lodge after notifiable electrical work. It certifies the work meets AS/NZS 3000. Your home insurance and any future buyer's solicitor will ask for it. Other states have equivalents — COES in Victoria, Electrical Safety Certificate in QLD.
Q: How long should an electrician's workmanship warranty last?
A: 12 months minimum is standard. For switchboard upgrades, EV chargers, solar tie-ins, and major rewires, expect 5 years and ask in writing. The warranty should cover return callouts and rectification labour at no charge.
Q: Can I supply my own light fittings or smart switches?
A: Most electricians will install customer-supplied fixtures, but the workmanship warranty applies to the install only — not the product. Make sure anything mains-connected carries the RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark).
Q: What do I do if an electrician's work is unsafe or non-compliant?
A: Contact the electrician in writing first. If unresolved, escalate to your state safety regulator: Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), NSW Fair Trading / SafeWork NSW, Electrical Safety Office in QLD, or EnergySafety in WA. For contract disputes under $40k, your state tribunal (VCAT, NCAT, QCAT) is fast and cheap.
Q: Is it OK if an apprentice does the job alone?
A: No. Apprentice electricians must work under the supervision of a licensed electrician. An apprentice doing live electrical work alone at a residential callout is generally outside the rules. Ask who's on site.
Q: How many quotes should I get for electrical work?
A: Three for any job over $500. Look at scope detail more than price — the quote that asks the most clarifying questions is usually from the sparky who'll do the cleanest job.
Looking for an electrician who picks up?
Ring the live demo — that's an AI receptionist answering, the same one your sparky might use. Hear how fast it qualifies and books a job, then check whether your shortlist measures up.