New Zealanders are being warned about the dangers of unlicensed electrical workers after several people were fined this year over work they shouldn’t have done.
Recent cases have included jobs that left live wires exposed, and a house fire narrowly avoided.
Details have been released about six cases heard since March 26 by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) over “deceitful” unauthorised work being carried out.
Among the unlicensed electrical workers penalised this year is Graeme Kyle. The Dannevirke District Court fined him $6000 on June 21 for unauthorised work that left live wires exposed in a home and triggering a subcircuit overload that burnt a part of the switchboard.
Earlier this month, Rupesh Kumar was fined $3500 by the Manukau District Court after negligently installing a hot water cylinder. An imminent house fire was later said to be only just avoided after the owner noticed a burning smell and called Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).
In June, the Whangārei District Court fined Han Joong Kim $6000 for unauthorised installing of electrical conductors and fittings in three cabins on his property, and the Waitākere District Court fined Jing Jing Wang $3250 for unauthorised connecting a portacom building to electricity at a commercial building site in Auckland.
In Taupō, Santini Renney was fined $1200 in May for their unauthorised reconnecting and wiring of a hot water cylinder in a residential property in Motuoapa.
The largest fine however was dished out to Super Cell Limited in March. It was ordered to pay $9000 as well as court and solicitor costs for knowingly allowing an unlicensed person to install a home ventilation system in a residential property in Auckland.
“Pretending to be an electrical worker and carrying out prescribed electrical work is not only deceitful, it’s highly dangerous for everyone involved,” said Duncan Connor, Registrar of EWRB.
“Anyone engaging an electrical worker should check the public register and ask to see their licence details before hiring them.
“All complaints about unregistered electrical workers and poor or dangerous electrical work are taken seriously and investigated by the EWRB, who will not hesitate to prosecute those undertaking illegal prescribed electrical work.”