Call us now
0439 823 190What is an Electrical Defect Notice?
Google Rating
Based on 307 reviews
No normal person ever looks forward to receiving an electrical defect notice, and they never seem to come at a convenient time.
If you’ve recently come home to a NSW electrical defect notice, you’re probably not sure why you have received it and what to do next. Well, we’re here to help.
Our experienced Sydney based team assist in repairing many of the electrical defects that these notices are issued for. We thought that it would be helpful for us to answer all of your questions within this one article.
Google Rating
Based on 307 reviews
What Is An Electrical Defect Notice?
An electrical defect notice means that your electrical installations do not meet Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy’s safety requirements. You are going to need to contact a level 2 electrician to resolve this issue within 21 days after the notification. Otherwise the electrical supply to your property will be cut off until repairs are complete.
Electrical Defect Notice Standards & Rules in NSW
These safety standards are outlined by the NSW government, and overseen through Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy inspections. Electrical defects will be picked up during routine suburb inspections or private call outs after someone has reported the electricity supply to your property. The notice will provide you with the specific defects that were identified on your overhead or underground power lines.
The specific requirements for electrical defect notices can be found in the following standards:
Why Was I Issued With An Electrical Defect Notice in NSW?
There can be many reasons as to why you were issued with this notice. However, from our level 2 electrician experiences, we have identified the six most common problems that we typically encounter.
- Defective or Missing equipment: This is by far the most common problem for the majority of defect notices. This problem can cause switchboard failure, electrical meltdowns and even electrical fires. Inspectors will typically issue notices for these reasons to maintain public safety and to avoid potentially large power outages.
- Point Of Attachment Issues: These issues occur when the electrical cables on your property are not fully attached. Point of attachment issues can also occur if the wiring is weakened by old age or weather and are in need of a repair by a level 2 electrician.
- A Dangerous Or Outdated Switchboard: Switchboards become unsafe when they cannot handle your property’s increased power demands. If there is a huge rise in the surge of power, switchboards will start to overheat and trip fuses. You will receive an electrical defect notice if an inspector deems your switchboard is unsafe or too old for further use. If you have already noticed that your switchboard has been tripping fuses recently. It is best to arrange for a switchboard upgrade immediately before receiving an electrical defect notice.
- Low hanging overhead cables: As per the NSW government, overhead cables and power lines must be restricted to a specific height clearance. This is particularly important for public safety as these cables are often located over footpaths, driveways and streets. There is a minimum height restriction for cables of at least 4.5- 5.5 metres when they are connected to a telegraph pole. This also includes any vir cable work and overhead and underground cables.
- Vegetation Interference: It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that vegetation does not come into contact with power lines. This is extremely important for high risk bushfire regions throughout Sydney, NSW. Property owners must not plant any trees within the vicinity of power lines that could potentially disrupt the cables. Electrical defect notices will be issued if there are low hanging vegetation nearby to cables. However, clearing vegetation around power lines should only ever be carried out by qualified operators.
- Dangerous Private Power Poles and Powerlines: If your private power pole or powerline is in a weakened state and poses as a potential risk to your surroundings. You will receive a notice. This includes any powerline or power pole that is connected to your main switchboard and provides energy to your property. Power poles are made of either wood or steel and are subject to eventual deterioration. They can potentially fall over onto roads, sidewalks and buildings.
If you want to learn more about Ausgrid Electrical Defect Notices or Endeavour Energy Electrical Defect Notices, we have released detailed articles on our electrician’s insights page.
Frequently Asked Level 2 Electrician Questions!
Who Is Responsible For The Electrical Defect Notice?
Although Ausgrid and Endeavour energy possess the responsibility of maintaining their street network. Business owners and individuals are responsible for ensuring that safety clearance and connection points for the service main. This means that the property owner possesses the responsibility of an electrical defective notice. Renters and tenants are not liable for paying or organising for the repairs and should immediately notify their landlord if they have received one.
What Happens If I Don’t Fix My Electrical Defect Notice?
You have up to 21 days to contact a level 2 electrician to get your electrical defects fixed. Failure to do so will result in the electricity supply to your property being shut off until repairs are completed. This means that you will have no access to no power.
What Should I Do If I Receive An Electrical Defect Notice?
It is important to get the defects listed on your notice resolved as quickly as possible. It is always the responsibility of the property owner and if you are a tenant you should forward the defect onto your landlord immediately. You only have up to 21 days to get this problem fixed, otherwise you will risk losing access to your property’s power.
Your first point of contact should be to contact a level 2 electrician. Level 2 ASP (authorised service provides) are specially qualified electricians who possess the ASP Level 2 scheme’s qualifications which enables them to connect and disconnect power from main networks. They are different to general electricians as working on these projects requires direct contact with live power lines. It is then the level 2 electrician’s responsibility to correct any defective issues identified by Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy’s inspectors.
What If I Can’t Get This Fixed Within 21 Days?
If for whatever reason you are unable to arrange for the work to be done within 21 days of the original electrical defective notice. It is possible to negotiate an extension on the initial period with Ausgrid’s Field Operations. However, this is entirely dependent on the severity of the defect and is up to their discretion.
What Is A Bushfire & Vegetation Mitigation Defect?
If you currently live in a rural area within Sydney, electrical inspections are carried out more frequently due to the heightened fire risk of bush fires. As a result you may receive a Bushfire & Vegetation Mitigation Defect. These notices are typically issued for private power poles and electrical cables that are near growing vegetation. A way to minimise this fire risk is to ensure that there is a minimum 600mm clearance around any of your property’s power poles. A level 2 electrician will also be required to resolve Bushfire Defect notices.
Sydney Level 2 Electrician Defect Services
If you need help getting rid of your electrical defect notice, then contact us here at The Local Electrician. We are authorised to work on these problems by Ausgrid and Energy Endeavour. As we are certified Authorised Service providers electricians, this enables us to complete work on local network and private powerlines. We regularly complete these jobs and have been providing efficient and affordable electrical services for over 25 years.
We are a 24 hour level 2 electrician servicing every Sydney suburb.
Contact us now on 0439 823 190 or info@thelocalelectrician.com.au for a free quote and say goodbye to your electrical defective notice today!
