(Emily Larose is the Vice-President, Regulatory and General Counsel with the Electrical Safety Authority and shares with Stittsville Central important electrical safety information when renovating or upgrading your home.)
With the Ontario housing market continuing to heat up, many new homeowners are rushing to renovate and make upgrades to turn their new house into a home. However, when starting any renovation project, it is crucial to consider who you hire for electrical work.
Poor and unqualified electrical work is dangerous and can lead to serious consequences. In fact, unlicensed electrical work has been found to have four times (4x) more safety issues.
Here are tips from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) to make sure you are hiring the right person for the job to keep you and your new home safe.
Verify their licence before you hire
When hiring someone to complete electrical work, always verify their credentials to confirm they are a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC). Only LECs can legally be hired to do electrical work in your home in Ontario. These qualified and trained individuals make sure everything complies with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and they will file permits with ESA for you.
To verify you are hiring an LEC, look for their ECRA/ESA licence number. This can be found on
their work vehicle, invoices, estimates and advertisements.
Watch out for red flags
When reviewing online advertisements, be cautious – if you notice any fake credentials or misleading ads, that could put you and your new home at risk.
The ESA recently issued two Administrative Penalty Orders in the amount of $6,000 to an Ontario contractor, Johnson Kalistan, for permitting and employing an unlicensed individual to carry out electrical work and for advertising unlicensed electrical work on Kijiji. Kalistan used various names to advertise for electrical services without a licence, including high-risk tasks like working on electrical panels that have potential to cause serious harm. Through misleading online ads, consumers may be tricked into hiring unlicensed and unqualified individuals.
What you can do is keep a close eye out for red flags that could indicate your electrician is not
licensed, including:
- No ECRA/ESA licence number in their online ad, on their vehicle, invoices, or estimates or reluctance to show their licence number when you ask for it.
- Offering additional services like drywall, flooring, plumbing or other home improvement.
- Asking you to get the ESA permit or claiming it’s not required.
- Offering discounts for cash payments and not providing a receipt.
- Suggesting you claim you did the work yourself.
Ask for a Certificate of Acceptance
After the job is complete, ask for a Certificate of Acceptance to prove your electrical work meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. This document is important for insurance and resale purposes, giving you peace of mind for your new investment.
Unlicensed electrical work isn’t just illegal, it’s a gamble with safety that no homeowner should take. By hiring an LEC, homeowners can safeguard their family and investment from avoidable risks.
Find more tips and ensure you are hiring an LEC at HireLicensed.ca.