Electrical Certificates of Compliance (ECCs) were introduced in 1997 when the Electricity Act 1996  came into force. Their purpose is to enable self-certification of electrical work and to protect the electrical contractor or worker and the customer. ECCs provide assurance to the customer that the work performed is installed and tested to the appropriate Standard while confining the electrician's responsibility to the work actually done. They are also used in auditing work for its adherence to safety and technical standards.

Electrical Certificates of Compliance are produced in triplicate; the original certificate is given to the customer and the first copy to the electricity distributor if they are involved in connecting or reconnecting the installation to the distribution network.

The second copy is retained by the contractor for auditing purposes. The Government, through various outlets, supplies the Certificates to contractors at no cost.

Since the Certificates were introduced, there has been growing support and a noticeable increase in the number of contractors doing remedial training and purchasing new standards and test equipment. The South Australian chapter of National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has been a strong supporter of the initiatives taken by the Technical Regulator and has been actively involved in the development of refresher training courses and the promotion of competency standards.