The Technical Regulator is responsible for the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in electrical installations. The technical standards are designed to ensure that an electrical installation is safe to connect to the electricity supply and safe to use. The tradespeople carrying out this work have to be appropriately licensed and are required to issue an Electrical Certificate of Compliance (ECC) which warrants that the work has been done in accordance with the standards.

The licensing of electrical contractors and electrical workers is the responsibility of the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA). However, the Office of the Technical Regulator works closely with OCBA when there is a breach of licensing conditions or regulations or when there are questions regarding the technical competency of licensed electrical contractors or workers.

Consumers' Electrical Installation

The South Australian distribution network serves more than 760 000 customers (households, businesses, etc). The point where the overhead or underground distribution network finishes and the consumer's electrical installation commences is referred to as the "point of supply". The point of supply can be a connection on the consumer's premises or near the property boundary.

Consumers' installations are, by definition, on the consumers' property and include the electrical wiring to the building and the main switchboard. Industrial and commercial installations include various items of equipment and machinery while residential installations include fixed appliances such as water heaters, stoves and ovens, and air conditioners. An electrical installation may be supplied from the electricity distribution system or other generating systems.