NECA Legal recently received a query from a member who says that one of his employees is complaining that he is breaching the privacy laws by having GPS tracking on his vehicle which is linked to an app on his phone. Click here to read a case where... MORE
News & Views
GPS Tracking and Privacy Laws
21st March 2019
Licensable Electrical Work, Supervision Requirements of Electrical Apprentices and Unlicensed Trade Assistants
21st March 2019
NECA recently held its Technical Talk with NECA and Friends roadshow at the Hellenic Club. During the course of the evening, we held a discussion regarding Licensable Electrical work, supervision requirements of electrical apprentices and unlicensed trade assistants.
Subsequent to the roadshow, we have received... MORE
Securing a 21st Century Energy Grid
20th February 2019
There have been calls for Standards in Australia to keep up to date with changing Technologies and to that end, Standards Australia have delivered with Standards for solar panels and Inverters as well as working hard on projects like Battery Storage.
Most new technologies have an effect on the Electricity Grid throughout Australia which is under the watchful eye of Energy Networks... MORE
Installation Testing and Documentation
18th February 2019
A recent story published by the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) Queensland, titled ‘Documented testing procedures and test reports’ reminds electrical contractors that testing an electrical installation is not just a matter of ticking the boxes on a CCEW Form after the tests are completed. There is also a legal obligation under the NSW Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018 to... MORE
Smart meter installations proving 'nightmare' for electricians
8th February 2019
Electrical contractors say the smart meter installation method is broken and small businesses and customers are feeling the pain because of complicated systems, particularly in New South Wales.
The concerns come as smart metering business Acumen and Origin Energy sent emails this week to sub-contractors who were part of a program to install Acumen meters, informing them that they would... MORE
Metering Installation Timeframes
6th February 2019
Overview
On 6 December 2018, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) made a more preferable final rule requiring retailers to provide small customers with new or replacement electricity meters within set timeframes, or face... MORE
Self-Employed contractors can benefit from joining NESS Super and topping-up their super
5th February 2019
NESS Super is available to contractors who are Self-Employed and operating as a sole trader or through an unincorporated partnership and who are not in receipt of employer Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions.
Self-Employed contractors can join NESS Super and enjoy the many benefits of a NESS Super... MORE
Wiring Rules changes to a Lampholder incorporated in a Luminaire
5th February 2019
The change to Clause 4.5.1 of AS/NZS 3000:2018 is only slight; however, it may have a significant impact on how Contractors install light fittings.
The Clause now reads: “Lampholders, including lamp-holders incorporated in a luminaire.”
What is the difference?... MORE
Worker suffered an electric shock and, while receiving CPR, fell through the gyprock ceiling onto the floor
4th December 2018
Three PCBUs have escaped high WHS fines for power-isolation breaches that seriously injured a worker, because of the NSW Attorney-General's less than expeditious appeal against their "manifestly inadequate" penalties.
The NSW Court of Appeal upheld the Attorney-General's claim that District Court Judge Andrew Scotting erred in reading down the pleaded risk, so it only... MORE
New CCEW Portal held up until mid 2019
4th December 2018
The much anticipated NSW Fair Trading electronic portal for the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW), will not be out before Christmas as expected.
Due to IT issues and the on-going testing of the system, the Project is continuing and expected to be ready for use before mid-2019. A roadshow with NECA and Fair Trading will travel around NSW to assist contractors to use... MORE
