Temporary and permanent electricity installations/transfers require ACTPLA inspections.

Under the Electricity Safety ACT 1971 electricians require permission from ACTPLA inspectors to transfer electricity from a temporary supply to a permanent installation. New arrangements enforce this law.

When installation testing is not carried out it may expose tradespeople and/or people who enter new residences to an electrical safety risk.

After testing by the contracting electrician (or the responsible electrician testing for an electrical contractor), a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) must be submitted within 14 business days to ACTPLA. The certificate can then be issued to an electrical inspector for auditing against AS/NZS 3000: 2007 and approval for electricity network connection.

After testing both the temporary supply and the new installation the electrician responsible must lodge a separate CES for each wiring system and nominate the wiring work completed as a ‘new installation’.

New residential electrical installations require testing and verification according to AS/NZS 3017

Link to ActewAGl service and Installation rules

All new temporary supplies on residential blocks require the following procedures:

Stage 1 – Temporary supply connection

Electrical contractor:
• shall install meter box and panel in accordance with S & I Rules (Refer Drawings 8911-2211-101 & 8911-312)
• install sealable main switch (with suitable circuit breaker and residual current device) and customer neutral link in a sealable surface mounted enclosure
• install socket outlet
• submit ‘Certificate Of Electrical Safety’ (CES) to ACTPLA first 
• submit ‘Request For Service’ (RFS) to ActewAGL.

ACTPLA inspector:
• checks temporary supply for compliance
• if temporary supply is compliant, attaches a yellow authorisation sticker ‘Authorisation for temporary supply installation’ to the sealable main switch enclosure
• seals temporary supply main switch using an ACTPLA seal
• advises ActewAGL that the installation is ready for temporary connection.

ActewAGL:
• installs and connects service fuses and metering equipment
• energises service cable and checks polarity
• seals service fuses and metering equipment
• places “warning this equipment is alive” sticker on the panel.

Stage 2 – Connection of residence permanent installation

Additional meters required

Electrical contractor:
• completes premises’ installation
• submits second CES to ACTPLA
• submits RFS to ActewAGL for an appointment to be made for additional metering, if required, if required, (ActewAGL fees may apply)

ACTPLA inspector:
• de-energises installation
• checks installation for compliance
• if compliant, removes yellow ‘temporary supply installation’ sticker
• removes tails from sealable main switch and connect into the consumer’s switchboard
• energises installation
• attaches authorisation sticker ‘Authorisation for Approval of Permanent Electrical Installation’
• informs ActewAGL that installation has been tested, left energised and sealed using ACTPLA seals.

ActewAGL:
• de-energises installation
• completes wiring for additional metering and associated equipment
• energises installation
• seals meters service fuses etc.

No additional meters required

Electrical contractor:
• submits CES for permanent new installation (2nd CES) to ACTPLA
• note: Other contractors involved on project will need to submit relevant CESs for
e.g., air conditioning systems or pool zone equipment.

ACTPLA inspector:
• de-energises installation
• checks installation for compliance
• if compliant, removes yellow ‘temporary supply installation’ authorisation sticker
• removes consumers mains tails from sealable main switch and connects permanent single or polyphase consumers mains to adjacent consumers main switchboard
• re-energises installation
• attaches white sticker ‘Authorisation for Approval of Permanent Electrical Installation’ and
• informs ActewAGL that installation has been left energised and sealed using ACTPLA seals.

For metering and temporary supply arrangements see ActewAGL Service and Installation Rules Drawing 8911-2212-101 Temporary connection to Residential Blocks Prior to Permanent Connection.