Choosing an electrician in Melbourne should not feel like a gamble. Yet for many homeowners, it does. You call three electricians, get three wildly different quotes, and have no clear way to tell which one will actually do the job properly. One does not return your call. Another quotes half the price of the others, which sounds great until you wonder why.
This guide is written from the perspective of a licensed electrician who has been working across Melbourne for years. It covers how to verify credentials, what to look for in a quote, the red flags that indicate a problem, and the questions worth asking before you commit.
Step 1: Check Their Licence
This is the single most important step, and the one most people skip. In Victoria, anyone performing electrical work must hold a current licence issued by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV). There are two types of licences you should look for.
Licensed Electrician (A-Grade or Supervised)
An A-Grade electrician (also called a Licensed Electrical Worker) has completed their apprenticeship, passed the ESV assessment, and holds a licence to perform electrical work independently. A Supervised Worker is still completing their licensing requirements and must work under supervision. Both are legal, but for complex jobs, an A-Grade licence provides more assurance of experience.
Registered Electrical Contractor (REC)
If you are hiring a business rather than an individual, the business must hold a Registered Electrical Contractor licence. The REC number confirms the business is registered with ESV to contract electrical work and carry the associated insurance and compliance obligations. When you receive a quote or invoice, the REC number should appear on it.
How to Verify
Energy Safe Victoria provides a free online licence search at esv.vic.gov.au. Enter the electrician’s name or licence number and you can confirm their licence is current, any conditions on the licence, and whether any disciplinary actions have been taken. This takes 30 seconds and is worth doing for every electrician you consider hiring.
Step 2: Confirm Insurance
A licensed electrician should carry, at minimum, public liability insurance (typically $10 million to $20 million in coverage) and professional indemnity insurance. If they are employing staff, they also need WorkCover (workers’ compensation) insurance.
Why does this matter to you? If an electrician damages your property during a job (cuts through a water pipe, damages plasterwork, or causes a fire), their public liability insurance covers the cost of repair. If they are uninsured and something goes wrong, you may be left covering the damage yourself.
Ask for a copy of their Certificate of Currency. Any reputable electrician will provide this without hesitation. If they deflect or say they “don’t have it on them,” that is a red flag.
Step 3: Understand the Quote
The way an electrician quotes a job tells you a lot about how they operate.
Fixed-Price vs Hourly Rate
There are two common pricing models used by Melbourne electricians:
Fixed-price quotes give you a single total for the entire job, agreed before work begins. You know exactly what you will pay, regardless of how long the work takes. This model favours the customer because it removes the risk of a job running over time and blowing out the cost.
Hourly rate plus materials means you pay for the electrician’s time (typically $85 to $150 per hour in Melbourne) plus the cost of any parts used. This model is common but puts the cost risk on you: if the job takes longer than expected, you pay more.
For any job with a defined scope (installing power points, upgrading a switchboard, wiring a renovation), a fixed-price quote is preferable. Hourly rates are more appropriate for diagnostic work or fault-finding where the scope is genuinely uncertain at the start.
What Should Be in the Quote
A professional quote should include a clear description of the work to be done (not just “electrical work”), the total price including GST, whether the price is fixed or an estimate, what is included (materials, testing, certificates), what is excluded (and any conditions that could change the price), the electrician’s name, licence number, and REC number, and a validity period (quotes are typically valid for 14 to 30 days).
If you receive a quote that is just a number on a text message with no detail, that is a problem. You have no record of what was agreed, and no basis for dispute if the scope changes mid-job.
Step 4: Evaluate Their Reviews
Online reviews are the most reliable indicator of what it is actually like to work with an electrician. Google reviews are the most trustworthy platform because they are tied to verified Google accounts and are difficult to fake at scale.
When reading reviews, look beyond the star rating and pay attention to consistency: does every review mention the same positive qualities (punctuality, communication, clean work), or are positive reviews mixed with complaints about the same issues? Also look for specificity: reviews that mention specific jobs (such as “installed six downlights in our kitchen” or “upgraded our switchboard”) are more useful than generic “great sparky” comments.
Be cautious of electricians with very few reviews or reviews that all appeared within a short period. A business with 50+ genuine reviews accumulated over several years is a far more reliable indicator than one with 10 reviews all posted in the same month.
Step 5: Ask the Right Questions
Before you hire an electrician, here are the questions that will help you distinguish between a professional operation and a one-person show that may or may not turn up on the day:
1. “Will I receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety?”
In Victoria, a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) must be issued for all prescribed electrical work. This is a legal document that confirms the work has been completed in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 and Victorian regulations. If an electrician says they do not issue certificates, do not hire them. It is not optional.
2. “What is your availability and lead time?”
Good electricians are busy. If someone can come “right now” for a non-urgent job, it may indicate they are not in high demand. A lead time of 2 to 7 days for non-emergency work is normal and healthy. For genuine emergencies, most reputable electricians offer same-day or next-day service.
3. “Do you provide a workmanship guarantee?”
A confident electrician will guarantee their work for a minimum of 12 months. Many offer longer guarantees, particularly for larger installations like switchboard upgrades or house rewiring. The guarantee should cover both materials and labour.
4. “Can you provide references for similar work?”
For larger jobs ($2,000+), it is reasonable to ask for references from recent clients who had similar work done. A professional electrician will have no problem providing these.
5. “Will the work require council approval or a building permit?”
For most standard residential electrical work, no building permit is required. However, certain jobs (particularly those involving major renovations, new circuits in heritage-listed properties, or commercial work) may require permits or notifications. A knowledgeable electrician will tell you upfront if permits are needed and can advise on the process.
Red Flags to Watch For
Years of experience in the industry have taught me to recognise the warning signs of unreliable operators. Here is what should make you think twice:
No licence number on their quote, invoice, or vehicle. A licensed electrician displays their credentials because they are proud of them. If you cannot find a licence number, that is a serious concern.
A quote significantly lower than all others. If you get three quotes and one is 40 percent below the other two, the cheap quote is probably cutting corners. They may be using substandard materials, skipping testing, not providing certificates, or not carrying adequate insurance. Electrical work is not an area where “cheapest is best” applies.
Asking for full payment upfront. For residential work, a deposit of 10 to 20 percent is reasonable for larger jobs that require materials to be ordered. Full payment should only be made upon completion and your satisfaction with the work. If someone demands full payment before starting, walk away.
No written quote. Verbal agreements are unenforceable and lead to disputes. Every job should have a written quote or, at minimum, a detailed email confirming the scope and price.
Poor communication. If an electrician does not return calls or messages within a business day, does not confirm appointment times, or regularly reschedules, this pattern will continue throughout the job. Communication quality before the job is the best predictor of communication quality during the job.
Unwillingness to explain what they are doing. A good electrician will happily explain the work in terms you can understand. If someone is evasive about what they are doing or why, that is a concern.
What Good Work Looks Like
Even if you are not an electrician, you can assess the quality of completed work by looking at a few things:
Neat, tidy switchboard: Cables should be neatly bundled and labelled. Circuit breakers should be clearly identified with what they control (e.g., “Kitchen GPO,” “Bedroom Lights”). A switchboard that looks like a nest of tangled cables is a sign of rushed or careless work.
Cable management: Visible cables should be clipped or secured neatly, not left hanging loose. In ceiling cavities, cables should be clipped to joists, not draped across insulation.
Clean finish: Wall plates should be straight and flush with the wall. No visible gaps, cracks in plaster, or paint damage around new installations.
Testing documentation: After any electrical work, the electrician should test the circuits and provide you with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. This confirms the work meets AS/NZS 3000 standards.
Site cleanliness: A professional electrician cleans up after themselves: packaging is removed, cable offcuts are collected, and dust from drilling is swept or vacuumed.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Hiring the wrong electrician is not just an inconvenience. Poor electrical work creates genuine safety risks. Incorrectly wired circuits can cause electrical fires. Inadequate earthing can result in electric shock. Non-compliant work can void your home insurance. Unlicensed work is illegal and may need to be entirely redone by a licensed electrician before it passes inspection.
The financial cost of rectifying poor electrical work is almost always higher than the cost of having it done properly in the first place. We regularly see jobs where a homeowner paid a cheap operator to do work that then needed to be stripped out and redone to meet compliance standards.
Looking for a Reliable Melbourne Electrician?
Carlin Co Electrical is a licensed and insured electrical contractor (REC 33210) serving Melbourne’s inner suburbs, bayside, and surrounding areas. We provide fixed-price quotes, a workmanship guarantee, and a Certificate of Electrical Safety with every job.
Call 0432 632 346 or book online.
138+ five-star Google reviews from Melbourne homeowners and businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Victoria?
Use the free licence search on the Energy Safe Victoria website (esv.vic.gov.au). Enter the electrician’s name or licence number to confirm their licence is current and check for any conditions or disciplinary actions. Every electrician working in Victoria must hold a current ESV licence.
Should I get multiple quotes from electricians?
For larger jobs ($1,000+), getting two to three quotes is good practice. It gives you a sense of the market rate and allows you to compare how different electricians approach the job. For small jobs under $500, one quote from a trusted, well-reviewed electrician is usually sufficient.
What is a fair hourly rate for an electrician in Melbourne?
In 2026, A-Grade electricians in Melbourne charge $85 to $150 per hour, plus a call-out fee of $80 to $120. Rates vary based on experience, specialisation, and location. After-hours and weekend rates are typically 50 to 100 percent higher than standard rates.
What is a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is a legal document issued after prescribed electrical work is completed in Victoria. It confirms the work complies with AS/NZS 3000 and Victorian regulations. The electrician is legally required to issue one, and a copy is sent to Energy Safe Victoria. If your electrician does not provide a COES, the work may not be compliant.
How much should I pay upfront?
For small jobs (under $1,000), no deposit should be required. For larger jobs requiring material orders, a deposit of 10 to 20 percent is reasonable. Full payment should be made only upon completion of the work to your satisfaction. Never pay the full amount before work begins.
What should I do if I am unhappy with electrical work?
First, raise the issue directly with the electrician and give them the opportunity to rectify it. If the issue is not resolved, you can lodge a complaint with Energy Safe Victoria. If you believe the work is unsafe, ESV can arrange an inspection. You can also pursue the matter through Consumer Affairs Victoria or VCAT for contractual disputes.
Do electricians need to provide a guarantee?
Under Australian Consumer Law, all services come with an automatic guarantee that they will be provided with due care and skill. Beyond this legal minimum, most reputable electricians offer a workmanship guarantee of 12 months or more. Ask about the guarantee before hiring and get it in writing.
Is the cheapest electrician always a bad choice?
Not always, but a quote significantly below market rate (30 to 40 percent cheaper than others) warrants caution. The electrician may be cutting corners on materials, skipping testing, not carrying insurance, or not providing certificates. Compare the scope of work in each quote, not just the bottom-line number, to ensure you are comparing like with like.
Need an Electrician in Melbourne?
Carlin Co Electrical services all of Melbourne with licensed, insured electricians.
Get a Free QuoteOur Services