COES

Below and on the following pages are links to important information for electricity professionals in relation to the COES system, purchasing COES and prescribed and non-prescribed work.

• Fundamentals of COES
• ESVConnect COES 
• Paper COES
• Prescribed / non Prescribed work 
• Exemptions
• COES Fees
• Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES) for consumers

ESV and COES

ESV is the independent technical regulator responsible for electricity, gas and pipeline safety in Victoria. Within this role, we are responsible for the issue, sale, acceptance and overall management of Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES) and the electrical tradespeople who must complete and issue COES upon completion of electrical installation work.

The Electricity Safety Act 1998 and Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 require a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) to be issued for all electrical installation work.

The COES system is structure to:

• improve electrical safety for the general public, electricity customers and electrical workers,
• ensure all electrical installation work is undertaken only by qualified persons, and
• ensure completed electrical work is available to be audited for compliance educate industry participants.

ESV provides COES to the industry in two ways:

• electronic (ESVConnect), and
• paper form (COES).

It is the Responsible Person’s (RP’s) duty to confirm that all details are correct at the time of purchase, so lodgement can be performed successfully at the completion and testing of the electrical installation work.

Failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence and licensed workers who do so may be subject to disciplinary action which could result in the suspension or cancellation of their licence.

Contact us

For advice and information about COES or using ESVConnect for COES, contact our COES team in the following ways:

• Contact form
• ‘Ask A Question’ in ESVConnect
• Email to coes@energysafe.vic.gov.au
• Call our COES team on 03 9203 9700 – select option 3.