You’ve made the decision to have electrical work done in your home. Now it’s time to hire the right person for the job.
Perhaps you talk to a few friends for referrals, or search ads for qualified electricians. But it’s not actually a qualified electrician you want to search for. That’s because in Ontario, if you’re hiring someone to do electrical work in your home, by law, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) are the only businesses in Ontario legally authorized to do electrical work in your home. Qualified electricians are employed by Licensed Electrical Contractors. An electrician is not permitted to perform work for hire unless they are employed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Here are three things to help ensure you’re hiring a Licensed Electrical Contractor:
- Only Licensed Electrical Contractors can provide you with an ECRA/ESA licence number that proves they can operate their electrical contracting business in Ontario. This licence number should appear on their vehicles, business cards and estimates. Ask to see it.
- Licensed Electrical Contractors will be able to provide you with documentation (Certificate of Acceptance) from ESA once the work is complete, for your records. Keep this for insurance purposes.
- If you’re using a general contractor, interior designer or other trade professional who subcontracts the electrical work, confirm they’ve hired a Licensed Electrical Contractor for the electrical work. Also confirm the Licensed Electrical Contractor will be arranging the required electrical notification of work to the ESA. General handymen, or freelance electricians not working for a Licensed Electrical Contractor can’t do electrical work in your home unless their business holds an electrical contractor licence number.