The short answer
A CCEW (Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work) is the certificate a NSW electrician must submit whenever electrical work has been done. It shows the work was tested and complies with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017, its 2018 Regulation and the relevant Australian Standards. The electrician who did the test must lodge it as soon as practical, and no later than 7 days after the test. Since 1 July 2026, every CCEW must be lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, and you get a copy by email if your address is entered.
What a CCEW is for
A CCEW is the formal record that licensed electrical work was done, tested and found to comply. It matters for:
- Your safety. It confirms the work was tested before it was handed over.
- Your records. It is useful when you sell the house, make an insurance claim or have more work done later.
- The network. For work that affects the connection, such as new installations, Essential Energy also gets a copy.
- Compliance. It gives Building Commission NSW, the regulator for electrical licensing and compliance, a record of who did what and when.
Building Commission NSW took over electrical licensing and compliance from NSW Fair Trading. You will still see Fair Trading named on some older pages.
When a CCEW is needed
The NSW Government's electrical compliance page says a CCEW must be submitted whenever electrical work has been undertaken. That covers small jobs as well as big ones, for example:
- a new power point or light
- a switchboard upgrade
- an EV charger
- an air conditioner circuit
- a rewire
- a new shed supply
If someone offers to do electrical work "without the paperwork", that is a red flag. It usually means they are not licensed, or they don't want the work on record.
Who lodges it, and when
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who lodges the CCEW? | The person who carries out the electrical test |
| How? | Through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal |
| When? | As soon as practical, no later than 7 days after the test is completed |
| Who gets a copy? | You, automatically, if your email address is entered. Essential Energy also gets one where required |
Note that the 7 days run from the electrical test, not from when the job started or when the invoice was sent.
The 2026 eCert change
From 1 July 2026, all CCEWs must be submitted through the BCNSW eCert portal. These old methods are no longer accepted:
- the PDF form
- the Essential Energy portal
- hard-copy or NECA book forms
So if you are offered a handwritten certificate from a book for work done after 1 July 2026, ask how it is being lodged. The NSW Government's Advisory Note 2/2026 also confirms eCert submission.
There is one more change on the way. From November 2026, new and upgraded solar and battery systems up to 200 kW are commissioned through the NSW CER Installer Portal, which sends the CCEW to BCNSW automatically. Any other electrical work on the same job still needs its own eCert CCEW. We don't install solar or batteries, but if you are getting other work done at the same time, you will get a separate CCEW from us for our part.
Penalties for not supplying one
The NSW Government lists:
- on-the-spot fines of up to $1,000 each time a CCEW is not supplied;
- up to $550,000 for failing to carry out installation work to the regulated technical standards.
Power that has been off for 6 months or more
If an electrical installation has been de-energised for 6 months or more, a qualified electrician must do a safety inspection before the power is turned back on. The electrician then completes an Electrical Installation Safety Inspection Certificate, which you give to your electricity retailer.
This comes up around the Riverina with empty farmhouses, shearers' quarters, older shops and deceased estates. If you are reconnecting a property that has sat empty for a while, tell your electrician up front.
How to get a copy of your CCEW
- Give your electrician your email address before the job so it can be entered on the certificate.
- Look for the eCert email after the job. Check your junk folder.
- If you didn't get it, ask the electrician. Under the current system it should be lodged within 7 days of the test.
- Keep it with your house papers, along with the invoice.
At NAF Electrical, every job is tested and signed off and the CCEW is handed over. On our switchboard upgrades, testing, verification and the CCEW are shown as their own line on the written price.
Work in Victoria is different
If you are in Albury–Wodonga, note that a NSW CCEW only covers NSW. Electrical work in Victoria needs a Victorian Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES), not a CCEW.
Before you hire
A CCEW only means something if it comes from a licensed electrician. Check the licence first: our guide on how to check an electrician's licence shows you how in a couple of minutes. Our licence is contractor licence 374694C. For more on picking someone, see choosing an electrician in Wagga, and for why you can't skip the electrician altogether, see DIY electrical work in NSW.
Common questions
Do I need a CCEW for a small job?
Yes. NSW requires a CCEW whenever electrical work has been undertaken. There is no minimum job size.
How long does my electrician have to lodge the CCEW?
As soon as practical, and no later than 7 days after the electrical test is completed. Since 1 July 2026 it must be lodged through the BCNSW eCert portal.
Can a CCEW still be done on paper?
No. From 1 July 2026, the PDF form, the Essential Energy portal and hard-copy or NECA book forms are no longer accepted. Only eCert lodgement is accepted.
Does Essential Energy get a copy?
Where it is required, such as for new installations or work affecting the network connection, the distributor gets a copy automatically when the CCEW is lodged. In the Riverina that is Essential Energy.
Who pays for the CCEW?
The CCEW is part of doing the work properly. Some electricians include it in the job price and others show it as a line item. Ask for a written price that shows it either way.