In Ontario , if you hire a person to do electrical work in your home , no matter how minor , it must be done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor ( LEC ). For your protection and peace of mind , make sure to ask your Licensed Electrical Contractor to obtain a Certificate of Acceptance ( previously called a Certificate of Inspection ) from the Electrical Safety Authority . This Certificate is an important document for the safety of your home , resale and insurance purposes . Only Licensed Electrical Contracting businesses can obtain this Certificate of Acceptance – general contractors or tradespersons without an ECRA / ESA license number will not be able to obtain one .
To ensure you are working with a Licensed Electrical Contracting business , here are a few red flags to watch for , according to the Electrical Safety Authority .
UNABLE TO PROVIDE ECRA / ESA LICENSE NUMBER A Licensed Electrical Contractor will gladly provide this if asked . A seven-digit ECRA / ESA license number should be displayed on their work vehicle and included on their printed estimate . The Electrical Safety Authority has a ‘ Find a Licensed Contractor Near You ’ look-up tool on their website . If you cannot find the company ’ s name on that list , they are likely unlicensed .
MISSING NOTIFICATIONS A Licensed Electrical Contractor will take care of the Notification for Work by connecting with the Electrical Safety Authority . They will reach out to your local electrical utility when changing your electrical panel or making upgrades to your electrical service . If your contractor suggests you file the Notification yourself or says any of these steps are unnecessary , beware !
THEY “ DO IT ALL ” Licensed Electrical Contractors will generally handle only electrical work . Exceptions would be contractors or home builders who provide full project management and outsource these tasks to licensed professionals on your behalf . In this case , it is important to ask them to provide an ECRA / ESA License Number for the company they will be subcontracting the work to .
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT There are a number of red flags that you should watch for when hiring any professional , including a Licensed Electrical Contractor . One of these red flags would be contractors who offer a discount if you pay in cash , will accept only cash and / or won ’ t provide a receipt for payments made . Other red flags may include work vehicles that carry different business names than the one they operate under , refusal to provide written quotes / estimates or contractors that require you to provide your own supplies . - Electrical Safety Authority , www . esasafe . com
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