The following changes were introduced by the 2009 Regulations:

3.1 The duties of the Electrical Contracting Board of SA are transferred to the Chief Inspector

3.2 An Approved Inspection Authority for electrical installations is a person or body approved by the Chief Inspector in terms of Regulation 5, to carry out inspections, tests and investigations on electrical installations

3.3 The person/s authorised to issue the Electrical Compliance Certificate, formerly known as the “accredited person” now becomes a “registered person” in terms of regulation 11 and must be registered annually (regulation 6(2))

3.4 The former Certificate of Compliance now is known as an Electrical Compliance Certificate

3.5 Regulation 2(1) and (2) provides that the user or lessor of an electrical installation shall be responsible for the safety, safe use and maintenance of the installation and conductors connecting the installation to the property [User as defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act is the person who uses or has the right to control over the use]

3.6 Regulation 2(3) provides that these responsibilities can be transferred to the lessee by way of a written undertaking between the user or lessor and the lessee. In the absence of such a written undertaking the by the Lessee, the owner is deemed to be the user

3.7 In terms of Regulation 7(5) the user or lessor may not allow a change of ownership if the certificate of compliance is older than two years

3.8 In terms of regulation 7(4) additions or alterations to the electrical installation will require a user or lessor to obtain an Electrical Complinance Certificate for at least the addition or alteration

3.9 Every user or lessor of an electrical installation must be in possession of a valid Electrical Compliance Certificate and produce the certificate upon request of an inspector, supplier or approved inspection authority, unless there is a written undertaking to transfer the responsibility

3.10 If an inspector has carried out an inspection and detected a fault or defect in any electrical installation, they may require the user or lessor to obtain a new Electrical Compliance Certificate and if the inspector is of the opinion that the installation poses an immediate danger to persons they shall take steps to disconnect the circuit

3.11 Regulation 10 sets out the procedure to employ in the event of any dispute arising over the health and safety of an installation

3.11.1 The affected person may appeal against the interpretation of the Chief Inspector

3.11.2 Serve Notice personally or by registered post of the grounds for the dispute on both the Chief Inspector as well as person whose interpretation is disputed

3.11.3 The person whose interpretation is being disputed shall set forth the reasons for his interpretation to the Chief Inspector

3.11.4 The Chief Inspector shall after due consideration confirm, set aside, substitute or vary the interpretation 

Property owners who have a solar system on their property which is tied to City Powers’ electricity grid are obliged to apply to City Power for the approval of their solar system

Property owners must ensure that they are issued with a new Electrical Certificate Compliance by a person registered to issue same post installation of the solar system

Property Owners must ensure that the format of the Electrical Compliance Certificate issued agrees with the form Annexure 1 published in the Regulations of 2009 and is properly completed by their electrical contractor as a registered person

When in doubt, verify on the website of the Electrical Conformance Board of South Africa (ECBSA) that the electrical contractor employed by you is:

• a “registered person” authorised to issue the Electrical Compliance Certificate for the particular electrical installation on the property with a valid registration number, and
  
  
• the registration is current, as regulation 6(2) requires annual registration