A Sorrento electrician has been fined $15,000 for incorrect wiring that caused parts of a Duncraig home to become live with dangerous levels of electricity for 17 days.

Rex Percy Hickman (EW162783) did not attend Joondalup Magistrates Court on 6 March 2020 when he was convicted of breaching WA’s electricity licensing regulations and also ordered to pay costs of $766.

The court was told that an investigation by Building and Energy revealed Mr Hickman transposed the load active and neutral conductors while installing a new tariff meter in the switchboard panel in February 2018.

This caused electricity to travel through the home’s earthing system, putting the occupants at risk of electric shock if they had made contact with live metal components during the 17 days before the issue was discovered. Solar equipment at the house was also damaged.

Director of Energy Safety Saj Abdoolakhan welcomed the penalty handed down by the court.

“The defective work that Mr Hickman did could have resulted in serious injury, or worse, for himself or anyone at the property,” he said.

“Mr Hickman’s failure to test the installation, despite falsely signing off on documents stating he had done so, is particularly concerning. A simple check would have immediately identified the fault. The lack of safety and diligence in this case was unacceptable.”

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Media contact: Sarah Roberts – 0466 409 828 (media queries only) or BEmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au

Note: An EW number refers to a licensed electrical worker. Search the database at https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy/find-gas-fitter-electrician-or-plumber