10 Questions to Ask Your Wollongong Electrician Before the Job Starts

You've found a few electricians online, got a couple of quotes, and now you're stuck. They all look the same on paper. But electrical work isn't like painting a feature wall. Get it wrong, and you're looking at safety hazards, voided insurance, or worse. In New South Wales, unlicensed electrical work is strictly prohibited. These 10 questions cover everything from licences and pricing to permits and guarantees, so you can hire the right electrician with confidence before work begins.

1. Are You Licensed to Do Electrical Work in NSW?

Every electrical business in NSW must hold a valid electrical contractor licence issued by NSW Fair Trading. Not just a trade certificate, but a contractor licence. That licence number is legally required to appear on all advertising and business materials. If it's missing, that's your first warning sign. You can verify any licence yourself using the Service NSW online licence check tool.

2. Are You Insured, and What Does Your Cover Include?

Ask your electrician about two things specifically: public liability insurance and workers' compensation. Public liability covers damage to your property or injury during the job. NSW doesn't set a specific minimum for licensing, but $5 million is considered the industry baseline for most sites. Many builders, property managers, and government projects require $10 million to $20 million. If your electrical contractor doesn't carry adequate insurance, you could be left covering the cost of accidents on your own property. That's a huge risk you don't need to take.

3. Do You Charge a Fixed Rate or by the Hour?

An hourly rate means slower workers cost you more. A fixed rate means you know the cost before work begins. Ask your electrician whether the written quote includes labour, materials, call-out fees, and GST. And make sure it's a fixed quote, not an estimate. They're not the same thing.

A professional electrician should have no issue providing an itemised, written quote that spells out exactly what you're paying for. Some Wollongong contractors, including Easther Electrical, use fixed-fee pricing schedules specifically to protect homeowners from bill shock.

4. Who Will Actually Be Doing the Work?

The person who quotes the job isn't always the person who turns up. Some larger contractors subcontract work out or send apprentices without mentioning it upfront. That's not necessarily wrong, but you deserve to know. Apprentices must be supervised by a licensed electrician at all times. Ask before the job starts so you know who to expect on the day.

5. Do You Have Experience With This Type of Job?

Not all electricians have the same expertise. An experienced electrician who does switchboard upgrades every week may have limited knowledge of EV charger installations, data cabling, or Level 2 service connections. Ask whether they've completed similar electrical jobs in Wollongong recently. Vague answers or a quick pivot to general experience are reasons to keep looking.

6. Will You Handle Permits and Compliance Certificates?

In NSW, electrical wiring work requires a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) once the job is complete. This is your legal proof that the work performed meets Australian Standards. You'll need it for insurance claims, property sales, and future inspections. A licensed electrician is legally required to provide this. If they don't mention it, ask.

For larger jobs, such as switchboard upgrades or work involving the service connection, additional approvals from Endeavour Energy may be required. Ask your electrician who handles that paperwork before the job starts, not after.

7. What Does Your Warranty Cover?

Products come with manufacturer warranties, but what about the labour? Ask how long the workmanship guarantee lasts and what happens if something goes wrong after the job is done. A reliable electrician will stand behind their work and come back to fix issues without a fight. Get the warranty details in writing. Verbal guarantees are hard to enforce if things go sideways.

8. How Do You Handle Unexpected Issues?

Opening a wall or inspecting a switchboard sometimes reveals problems the original quote didn't account for. Old rubber-sheathed cabling, undersized wiring, or materials that don't meet current safety standards. Good contractors will stop, explain what they found, give you an updated cost, and wait for your sign-off before doing any extra work. If they just crack on and add it to the invoice, that's a problem.

9. Do You Know Wollongong's Older Housing Stock?

Wollongong has a large number of pre-1980s homes across suburbs like Corrimal, Bulli, Fairy Meadow, and Thirroul. These older properties often have damaged wiring, outdated switchboards, and electrical systems that haven't been touched in decades.

The coastal Illawarra environment also takes a toll. Salt air accelerates corrosion on switchboards, exterior fittings, and exposed conduit. A local electrician who has worked on these homes will know what to look for. Someone from outside the area may not. It makes sense to hire experienced electricians who understand the specific challenges of your property and location.

Easther Electrical has been servicing Wollongong and the Illawarra Region for over 10 years, working across residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

10. Can You Provide References or Recent Reviews?

Google Reviews are the easiest way to research an electrician's track record. Look for reviews from the last six months that mention the type of job, not just "great service." For larger projects such as full rewires or commercial fit-outs, asking to speak with previous customers directly is entirely reasonable. A qualified electrician with a solid history will welcome the question.

When to Walk Away

If the licence number is missing from the quote, the price was given over the phone without a site visit, or the contractor gets cagey when you ask about insurance or compliance certificates, walk away. Pressure to commit on the spot is another warning sign. The right electrician will give you time to do your research and won't rush your decision.

Ready to Hire With Confidence?

Asking these questions isn't rude. It's exactly what a professional electrician expects. If you're looking for a reliable electrician in Wollongong who can answer all 10 without hesitation, Easther Electrical is a locally owned electrical contractor with over a decade of experience across Illawarra.

As a Level 2 Authorised Service Provider (ASP), the team is qualified to work on the service connection between your property and the Endeavour Energy network, which is work that a standard electrical contractor can't legally do. All jobs are priced on a fixed-fee basis and include a parts-and-labour guarantee. Get in touch for a free quote or call 02 4256 5899.