Electricity

Electricity is an essential part of our lives. If used wisely, electricity is a safe and economic energy source.

Remember - always treat electricity with respect.

Gas

Natural gas is used widely in the home for cooking, room and water heating. If appliances are installed by licensed persons and used wisely, natural gas is a safe and economical source of energy. This website provides useful safety tips on buying, installing and using natural gas appliances in the home. It is important to keep gas appliances well maintained to ensure that gas is burnt safely. Production of noxious emissions may be the result of failure to do so.

Incident reporting

All major gas and electrical incidents reported are investigated by the Technical Regulator's staff or other authorised officers. The Technical Regulator maintains a record of these incidents so that trends can be identified and remedial action taken. All gas fatalities are investigated by the Technical Regulator, as are gas and electrical installation incidents.

Recalls

Under the Gas Act 1997 and the Electrical Products Act 2000, the Technical Regulator monitors failures of gas appliances and components used in gas installations and infrastructure and electrical products and, if necessary, implements action to remove hazardous products from the market place. Responsible product suppliers (including manufacturers and importers) generally initiate a voluntary recall when a product poses a hazard. For details of products recalled, guidelines as to how to conduct a product recall and other information, go to www.recalls.gov.au.

Here are a few things to remember…

• If a job involves electricity or gas, never do-it-yourself.
• Always call a licensed electrician or licensed gas fitter. They must provide a Certificate of Compliance for their work
• Arranging on-going maintenance of all your gas and electrical appliances, including piping and wiring on your property to ensure safety, is your responsibility
• Get a licensed electrician to give your home a safety check - check the installation and condition of items such as wiring, downlights, powerboards, safety switches, cookers, heaters and water heaters
• Find out more about using a licensed electrician or gas fitter.