Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) Notice 2023

This notice is issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (the Board) pursuant to section 85 of the Electricity Act 1992. The notice follows approval of the Minister of Building and Construction under section 89 and prescribes requirements relating to the completion of competence programmes for applicants and holders of certain licences under the Electricity Act 1992.

The development of this notice has been guided by the principles set out in section 87 of the Electricity Act 1992.

Issued at Wellington this 1st day of September 2023.

DUNCAN CONNOR, Registrar of the Electrical Workers Registration Board.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) Notice 2023.

2. Commencement

This notice commences 12 months from the date on which it is notified in the New Zealand Gazette.

3. Competence programme requirements – all classes of licence

Applicants for practising licences (including renewal) of all classes of registration must comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 1 of this notice.

4. Competence programme requirements (electrical safety) – all licensed persons not involved in high voltage installation

Applicants for practising licences (including renewal) not involved in high voltage installation must comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 2A of this notice.

5. Competence programme requirements (electrical safety) – all licensed persons involved in high voltage installation

Applicants for practising licences (including renewal) involved in high voltage installation must comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 2B of this notice.

6. Revocation

The Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) Notice 2019, New Zealand Gazette, 17 April 2019, Notice No. 2019-go1762(external link) and associated corrigendum New Zealand Gazette, 17 June 2019, Notice No. 2019-go2704(external link) are revoked.

Schedule 1

Competence programme requirements – all classes of licence

For each class of registration, the requirements relating to the completion of a competence programme for a practising licence are prescribed by the Board under the Electricity Act 1992 section 85(1)(d).

Registration class Competence programme requirement
All classes of registration Applicants for practising licences (including the renewal of practising licences) of all classes of registration must have completed a competence programme within a period of two years immediately before the date of each application. The competence programme is made up of a Board-approved course and assessments in:
  1. electrical safety; and
  2. basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Subject material for the electrical safety aspect of competence programmes is set out in Schedules 2A and 2B of this notice. Subject material for the basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) aspect of the competence programmes is:
  1. Instruction in first aid knowledge and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is consistent with accepted practices for first aid knowledge and skills aligned with the New Zealand Resuscitation Council guidelines.
Training of first aid should be carried out by those who have a current New Zealand Resuscitation Council Instructor’s Certificate for Resuscitation or Emergency Care Instructor Certificate (ECI) as specified in the New Zealand Resuscitation Council guidelines; or equivalent skills and knowledge that is satisfactory to the Board.

A Professional Development Programme constitutes a competence programme if it contains a Board-approved course and assessments.

Schedule 2A

Competence programme requirements (electrical safety) – all licensed persons not involved in high voltage installation

For each class of registration not relating to high voltage installation work, the requirements relating to the completion of a competence programme for a practising licence are prescribed by the Board under the Electricity Act 1992 section 85(1)(d).

The following subject material must be included in the electrical safety aspect of the competence programme for the respective practising licence classes. These requirements are applicable to all practising licence applicants that are engaged either full-time or part-time on low-voltage electrical installations, or on electrical appliances that are supplied from such installations.
Registration class Competence programme requirement
Electrical Inspector
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • Verification of electrical fittings installed by others
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Mining Operations)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3007
  • The safety principles that apply to mining
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Hazardous Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, 60079.11, 60079.14, 60079.17, 60079.18, 60079.29.2, and 60079.35.1
  • The safety principles that apply to hazardous areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for hazardous areas
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Mains Parallel Generation Systems)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4777.1
  • The safety principles that apply to mains parallel generation systems
  • The performance of safety functions required for mains parallel generation systems
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrician
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • Verification of electrical fittings installed by others
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrician (Endorsed Mining Operations)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3007
  • The safety principles that apply to mining
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment
Electrician (Endorsed Hazardous Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, 60079.11, 60079.14, 60079.17, 60079.18, 60079.29.2, and 60079.35.1
  • The safety principles that apply to hazardous areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for hazardous areas
Electrician (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrician (Endorsed Mains Parallel Generation Systems)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4777.1
  • The safety principles that apply to mains parallel generation systems
  • The performance of safety functions required for mains parallel generation systems
Electrician (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Engineer
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The installation, operation and testing of electrical protection devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • Verification of electrical fittings installed by others
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Mining Operations)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3007
  • The safety principles that apply to mining
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Hazardous Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, 60079.11, 60079.14, 60079.17, 60079.18, 60079.29.2, and 60079.35.1
  • The safety principles that apply to hazardous areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for hazardous areas
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Mains Parallel Generation Systems)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4777.1
  • The safety principles that apply to mains parallel generation systems
  • The performance of safety functions required for mains parallel generation systems
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Installer
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The installation, operation and testing of electrical protection devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • Verification of electrical fittings installed by others
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Installer (Endorsed Hazardous Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, 60079.11, 60079.14, 60079.17, 60079.18, 60079.29.2, and 60079.35.1
  • The safety principles that apply to hazardous areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for hazardous areas
Electrical Installer (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrical Installer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Service Technician
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The purpose, usage and operational testing of residual current devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing requirements in accordance with AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Service Technician (Endorsed Mining Operations)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3007
  • The safety principles that apply to mining
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment
Electrical Service Technician (Endorsed Hazardous Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, 60079.11, 60079.14, 60079.17, 60079.18, 60079.29.2, and 60079.35.1
  • The safety principles that apply to hazardous areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for hazardous areas
Electrical Service Technician (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrical Service Technician (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Appliance Serviceperson
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The purpose, usage and operational testing of residual current devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing requirements in accordance with AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Appliance Serviceperson (Endorsed Medical Cardiac Protected Areas)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3003 and AS/NZS 2500
  • The safety principles that apply to medical cardiac protected areas
  • The performance of safety functions required for medical cardiac protected area
Electrical Appliance Serviceperson (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Associated Tradesperson
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • The purpose and usage of residual current devices
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Testing requirements in accordance with AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Traction Line Mechanic
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, NZECP 60, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Traction Line Mechanic (Endorsed Mining Operations)
  • The requirements of AS/NZS 3007
  • The safety principles that apply to mining
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment
Traction Line Mechanic (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Distribution Line Mechanic
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Distribution Line Mechanic (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Substation Maintainer
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Substation Maintainer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Cable Jointer
  • Supervision
  • Earthing requirements as listed in AS/NZS 3000
  • Testing and certification as listed in AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3760, and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Cable Jointer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision

Schedule 2B

Competence programme requirements (electrical safety) – all licensed persons involved in high voltage installation

For each class of registration relating to high voltage installation work, the requirements relating to the completion of a competence programme for a practising licence are prescribed by the Board under the Electricity Act 1992 section 85(1)(d).

The following subject material must be included in the electrical safety aspect of the competence programme for the respective practising licence categories. These requirements are applicable to all practising licence applicants that are engaged either full or part time on works or high voltage electrical installations, or on high voltage plant and equipment supplied from works or such installations:
Registration class Competence programme requirement
Electrical Inspector
  • Supervision
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection equipment, including current and voltage transformers
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • Verification of electrical fittings installed by others
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrician
  • Supervision
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection equipment, including current and voltage transformers
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrician (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Engineer
  • Supervision
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection equipment, including current and voltage transformers
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Engineer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Installer
  • Supervision
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection equipment, including current and voltage transformers
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Installer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Electrical Service Technician
  • Supervision
  • Prospective short circuit currents
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • The installation, operation, and testing of electrical protection equipment, including current and voltage transformers
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Electrical Service Technician (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Transmission Line Mechanic
  • Supervision
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Transmission Line Mechanic (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Traction Line Mechanic
  • Supervision
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and NZECP 60 Low Voltage A.C. Railway Signalling control circuits
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Traction Line Mechanic (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Distribution Line Mechanic
  • Supervision
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Distribution Line Mechanic (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Substation Maintainer
  • Supervision
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Substation Maintainer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision
Cable Jointer
  • Supervision
  • Electrical safe distances and their application as listed in NZECP 34
  • Earthing requirements as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the use of bonding and equipotential zones to comply with regulation 8 of those regulations
  • Testing and certification as listed in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
  • An update on changes to regulations and/or standards
Cable Jointer (Endorsed Supervision)
  • The principles that apply to supervising other workers
  • The Board’s published policies and guidelines on supervision practices
  • Risk management considerations
  • Site or job management functions to ensure safe working practices for people operating under supervision

Explanatory Note

This note is for explanatory purposes only.

The Electrical Workers Registration Board has responsibility for the registration and licensing of electrical workers. Concurrent with the publication of this notice the Board published a notice prescribing the classes of registration for electrical workers including limits of work in respect of each class and minimum standards for registration (Electricity (Prescribed Classes of Registration for Electrical Workers) Notice 2023). That notice creates new classes of registration and makes changes to existing classes of registration.

To align with those changes, it is necessary to amend the requirements for the completion of competence programmes. This New Zealand Gazette notice does not change the competence programme requirements. It only establishes the competence programme requirements for the new classes of registration and changed classes of registration. These requirements are set out in the Schedules and come into force 12 months from the date that this notice is gazetted.

Corrigendum—Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) Notice 2023

In the notice with the above title published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 September 2023, Notice No. 2023-sl4076(external link), reference to registration class Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Supervision) and corresponding competence programme requirements under Schedules 2A and 2B are deleted.

This aligns competency programme requirements to the prescribed classes of registration notified in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 September 2023, Notice No. 2023-sl4075(external link).