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Electricity Act 1992

Restrictions on electrical work - Testing, certification, and inspection

83: Power of entry

You could also call this:

“Inspectors can enter buildings to check electrical work for safety”

You might wonder how the government makes sure electrical work is done safely. The law gives certain people the power to enter buildings to check this work. Here’s how it works:

Someone from the Board can come into any building, even your home, at a reasonable time. They can do this to make sure the electrical work follows the rules set out in section 82. When they’re there, they can look at and test any electrical work that’s connected (or will be connected) to the power supply. They can also ask questions to find out if the work has been properly tested, certified, or inspected.

They don’t need to think something is wrong to come in and check. They can do it just to make sure everything is okay.

Before they come in, they need to let both the owner and the person living there know. They have to give them enough warning.

When they arrive, and if asked later, they need to show two things: proof that they’re allowed to be there, and proof of who they are.

This helps keep everyone safe by making sure electrical work is done correctly.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM282876.

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82: Testing, certification, and inspection, or

"Checking and approving electrical work before it's used"

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Part 9 Restrictions on electrical work
Testing, certification, and inspection

83Power of entry

  1. For the purpose of ensuring that the requirements of section 82 are complied with in relation to any prescribed electrical work, any person authorised by the Board for the purpose may, at any reasonable time, enter any premises (including a dwellinghouse) and—

  2. inspect and test any prescribed electrical work on those premises that is, or is intended to be, connected to a power supply:
    1. make any inquiries that are necessary to determine whether or not any prescribed electrical work on those premises has been properly tested, certified, or inspected.

      1. The power of entry under subsection (1) may be exercised whether or not there are any grounds to believe that any prescribed electrical work has not been properly carried out.

      2. Every person must give reasonable notice of that person's intention to enter any premises under subsection (1) to both the owner and the occupier of the premises.

      3. Every person must, on entering any premises under subsection (1), and when requested at any subsequent time, produce to the person in charge of the premises—

      4. evidence of that person's authority to enter the premises; and
        1. evidence of that person's identity.

          Notes
          • Section 83: substituted, on , by section 13 of the Electricity Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 70).