How this affects the customer
A quick overview — what customers expect, what’s required by law, and why it protects your work.
Customers may expect a copy — and it may be required by law
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations and EWRB guidance require that a Certificate of Compliance (COC) or Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) be provided within 20 working days after completing the work, or within 20 working days of becoming aware that you can’t complete it.
Giving your customer a copy keeps everything above board and helps prevent any comeback later.
It seals the work — and proves it was safe on the day
Issuing the COC or ESC marks the work as complete and verified.
It records that the work — and with coc.nz’s testing inclusion in the certificate — shows it was tested, compliant, and safe on that date. If anything changes later — a fault, alteration, or damage — you’ve got the record showing your part was safe and compliant when you completed the work.
Required testing & certification adds a cost
This required testing and certification process takes extra time and care to complete, and it adds an unavoidable cost to every job. As with all professional work, this time must be paid for — the customer ultimately pays for it as part of the overall job, whether itemised or not.
Helps with bigger clients and H&S systems
For many corporate clients, timely compliance documentation is a key part of their health and safety systems.
Supplying the COC or ESC on time keeps those systems running smoothly and makes you — the professional — a valuable link in that chain.
Builds confidence with your customer
Clear, tidy paperwork shows professionalism and care.
It reassures the customer that the work was completed in a proper, professional manner and that everything has been certified correctly.
More information
A few examples of information links: