Saturday, January 2, 2016

Hiring Unlicensed Electricians In Toronto Is Not Worth The Risk

By Virginia King


In 2013, Toronto was one of the hardest hit by a severe ice storm that struck the central and eastern portion of Canada. As a result, utility poles collapsed under the weight of thick ice accumulation, leaving over 250,000 hydro customers without electricity. Complaints were raised that unlicensed electrical contractors ripped off homeowners desperate to have their power restored in the wake of the storm. Electricians in Toronto are licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). It is crucial to ensure that your contractor has this permit to avoid rip-offs and other safety hazards.

According to yearly statistics, about 20 percent of fires that occur in Canada are caused by electrical work done improperly. This can be attributed to the fact that about 50 percent of Canadian homeowners hire unlicensed contractors to work on their electric systems. Also, a good number of homeowners fix electrical problems on their own. This means that there is lots of electrical work done by unqualified contractors.

The government gave the ESA the mandate to manage the licensing of master electricians and electrical contractors as a strategy to reduce the amount of work done by unlicensed contractors. Municipalities used to take control of licensing which made the standards vary from one area within Canada to another. The difference was so much defined that an electrical contractor who worked in the northernmost part of Toronto would need a permit to take up a job that is just a 10-minute drive away from the city. All these concerns birthed a new licensing system under the ESA umbrella.

Requirements of the new system incorporated the old and new ones. The old requirements include that the student must pass exams administered by universities, colleges and Ministry of Training. In the new package, a master electrician should pass an exam administered by ESA. This exam covers topics like Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), business practices and the Consumer Protection Act, among others. That aside, homeowners have their part to play as well in minimizing occurrences of electrical problems.

According to the provincial Electricity Act effected in 2007, homeowners are required to use licensed electrical contractors only. This means that those who fail to do so could be charged in accordance with the Act. However, you can check the status of your contractor on the ESA website to verify they are certified. It is also possible to search for a qualified contractor in your area in their website.

The new Act came with many benefits including the improvement of safety and the economy. Safety is still a challenge because most inexperienced homeowners, perform DIY electric tasks. All do-it-yourself work should be inspected by experts from ESA. This means that you will incur an inspection fee.

The inspection fee only applies if you hired an unlicensed electrician; if you hire a licensed expert, the fee is waived. Unlicensed contractors will not come back to fix an electric system that failed before the guarantee time is over. This means that you will end up incurring extra costs.

Hiring an unlicensed electrical contractor is not worth the risk. Insured and licensed electrical contractors are the right people to hire. Visit the ESA website to verify that they are certified to do the business.




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