With figures checked 1 October 2026, yes: the NT Government’s Electrical contractor licence page, updated 13 May 2025, gives electrical contractors 30 days to notify the Electrical Safety Regulator when a nominee stops holding an unrestricted electrical work licence or stops being an owner (director), partner or employee. The same source says licence suspension is not automatic, but the contractor must not change its nominee without the Electrical Safety Regulator’s approval.
What should I check after the nominee leaves?
Use this change-of-nominee checklist:
| Check | What the contractor should do |
|---|---|
| Electrical work licence | Check whether the nominee has stopped holding an unrestricted electrical work licence. If so, notify the Electrical Safety Regulator within 30 days. |
| Connection to the contractor | Check whether the nominee has ceased to be an owner (director), partner or employee. If so, notify the Electrical Safety Regulator within 30 days. |
| Notification form | Use the form titled Application to vary an electrical contractor’s licence to notify the change in nominated-person details. |
| Replacement approval | Do not change the nominee without the Electrical Safety Regulator’s approval. A proposed replacement is not the same as an approved endorsement. |
| Electrical work | Do not assume that non-automatic suspension creates a period during which work can be performed without an endorsed nominee. |
Notification and approval are separate steps. The notification reports the change; the Electrical Safety Regulator must approve the replacement before the licence nominee changes.
Does losing the nominee suspend the licence automatically?
No. The NT Government expressly states that suspension of an electrical contractor’s licence is not automatic. The same page also says the licence will be suspended until a new nominee is approved.
Those statements make one point clear: losing the nominee does not complete the change, and appointing a proposed replacement internally does not replace regulatory approval. The published page does not explain the procedural sequence between those events, so the contractor should not assume there is a grace period.
The position is particularly important because the NT Government identifies these situations as offending conduct under electrical safety legislation:
- continuing to provide and perform electrical work after losing the nominee and failing to notify the Electrical Safety Regulator; and
- performing electrical work without a nominee endorsed on the licence.
Losing the nominee therefore creates a notification and approval problem, not automatic permission to continue electrical work.
Does the replacement nominee meet the requirements?
Before approval is sought, check each requirement against the proposed nominee:
| Requirement | NT requirement |
|---|---|
| Connection to the contractor | An owner (director), partner or employee |
| Electrical work licence | A current unrestricted electrical work licence |
| Licence history | The unrestricted electrical work licence must have been held for at least 2 years |
| Contractor course | Successful completion of the contractor-course units approved by the Electrical Safety Regulator |
| Listed units | UEEEL0040 and UEEEL0002 |
An electrical contractor must have at least one nominee but may have more than one at a time. A person may be a nominee for only one electrical contractor licence at a time.
The nominee’s role also extends beyond the endorsement itself. All electrical work completed by the contractor must be performed or supervised by a nominee, who is responsible for ensuring the work is carried out under current electrical safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards.
What about the insurance requirement?
The NT Government’s page, updated 13 May 2025, states the following licensing requirement:
| Insurance item | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Public and products liability insurance | At least $5,000,000 for liability arising from personal injury or property damage caused by electrical work performed under the licence |
That is a licensing requirement, not a statement about every nomination-change policy. The contractor should also read its policy’s PDS and check whether a change of nominee affects policy details, certificates or any policy-specific notification duty.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current regulator page before submitting a variation and review the policy PDS for insurance requirements.
Sources
FAQ
What events trigger the 30-day notification duty?
The contractor must notify the Electrical Safety Regulator if the nominee stops holding an unrestricted electrical work licence or ceases to be an owner (director), partner or employee. The stated notification period is 30 days.
Must the replacement nominee be approved before the change?
Yes. The contractor must not change the nominee on its licence without the Electrical Safety Regulator’s approval. A proposed replacement should not be treated as approved merely because the contractor has selected or appointed them internally.
Can an electrical contractor have more than one nominee?
Yes. A contractor may have more than one nominee at a time, but each person may be a nominee for only one electrical contractor licence at a time.
Does non-automatic suspension mean electrical work can continue?
No such permission follows from the wording. All electrical work must be performed or supervised by a nominee, and the NT Government identifies performing electrical work without an endorsed nominee as offending conduct. Check the licence status directly with the regulator.
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