The CCEW is how NSW records that electrical work was done by a licensed person and tested. Two searches in the same family, “how to lodge a CCEW” and “certificate of compliance electrical work NSW solar”, ask for the same thing, so here is one answer.
What a CCEW is
A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work is the NSW document that an electrician completes when they have finished electrical work and tested it. For solar and battery jobs, it covers the AC and DC work connected to the property’s installation. It is regulated by NSW Fair Trading, and failure to lodge can bring penalties, including on-the-spot fines.
How it is lodged
- Who. The licensed electrician responsible for the electrical work completes and submits it.
- Where. Electronically, through the state’s online lodgement system, which Fair Trading manages. Paper forms are being phased out, so confirm the current system.
- When. Within seven days of completing the work and the safety and compliance testing.
- Copies. A copy goes to the customer, and the network distributor receives the certificate. See network by network.
If you are the solar retailer and the electrician is a subcontractor, ask for the CCEW reference as part of your close-out, not as an afterthought.
How the CCEW relates to STCs
This is the confusion that matters. A CCEW is a state electrical safety document. An STC claim is a federal scheme document. The two run in parallel:
- The STC claim does not wait for the CCEW to be lodged as a registry step.
- But the installation must be done lawfully, and an installation without a CCEW is not lawful, which an auditor will notice.
- The CCEW reference and a copy belong in the job file with the photos and statements, and some traders ask for them in their checklists.
- The electrical work on a solar job needs a licensed electrician. Accreditation for solar sits on top of the electrical licence. See do electricians need solar accreditation.
For the direct question “do I need a CCEW to claim STCs”, see the state certificate answer.
Practical points
- Test before you sign. The certificate records testing, so do the tests first and keep the results.
- Do one per job. A solar job and a battery installed on the same day may need to be recorded accurately, so ensure the certificate describes the work done.
- Fix errors early. An amended certificate is better than an incorrect one that sits in the system.
- Track the seven days. Add the deadline to the job card.
From the desk: give the electrician a one-line close-out task: “Lodge CCEW, send reference to office.” Without a reference in your system, you cannot show it later.
What this means for installers
In NSW the CCEW, the network approval and the STC paperwork are three separate trails, and a tidy job record links them. For the STC side see STC trading, how it works and the resources hub. Other states’ certificates are covered on the Victoria, Queensland and other states pages.