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Safe Electric registered contractors championed as fake electrician receives huge fine for illegally work undertaken.
A man posing as an electrical contractor who was found illegally undertaking designated electrical works has been order to pay fines of up to €4,000.
As reported in The Irish Times, Frank Power of Kildinan, Co Cork, was ordered to pay a €3,000 fine, as well as €1,000 plus VAT to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which brought the case.
The court heard that electrical works carried out by Mr Power were not in accordance with the national wiring rules and had the potential to cause serious injury to a homeowner and his family.
It is illegal for an individual or company to carry out restricted electrical works or to portray themselves as registered, unless they are a registered electrical contractor with Safe Electric.
The penalties for non-compliance include a fine of up to €15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.
CRU chairman Dr Paul McGowan said the prosecution “sends out a clear message” to both unregistered electrical contractors and consumers.
“Always ask your electrician if they are a Safe Electric-registered electrical contractor before they commence electrical work in your home and request a certificate of completion for any work carried out,” he said.
It was explained to the court that one of the main purposes of these prosecutions is to act as a deterrent against similar illegal and dangerous electrical works being carried out which could have fatal consequences.