Regulation of electricians: consultation analysis

1. Executive Summary

Currently anyone can call themselves an electrician, without the need for any qualifications or competency. This can lead to customers, especially domestic

consumers, hiring unqualified or less competent individuals, resulting in faults that can lead to fire or personal injury, such as electric shocks.

On 23 November 2020 the Scottish Government launched "A consultation on the regulation of electricians" to consider whether regulatory measures are required to give greater protection to the public and reduce the level of poor electrical workmanship by a persistent rogue trader element. The consultation also discussed increasing consumer awareness and helping consumers identify or verify competent and qualified electricians.

A total of 100 responses were received. 44 responses were from individuals and 40 from organisations, while the other respondents did not specify.

The vast majority of respondents thought that voluntary measures would not reduce the need for statutory measures, with a common feeling being that voluntary measures do not work. The vast majority of respondents thought that both protection of title and regulation of electrical work were required.

The vast majority of respondents thought that introducing new statutory measures would help in the enforcing of existing legislation and that this would be a sufficient justification in itself for legislation. A small number of respondents did not feel that introducing new statutory measures would help.

A wide range of suggestions were put forward on how to raise standards and increasing consumer protection and awareness.