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How to Check if an Electrical Contractor Is Registered with Suruhanjaya Tenaga
Anyone can call themselves an electrician on Facebook. Very few are registered with Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST), the Energy Commission that regulates electrical installations in Peninsular Malaysia. This guide explains why registration matters, what the classes and wireman grades mean, and how to check a contractor before you pay a deposit.
Why it matters
ST's Guidelines for Electrical Wiring of Domestic Installations (GP/ST/No.39/2024) is clear:
All electrical wiring work must be carried out by an electrical contractor registered with the Commission, and the wiring plan must be prepared by a competent person.
Summary of sections 4.1 and 4.2. Sumber: Suruhanjaya Tenaga (PDF)
Registration means the company has a certified competent person on staff, the required test instruments, and insurance, and that it can legally issue the completion and test certificates for your installation.
What the contractor classes mean
ST registers electrical contractors in classes based on the value of work they may undertake and the competent persons they must employ (Electricity Regulations 1994, Regulations 75–79):
| Class | Maximum value of work | Minimum competent person required |
|---|---|---|
| A | Above RM1 million | Higher-grade wiremen (PW4/PW3/PW1 categories) |
| B | Between Class C and Class A (check ECOS for the current limit) | — |
| C | Up to RM500,000 | 1 × PW4 (three-phase wireman with testing endorsement) |
| D | Up to RM100,000 | 1 × PW2 (single-phase wireman with testing endorsement) |
Registration also requires SOCSO cover for workers and specific test equipment: an insulation resistance tester, an RCD tester and an earth resistance tester. Source: ST ECOS, Pendaftaran Kontraktor.
Luco Group is registered as a Class C electrical contractor (ST(TKL)SGR/C/KE/05024/2024), with a PW4 competent person, and is also registered with CIDB at Grade G3.
PW2, PW4, chargeman: who does what?
| Competent person | What they can do |
|---|---|
| Wireman PW2 | Single-phase low-voltage installations, with testing endorsement |
| Wireman PW4 | Single- and three-phase low-voltage installations, with testing endorsement |
| Chargeman | Operates and maintains larger installations, such as substations and high-load premises |
| Electrical engineer | Designs and supervises larger and high-voltage installations |
For a three-phase upgrade, a three-phase DB or a motor control panel, make sure the person supervising is at least a PW4.
How to check a contractor in 4 steps
- Ask for the ST registration number. It looks like
ST(XXX)YYY/C/KE/00000/2024, where the letter after the state code is the class. - Search it in ECOS. Go to ST's ECOS portal and use the Senarai Perakuan (certificate list) search for electrical contractors. Check that the company name matches and the registration is active.
- Check the class fits the job. A Class D contractor (up to RM100,000) is fine for a home; a large commercial project needs a higher class.
- Ask who the competent person is. Ask for the wireman's name and PW category, and whether they will supervise your job.
Red flags
- No registration number, or a number that does not match the company name.
- A quote that is much cheaper than others and excludes testing or certificates.
- "No need for Borang G and H, it's a small job."
- Cash-only payment with no company invoice.
- Cheap breakers without the ST-SIRIM label. MCBs, RCCBs and RCBOs are regulated equipment that must carry the label (Electricity Regulations 1994, Regulations 97 and 98).
The certificates you should receive: Borang G and H
When the job is finished, the competent person and contractor issue:
- Borang G: certificate of supervision and completion.
- Borang H: certificate of testing, with the measured results (insulation resistance, earth resistance, RCD trip times and others).
These forms are required under the Electricity Regulations 1994. Keep them with your house documents. According to the ST guideline (section 11.2), the certificates become invalid if additional wiring is added later, so new work needs new certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Is a "wireman" the same as an electrical contractor? No. The wireman is an individual competent person. The contractor is the registered company that must employ one. Wiring work must be done through a registered contractor.
Can a handyman change my socket? Replacing like-for-like accessories is still electrical work. For anything involving new circuits, the DB or certificates, use a registered contractor.
What does CIDB G3 mean? CIDB registration covers construction works. Grade G3 allows projects up to RM1 million under CIDB's grading. It is separate from ST registration, which covers electrical work specifically.
Does ST registration cover Sabah and Sarawak? This guide applies to Peninsular Malaysia, where ST regulates electrical installations. Sabah and Sarawak have their own state electricity regulators, so check the local requirements there.
Sources
- Suruhanjaya Tenaga, GP/ST/No.39/2024, sections 4.1, 4.2 and 11.2. st.gov.my PDF
- Electricity Regulations 1994 (Regulations 75–79, 97, 98). st.gov.my PDF
- ST ECOS, Pendaftaran Kontraktor. ecos.st.gov.my
- MISHU, CIDB licence applications. mishu.my
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an inspection by a registered electrical contractor. Regulations and TNB charges change; always check the linked official sources.