Contractors in the North Warned to Provide Accurate Information
Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) contractors in the North have been warned to provide true and accurate information about EFL fees and charges.
Those contractors failing to comply will be issued three demerit points for providing false information to any customer who obtains a financial gain.
A demerit point system is in which the organisation issues cumulative points to contractors on offences. Acting regulatory compliance and licencing co-ordinator Samuela Seru said the primary purpose of implementing the points system is to identify, deter, and penalise those contractors who continue to do standard and defective work.
Meeting
He was speaking to 20 contractors during the Electrical Contractors Meeting-North at Hotel Takia in Labasa yesterday.
Mr Seru said contractors shall ensure that a permit application is lodged and approved before initiating the electrical work for any customer.
“This is non-complaint to regulations, and we had customer’s complaining about our services,” Mr Seru said.
“Points will be deducted on offences, the number of points depends on offence type and ten points shall be given at the time of renewal. “Suspension will be issued if no more points remain at the end of the year and wireman’s license holder may be re-assessed for competency.
“Other penalties may be applied, after a certain number of points remains. Contractors failing to lodge any permit for electrical works they have carried out shall be issued with five demerit points,” he said.
He said contractors must ensure that they complete work within a reasonable time after the permit has been approved.
“Any work delayed from the contractor’s side should be properly communicated to the customer,” he said.
“Communication failure may lead to a frustrated customer and may consequently lead to a complaint. Demerit points shall be issued to a contractor for any justified complaint to a contractor for any justified complaint from any customer,” he said.
Mr Seru said the aforementioned points have not been finalised and additional points can be further added, a final copy shall be circulated before implementing the penalty point system.
“Apart from the demerit points, all other serious offences shall be dealt with on the case-by-case basis and penalty shall be issued appropriately,” Mr Seru said.
He said each contractor is responsible for the renewal of their licences.
“A contractor licence is secondary to a wireman’s, the contractor’s licence shall automatically become void and unless the wireman’s licence is renewed, the contractor licence remains void,” he said. “Any contractor operating without a valid contractor or wireman’s license shall be liable for disciplinary action.”