An electrical quotation differs from other trades in one important way: a Certificate of Compliance is a regulated document issued by a registered person, and it carries liability. That shapes the quotation.
An electrical quotation must separate work from certification
A CoC certifies the installation as reasonably safe. Issuing one for work you did not do, or for an installation you have not fully tested, transfers a risk to you that no quotation margin covers.
Practical approach on a quote:
- Price the installation work as its own scope
- Price the testing and certificate separately, and only for the scope you are certifying
- State plainly whether the certificate covers the whole installation or only the new work
- Where you are asked to certify an existing installation, quote an inspection first, then remedial work, then the certificate
That last sequence is the one that protects you. Clients frequently ask for a certificate as though it were a document rather than an inspection.
Line items
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Assessment or inspection | Fixed fee, particularly for certification work |
| Labour | Hourly or per point, with after-hours rate stated |
| Distribution board work | Board, breakers, earth leakage, labelling, as separate lines |
| Points and circuits | Per point is common and easy for a client to compare |
| Cable | By type and length, since this is a real cost difference |
| Isolators, surge protection, earthing | Individually listed |
| Testing and Certificate of Compliance | A separate line, always |
Exclusions
- Remedial work identified during testing, quoted separately once known
- Making good: chasing, plaster, painting
- Repairs to any part of the existing installation outside the quoted scope
- Supply authority applications, meter changes and connection fees
- Work on appliances, as opposed to the installation serving them
Where quotes go wrong
Fixed-price quoting on an old installation. A rewire quoted at a fixed price on a house built in 1974 will find something, and the something is rarely small. Quote the known scope, inspect, then quote the rest. Splitting the job is not indecisive, it is accurate.
Common questions
Can I issue a CoC for work someone else did?
Certification carries liability for what you certify, and there are rules about scope and testing. Confirm your obligations as a registered person before agreeing to certify third-party work.
Should the certificate be priced into the job?
Show it separately. Clients compare quotes line by line, and a bundled price looks higher than an itemised one.
How do I quote a rewire?
Inspection first as a fixed fee, then a scoped quotation. Fixed-price rewiring without inspection is where money is lost.
Build electrical quotes from a saved price list, with the certificate as its own line.
Create a professional quotationDisclaimer: This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Always confirm important requirements with SARS, the relevant authority or a qualified professional.
