You will need to engage a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEWs) to carry out the electrical work such as rewiring, modification, addition, alteration, repair or replacement work in your flat.

Following the completion of the rewiring, modification, addition, alteration, repair or replacement work, the installation has to be tested before it can be connected to the electricity supply. Consumers have two options.

Option 1:

You may request your appointed LEW to inspect and test the re-wired electrical installation. The LEW will have to submit to SP Services Ltd (SP) a Completion Certificate for Modification of Electrical Installation showing the test results and give a copy of this certificate to you.

Thereafter, the LEW can connect the electrical installation to the electricity supply. Based on the completion certificates submitted by the LEWs, SP may randomly identify selected residential premises to conduct spot checks on the completed electrical installations.

Option 2:

Alternatively, you can request your appointed LEW to apply on your behalf to have your electrical installation tested by SP. Your LEW will have to arrange for an appointment with SP to conduct an electrical test of the installation at your premises.

Either a family member or yourself is required to be present during SP's testing. After the test, SP will issue an Electrical Installation Inspection Report to yourself and your appointed LEW on the test results. The LEW can then connect the electrical installation to the electricity supply if the test results are positive.

SP does not charge a fee for the first test. However, if the electrical installation fails the test, a re-test fee of $53.50 is chargeable by SP. Depending on the service agreement between the LEW and you, the LEW may charge a fee for the services rendered in arranging for the test by SP.

The tenant's Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) shall submit the 'Certificate of Compliance' to the landlord's LEW to request for turn-on of supply to the tenant's electrical installation.

The landlord's LEW shall ensure that the connection requirements stipulated by him on behalf of the landlord have been complied with before he proceeds to turn-on the supply line.

Immediately after this, the landlord's LEW shall issue a statement and obtain the acknowledgement of the tenant's LEW. He is in charge of the installation and the operation of the tenant's electrical installation, and the tenant or his representative.

As a consumer, you can request for a copy of the single-line drawing from your LEW.

The single-line drawing will help you to identify the circuit breakers that control the circuits of switches, switch socket-outlets, electric water heater, etc. within your premises.

The LEW will prepare the updated single-line drawing and will usually display it on the inner cover of the distribution board.

The LEW is fully responsible for his design and installation work for the consumers' electrical installations. He does not need to submit his design of the consumer's electrical installation to SP PowerGrid Ltd for approval.

However, he has to ensure that the consumer's electrical installation meets the connection requirements stipulated by SP PowerGrid.

Consumers should engage Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) to install or supervise the installation of electrical wiring (including new electrical wiring, or addition or alteration to existing electrical wiring) in their premises. See the list of LEWs .

You can do so by only engaging Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) to carry out the electrical work (e.g. rewiring, repairing or replacement of any part of electrical installation, inspection, testing, etc.). See the list of LEWs .

For electrical installations that are exempted from licensing, SP Services Ltd will conduct checks on consumers' electrical installations and the test results will be sent to EMA. Based on the feedback, appropriate actions will be taken against any Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) who violates safety regulations.

For licensed electrical installations, upon receiving the Certificate Of Compliance submitted by the LEW, the person responsible for turning on the supply line to the consumer's electrical installation will have to check that the consumer's main switchboard is compatible for connection before the supply line to the consumer's installation is turned on. These persons are expected to report any non-compliance to EMA for appropriate action.

The following parties should be present on the day of turn-on:

• The person responsible for the turn-on of supply line to the consumer's electrical installation;
• The Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) requesting for the turn-on of supply;
• The LEW responsible for the operation of the electrical installation, in the case where a licence is needed to operate the electrical installation; and
• The consumer or his representative.

A new colour code for fixed wiring took effect on 1 Mar 2009. It adopts the European Union's standard whereby the cable color for the live phase are in brown, black and grey compared to the previous red, yellow and blue.

No, the change in cable colour code does not apply to flexible power cords for electrical appliances.