ESC, COC, ROI, CoV: Which Electrical Certificate Do You Need?

If an insurer, bank, council or energy retailer has asked you for an electrical certificate, the first hurdle is working out which one they mean. New Zealand electrical paperwork comes in four main flavours, and they are not interchangeable. Here is the plain-English version.

ESC: Electrical Safety Certificate

An ESC is issued by the electrician who carried out the work, certifying that the work they did is safe to use. Every job involving prescribed electrical work should end with one. If you have had any electrical work done and did not receive an ESC, ask for it. You are entitled to it.

COC: Certificate of Compliance

A COC records that installation work complies with the regulations. It is also issued by the electrician who did the work, and it backs the ESC. For low-risk work the two often travel together as a single document.

ROI: Record of Inspection

High-risk prescribed work, such as mains work, must be independently inspected by a registered electrical inspector before it goes live. The ROI is the inspector's record of that inspection. The electrician who did the work cannot sign this one off themselves. That independence is the point.

CoV: Certificate of Verification

A CoV confirms that an existing installation is electrically safe. This is the certificate most people are actually being asked for when an insurer, bank or energy retailer says they need an "energy works certificate" or "electrical certification" for a property. It applies to situations like home purchases, power reconnection after 6 or more months off, and building consent sign-off.

So which one do you need?

• Buying a home and the insurer wants certification: a CoV.
• Power has been off 6+ months: a CoV, before your retailer reconnects you.
• Council wants electrical sign-off for building compliance: a CoV.
• You are an electrician who has done mains work: an ROI from a registered inspector.
• You have just had electrical work done: an ESC (and COC) from your electrician, automatically.

For the full breakdown, see our certification guide. If you would rather just get it sorted, every certificate above is a fixed-price service you can book online, and our team will confirm exactly what your situation needs.