Statute Details
- Title: Electricity (Licensing of Electrical and Supply Installations) (Exemption) Notification
- Act Code: EA2001-N1
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Electricity Act (Cap. 89A), section 71
- Citation: G.N. No. S 661/2002
- Revised Edition: 2004 RevEd (29 February 2004)
- Commencement (as per revised edition): 1 January 2003
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions (extract): Section 2 (Exempted electrical and supply installations), including sub-paragraphs (1)–(3)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Electricity (Licensing of Electrical and Supply Installations) (Exemption) Notification is a regulatory instrument made under the Electricity Act. In practical terms, it creates a targeted set of exemptions from the licensing requirement in section 67 of the Electricity Act for certain electrical and supply installations.
At a high level, the Notification recognises that not all electrical work presents the same level of risk or regulatory need. Many low-load, domestic, and small-scale installations can be managed through other safety frameworks or are sufficiently limited in scope that the licensing requirement in section 67 is not necessary. The Notification therefore lists categories of installations that are exempt—meaning they do not have to comply with the licensing regime that would otherwise apply.
However, the Notification also includes an important “carve-out” in sub-paragraph (2). Even where an installation might otherwise appear to fall within an exemption category (for example, because it is in premises with a low approved load), certain high-risk premises are excluded from the exemption. This ensures that the exemption does not undermine safety in environments involving hazardous materials, industrial processes, or construction works.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and scope of exemption (Section 1 and Section 2(1))
Section 1 provides the short title: the Notification may be cited as the Electricity (Licensing of Electrical and Supply Installations) (Exemption) Notification.
The operative provision is section 2. Under section 2(1), “subject to sub-paragraph (2)”, the listed electrical and supply installations are exempted from section 67 of the Electricity Act. In plain language, this means that for the specified installation types, the licensing requirement that would normally apply under section 67 does not apply.
The categories in section 2(1) are primarily domestic and low-load installations:
- Residential flat installations (section 2(1)(a)).
- Installations in a unit within a condominium development (section 2(1)(b)).
- Installations in residential buildings or condominium developments (other than those in a flat or unit) where the approved load for the whole residential building or condominium development does not exceed 45 kVA (section 2(1)(c)).
- Installations in residential premises used exclusively for domestic purposes (section 2(1)(d)).
- Installations in other premises (where the installation is not a supply installation) where the approved load for the premises does not exceed 45 kVA (section 2(1)(e)).
2. The “notwithstanding” carve-out (Section 2(2))
Section 2(2) is critical. It begins with the phrase “Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (1)”, which signals that the exemptions in section 2(1) do not apply to certain premises even if they might otherwise qualify.
Section 2(2) provides that electrical installations other than supply installations in the following premises shall not be exempted from section 67:
- Premises for making, manufacturing or storing matches, fireworks or calcium carbide (2(2)(a)).
- Sawmills or premises where machinery other than light portable machinery is used to fashion timber into furniture, house fittings and other woodwork (2(2)(b)).
- Premises for manufacturing, treating, smoking or preparing rubber (2(2)(c)).
- Any garage or premises kept/used for painting motor vehicles, or premises where any class of petroleum is dispensed to motor vehicles—unless the garage/premises is used in connection with a private dwelling house and kept for private use only (2(2)(d)).
- Premises where retreading of tyres is carried out (2(2)(e)).
- Premises for storing cellulose solutions (2(2)(f)).
- Premises for manufacturing or storing acetylene (2(2)(g)).
- Premises where building operations or works of engineering construction are being carried out (2(2)(h)).
Legal significance for practitioners: The carve-out is drafted broadly and is not limited by the 45 kVA threshold. It is also limited to “electrical installations other than supply installations” (mirroring the wording in section 2(1)(e)). This means that when advising clients, counsel must assess not only the load and whether the installation is a supply installation, but also the type of premises and whether it falls within any of the listed high-risk categories.
3. Definition of “condominium development” (Section 2(3))
Section 2(3) clarifies that for the purposes of section 2(1), a “condominium development” means any development approved by the competent authority under the Planning Act (Cap. 232) as a condominium development.
This definition matters because it ties the exemption to a formal approval status under planning law. For legal analysis, it reduces ambiguity: a development must be approved as a condominium development under the Planning Act to benefit from the condominium-related exemptions in section 2(1)(b) and (c).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is concise and structured around a single operative scheme:
- Section 1 sets out the citation.
- Section 2 contains the substantive exemption framework:
- Section 2(1) lists categories of electrical and supply installations exempted from section 67 of the Electricity Act.
- Section 2(2) introduces a “notwithstanding” exclusion for specified premises, preventing the exemption from applying in those contexts.
- Section 2(3) provides a definition for “condominium development”.
There are no additional parts or complex schedules in the extract provided; the Notification functions as a targeted legal instrument that modifies the licensing requirement by carving out specific installation and premises categories.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to persons and entities whose electrical and supply installations would otherwise be subject to licensing under section 67 of the Electricity Act. In practice, this includes owners, occupiers, developers, and electrical contractors who must determine whether licensing is required for particular installations.
Its exemptions are installation- and premises-specific. Domestic settings (residential flats, condominium units, and residential premises used exclusively for domestic purposes) are generally within scope. For non-domestic premises, the exemption depends on approved load (where the installation is not a supply installation) and is further constrained by the high-risk premises exclusions in section 2(2). Accordingly, the Notification is not a blanket exemption for all low-load electrical work; it is a structured exemption with defined boundaries.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Notification is important because it directly affects compliance obligations under the Electricity Act’s licensing regime. For practitioners, the key value is that it provides a legally grounded basis to determine when licensing under section 67 is not required—reducing unnecessary regulatory steps and associated costs, while still maintaining safety through the carve-outs.
From a risk-management perspective, the “notwithstanding” exclusions in section 2(2) are particularly significant. They reflect a policy choice: even if an installation might be low-load or otherwise appear to qualify, licensing exemption cannot be relied upon in premises involving hazardous substances, industrial processes, or construction works. This is likely to be relevant in disputes about whether a party acted lawfully when commissioning or modifying electrical installations in such environments.
Practically, counsel advising clients should treat the Notification as a decision tool rather than a general rule. A proper analysis typically requires: (i) identifying whether the installation is an “electrical installation” and whether it is a “supply installation”; (ii) determining the applicable approved load (where relevant); (iii) classifying the premises (residential flat/unit/residential building/other premises); and (iv) checking whether the premises fall within any of the excluded categories in section 2(2). Where any doubt exists—especially regarding premises classification or whether the installation is a supply installation—legal advice should recommend confirming the licensing position with the relevant authority or through a formal compliance assessment.
Related Legislation
- Electricity Act (Cap. 89A), in particular section 67 (licensing requirement) and section 71 (authorising provision for notifications).
- Planning Act (Cap. 232) (definition and approval framework for “condominium development”).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Electricity (Licensing of Electrical and Supply Installations) (Exemption) Notification for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.