Electricity-supply and electrical application matters can involve several different parties.
Each party has a different responsibility.
Understanding these roles helps make the process clearer and avoids confusion about who is expected to do what.
The customer generally needs to:
explain what they are trying to achieve;
provide accurate personal, company, and property information;
provide required documents;
make decisions and give approvals;
sign documents where required;
provide access to the premises;
make applicable payments; and
respond when customer action is required.
Appointing an Electrical Contractor does not remove responsibilities that still belong to the customer.
The Electrical Contractor handles the applicable professional electrical responsibilities on the customer side.
Depending on the work, this may include:
inspecting the premises;
assessing the existing electrical installation;
identifying required electrical work;
carrying out or coordinating electrical work;
arranging the appropriate competent-person involvement;
preparing technical information;
preparing or coordinating applications and requests;
carrying out or arranging applicable testing and certification;
rectifying customer-side electrical conditions where required; and
coordinating the customer-side electrical work with TNB requirements.
The exact scope depends on the service and the agreed work.
A Wireman is an electrical competent person holding the appropriate competency for the work concerned.
Depending on the competency and installation, the Wireman may have responsibilities relating to:
electrical wiring;
supervision;
completion;
testing;
certification; and
other regulated electrical work.
The Wireman and the Electrical Contractor are related, but they are not the same role.
Electrical Contractor
= the registered contracting organisation
Wireman / competent person
= the individual providing the applicable electrical competency
Some larger or more complex electricity-supply matters may also require an Electrical Consultant Engineer.
Where required, the consultant may handle:
engineering design;
technical assessment;
electrical load and supply design;
engineering calculations;
technical submissions;
coordination with TNB; and
other professional engineering responsibilities.
The consultant does not simply replace the Electrical Contractor.
Where both are required, each has a different professional responsibility.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad is the electricity supply utility.
Depending on the matter, TNB may:
process electricity-supply applications;
assess supply availability and requirements;
determine the applicable supply arrangement;
advise TNB-side requirements;
issue applicable TNB charges or quotations;
carry out TNB-owned infrastructure work;
install or replace metering equipment; and
connect or restore electricity when the applicable requirements are satisfied.
TNB remains responsible for TNB-owned equipment and supply-side work.
Depending on the property and application, other parties may also be involved, such as:
building management;
landlord or property owner;
developer;
local authority;
civil contractor;
other electrical contractors;
other consultants or professionals.
Each party remains responsible for the work or decision that belongs to them.
A useful way to understand the relationship is:
Customer
↓ provides information, decisions, access and payments
Electrical Contractor / competent person
↓ handles applicable customer-side electrical responsibilities
Electrical Consultant Engineer
↓ adds professional engineering responsibility where required
TNB
↓ handles the electricity-supply utility side
Other parties
↓ handle their own relevant responsibilities where applicable