What's New with Licensing at ESA? What Ontario Electrical Contractors Need to Know
The electrical industry continues to evolve, and so does the way Ontario's licensed electrical contractors and master electricians interact with the ESA.
From a new self-serve licensing platform to compliance trends, enforcement activity, and labor mobility updates, there have been significant developments over the past year that affect how license holders manage their businesses and maintain compliance.
As Sarah Kempel, ESA's Director of Licensing, recently explained on Grounded in Ontario, these changes are designed to modernize licensing, improve transparency, and strengthen consumer protection across the province.
A New Era of Licensing
The biggest licensing development of the past year was the launch of ESA's new self-serve licensing platform in October 2025.
“At its core, it's a one-stop online hub where both license holders and new ME exam applicants can manage their exam applications or licenses anytime.”
The platform allows users to manage:
- New license applications
- Annual renewals
- Payments
- Notice of change submissions
- ME exam applications
All from a phone, tablet, or computer.
“It's a major win for our community of more than 27,000 license holders across Ontario as well as our licensing staff here at ESA.”
The adoption numbers suggest contractors and electricians are embracing the change. Since launch, more than 12,000 individuals have registered, over 10,000 license renewals have been completed, and hundreds of new license and exam applications have been submitted.
A Few Things Every License Holder Should Know
While the platform is designed to simplify licensing, there are some important details that can help avoid frustration.
One of the most common issues involves registration.
“For those who haven't accessed the platform yet, there are a few key things that can save people a headache. So first, you must sign up. That means brand new login credentials.”
Contractors should also remember that the licensing platform is separate from the existing LEC Portal used for wiring notifications.
“The LEC portal for wiring notifications and the licensing platform are completely separate systems.”
For MEs who also serve as a Designated Master Electrician or principal of an LEC, using the correct email address during registration is critical.
“If you're an ME and also a DME or principal, you must register using the email address associated with your ME license.”
Failing to do so can create delays and require manual intervention from ESA staff.
What ESA Is Seeing from a Compliance Perspective
Beyond licensing, Kempel also shared insight into the most common compliance issues affecting license holders.
Three trends stood out during the first nine months of fiscal year 2026.
- Improper Subcontracting: The most common complaint involved unauthorized individuals performing work under an LEC's licence.
“The most common complaints involved work being done under an LEC's license, but by unauthorized or unqualified individuals, meaning people who are unlicensed and not employees of the license holder,” Kempel shared.
ESA reminds license holders that anyone working under an LEC must either be an employee or another properly licensed electrical contractor.
- Professional Conduct Matters: The second major theme involved complaints related to honesty and integrity.
These included situations where contractors charged for services that weren't completed, failed to finish paid work, or neglected to correct known defects.
“These types of issues can undermine public trust,” Kempel explains. “License holders have a responsibility to protect consumers through ethical conduct and a high standard of professionalism.”
- Permit Requirements Continue to Be a Focus: The third major compliance issue involved failures to submit required notifications under Rule 2-004.
“If you're doing electrical work, the code requires you to file that notification within 48 hours of starting the job.”
While ESA recommends filing before work begins, contractors should remember that submitting within the required timeframe is not optional.
“If it's not, you will receive a working without a permit defect and repeated behavior will be escalated,” Kempel says.
Enforcement Activity: The Numbers Behind Compliance
ESA's compliance team remained quite active throughout the year.
“Our compliance team was busy,” Kempel shares. “They processed just shy of 500 complaint records. From those, nearly 200 notices of proposal were issued, over a hundred notices of suspension, nearly 40 conditions on licenses, and almost 60 notices of non-compliance.”
However, Kempel emphasized that enforcement typically follows an education-first approach.
“I do want to highlight that we take a progressive education first approach so we do work with our license holders and start with education.”
For most contractors, that's good news.
“The data during the period shows no unusual spikes, which reinforces that most license holders are doing the right thing.”
Why ESA Continues to Target the Underground Economy
One of ESA's ongoing priorities remains addressing unlicensed electrical work.
Recent enforcement actions included individuals and businesses performing work without a licence, failing to obtain permits, and misrepresenting themselves as licensed professionals.
One case resulted in jail time for a repeat offender who continued operating without a licence despite multiple prior convictions.
“The outcome was clear,” Kempel explains. “The court reinforced that ongoing deliberate disregard for licensing requirements and public safety will not be tolerated.”
She also highlighted the safety risks associated with underground electrical work.
“In several of the enforcement cases we addressed, inspectors ended up finding defects, some so severe that they posed life and/or property safety hazards.”
For licensed contractors, these enforcement efforts help level the playing field while protecting consumers and the reputation of the trade.
New Tools Bring Greater Transparency
The new licensing platform also introduced enhanced tools for both consumers and contractors.
Through the updated Contractor Locator, consumers can now view:
- Licence status
- Suspensions
- Revocations
- Conditions on licences
- Certain enforcement actions
“There's more visibility and transparency than ever before,” Kempel says.
These tools help consumers make informed hiring decisions while highlighting the value of working with licensed professionals.
A Reminder About Labor Mobility
Ontario has also introduced changes that support labor mobility across Canada.
ESA now offers provisional ME licences for qualified individuals who hold equivalent licences in Alberta or British Columbia.
“Eligible applicants can start working in Ontario within 10 business days of a complete application.”
However, as Kempel outlines, Ontario's safety standards remain unchanged, but provisional licence holders must still meet Ontario-specific requirements to continue working beyond the six-month provisional period.
Key Takeaways for License Holders
The vast majority of Ontario's LECs and MEs continue to demonstrate professionalism, technical expertise, and a commitment to safety.
Still, the compliance data serves as a reminder that many issues ESA encounters are preventable.
According to Kempel, contractors should focus on three simple practices:
- Know who is working under your licence
- Submit required notifications on time
- Reach out early if you're unsure about your obligations
“Ontario's strong electrical safety record is built on your professionalism,” Kempel says. “We don't take that lightly and we truly appreciate the role you play in raising the bar and keeping Ontarians safe.”
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