Episode 21 - What's New with Licensing at ESA transcript

Karen Ras: Have you heard the buzz? We've got licensing updates, enforcement news, and compliance insights for licensed electrical contractors and master electricians working in Ontario. I'm Karen Ras with the Electrical Safety Authority, and this is Grounded in Ontario.

Sarah Kemple: Nearly 200 notices of proposal were issued, over 100 notices of suspension, nearly 40 conditions on licenses, and almost 60 notices of non-compliance.

Karen Ras: Grounded in Ontario is a podcast for you, the province's licensed electrical contractors, master and certified electricians, and offers safety tips, tech, and best practices. Now let's get grounded.

Today's episode has a licensing focus and there's a lot to cover. We're pulling highlights straight from the winter 2026 edition of ESA's Plugged In magazine. So if you've been meaning to read it, consider this your audio version. Joining me is Sarah Kemple, Director of Licensing at ESA. Sarah leads a team responsible for licensing Ontario's more than 10,000 LECs and nearly 17,000 master electricians. And she's been leading one of ESA's biggest modernization efforts in recent years. Sarah, welcome to Grounded in Ontario.

Sarah Kemple: Thanks, Karen. Great to be here.

Karen Ras: Let's start with the biggest licensing news, the new self-serve licensing platform that launched in October 2025. You wrote about this in Plugged In and I know it's a question we're hearing most about from LECs right now. What is it and why does it matter?

Sarah Kemple: Yes. 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. This means everything from new license applications, renewals, payments, notice of change submissions. It's all in one centralized place and it's accessible from a phone, tablet, or computer. Without question, it makes managing licenses more direct and easier, and it also makes license information more transparent. It's a big shift and one we are proud to usher in. Out with the paper-based processes and in with online. 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.

Karen Ras: And the early adoption numbers are strong. Can you share where things stand?

Sarah Kemple: Yes, and we're really encouraged. Since October, over 12,000 individuals have registered. We've also seen more than 10,000 license renewals completed, over 600 new license applications, and another 600 plus exam applications. We've also seen increased use of the online reporting button, which is part of the new platform. In just six months, we received nearly 400 complaints related to unlicensed electrical work or non-compliance, and that tells us people are engaging with the new platform in meaningful ways.

At the same time, I do think it's important to acknowledge that this has been a significant change. Moving from paper to a fully online system does come with a learning curve, especially during that one-time initial registration, which all of our license holders are navigating this year. We know that change can be hard. It's a new way of working together and that means we have to learn together. And we've seen that reflected in higher volumes in both calls, and emails, and at times that's meant longer processing times and response times, longer than what's typical.

Karen Ras: For anyone who hasn't registered yet, what do they absolutely need to know before they log on?

Sarah Kemple: 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. You can't use credentials from any other ESA portals that you may have. The LEC portal, and that's for wiring notifications, and the licensing platform are completely separate systems. That means separate login credentials. The LEC portal, that's staying in place for submitting notifications, so nothing changes there. But for anything related to your license, the new platform is the only place to go. And the old ME portal is gone as well. Those credentials no longer work. Even if you had an account on the ME portal before, you need to complete a brand new signup on the licensing platform.

Karen Ras: So Sarah, what do you want license holders to know?

Sarah Kemple: While this is such an important step in making business easier for our stakeholders, we know it hasn't been easy for everyone. And for those needing extra assistance, wait times have been long. I want you to know we see you, we hear you, and we genuinely appreciate your patience. The first year of the platform's launch is about getting everyone onboarded and registered, and from there it's onwards and upwards. And looking back at the last seven months, I can say confidently and proudly that adoption has been very strong. The platform's working well, and that's a real credit to how adaptable our license holders have been, and also to the dedication of our exceptional customer service reps.

For license holders listening, those are the helpful people who are on the other end of the phone or email when you reach out to us. Ultimately, Karen, this platform makes licensing faster, more transparent, and more accessible for everyone. So thanks to all our license holders for coming along with us as we navigate this change.

Karen Ras: There's also a critical tip for MEs who are also a designated master electrician or principal at an LEC.

Sarah Kemple: Yes, and this one can trip people up. If you're an ME, and also a DME or principal, you must register using the email address associated with your ME license. That's how the system recognizes your connection to the LEC. If you use a different email, your EC license information won't appear in your account, and that requires a manual fix, which means a call or email to us, and ultimately delays. So the advice is simple. If you're an ME who is also a DME or principal, register using the email address associated with your ME license. And if you're not sure which email that is, reach out. We're happy to help.

Karen Ras: So Sarah, walk us through registration quickly for someone who's never been on the platform.

Sarah Kemple: Well, first, check your renewal notice. It has the information you need to sign up for the first time. The latest Plugged In article also walks through the six easy steps if you want to reference that instead. If you do run into any issues, I'd encourage you to start with our dedicated resource hub on esasafe.com. Our team has built out step-by-step guides and FAQs specifically for the most common questions, and it's honestly the fastest way to get unstuck. You can access it at esasafe.com/licensingplatform, or just head to the main page of our website and find the Licensing Platform section under the contractor tab.

During this first year of a new platform, call and email volumes are elevated. So wait times are longer than usual. The self-serve resources really are your best first stop. That said, if you've worked through everything and still can't resolve it, email us at esa.licensing@electricalsafety.on.ca, or you can call us at 1-877-372-7233, option three.

Karen Ras: And don't worry if you've missed that email or phone number, everything we mention here will be on our website. Just look for Grounded In Ontario and click on the episode. Now, how do renewals work?

Sarah Kemple: Renewals, yes. They are all annual now. So EC and ME license renewals are once a year online through the platform only. Both EC and ME licenses each follow their own renewal cycle, but both are annual. One important note, because the ME license is a personal license, the renewal must be submitted by the ME license holder themselves. So not office staff, not a third party. It has to be the ME.

Karen Ras: Is there anything else you want us to know about the new platform before we switch gears?

Sarah Kemple: First, I want to shout out our licensing team and IT teams. They're actively responding to feedback, resolving early challenges and continuing to improve the experience. The team here at ESA is committed to building on the great start we've seen, but know that we are not finished. We are just getting started.

Karen Ras: Let's talk compliance. Plugged In shared ESA's license holder complaint data from the first nine months of fiscal year 2026. What trends are you seeing?

Sarah Kemple: Yes. Three compliance themes stood out from that period when we reviewed complaints within the license holder community. And just to clarify, when we talk about compliance here, we're referring to complaint trends among LECs and MEs, not the underground economy. So first, improper subcontracting. 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.

Karen Ras: And this of course is not permitted under the Electricity Act and licensing regulation.

Sarah Kemple: Correct. Anyone working under an LEC must be an employee, so that means on the payroll, or the work must be subcontracted to another LEC, who in turn, of course, should be using qualified individuals.

Karen Ras: To all the license holders listening, make sure your employees performing electrical work are qualified and on your payroll, no exceptions. What were the other compliance themes?

Sarah Kemple: Well, the second most common theme was around professional conduct. So what that means is complaints surrounding honesty and integrity. These include things like charging for services not provided, failing to complete paid work, or not correcting identified defects. These type of issues can undermine public trust, and license holders have a responsibility to protect consumers through ethical conduct and a high standard of professionalism. When we do encounter these scenarios, we follow up and use them as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of consumer protection and professional behavior. And third, code violations, particularly failing to submit a required notification of work under rule 2-04.

If you're doing electrical work, the code requires you to file that notification within 48 hours of starting the job. As a best practice, we recommend submitting it before work even begins, but at minimum, it must be filed within that 48 hour window. If it's not, you will receive a Working Without a Permit defect and repeated behavior will be escalated. LECs need to be pulling permits so their work falls under ESA's safety oversight and so that consumers receive their certificate of acceptance. That's what helps maintain electrical safety and credibility in the trade.

Karen Ras: Thanks, Sarah. All helpful reminders for our listeners. And during that same period, what did the formal regulatory action look like in response to compliance complaints received?

Sarah Kemple: Our compliance team was busy. They processed just shy of 500 complaint records. From those, nearly 200 Notices of Proposal were issued, over 100 Notices of Suspension, nearly 40 conditions on licenses, and almost 60 Notices of Noncompliance. 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. However, that said, repeat or deliberate non-compliance is escalated and these numbers reflect that follow through.

Karen Ras: And for the majority of LECs listening, that's the key takeaway from these compliance insights, correct?

Sarah Kemple: Yeah, exactly. The data during the period shows no unusual spikes, which reinforces that most license holders are doing the right thing. So thank you to all our many dedicated license holders who set the bar high on delivering safety and consumer protection. And in terms of the issues we are seeing amongst license holders, they really are preventable. So here are some quick and easy tips.

First, know who's working under your license. Make sure they're qualified and on your payroll. Also, file your notifications always within 48 hours of starting the job, and as a best practice, submit it before work begins, but at minimum it must be filed within that 48 hour window. And if you're ever unsure about any of your obligations, reach out early rather than after the fact. We are here to support and educate, so don't hesitate to reach out if you are unsure.

Karen Ras: How does someone report a compliance concern?

Sarah Kemple: Yes. If you see something, report it. You can go to compliance.esasafe.com, or click the submit a licensing complaint button in the licensing platform, or you can even just access the reporting tool from the main page of our website, esasafe.com. So there's lots of different ways, and you can submit anonymously if you wish. I do want to highlight that we review every complaint that comes in. If you are filing a complaint, the more detail, the better. Some helpful pieces if you do have them, the company or individual name, the site address, and a vehicle license plate. Ultimately, reporting protects the public and protects the integrity of this profession, so we encourage you to submit any concerns.

Karen Ras: Turning now to enforcement. The conviction section on Plugged In always draws a lot of attention. Can you share some key licensing convictions that have been laid over the course of fiscal year '26?

Sarah Kemple: Absolutely. And you're right, this section is important and it's popular, because it shows how seriously ESA takes unlicensed activity and deliberate non-compliance. In the last couple of Plugged In issues, we highlighted several important convictions, including cases where individuals and businesses performed electrical work without a license, failed to obtain permits, misrepresented themselves as licensed, and in some cases actively concealed unsafe work. One of the most significant cases we saw this year involved a repeat offender who was ultimately sentenced to jail time.

A bit of background on this, this individual had already been convicted twice before in 2019 and again in 2022, and despite that, they continued operating without a license across multiple communities. ESA conducted a thorough investigation and pursued prosecution. The outcome was clear. The court reinforced that ongoing deliberate disregard for licensing requirements and public safety will not be tolerated. This case resulted in 15 days in jail in addition to fines, and it serves as an important reminder that enforcement will escalate when behavior doesn't change.

Karen Ras: That is a strong message. What stood out to you in these recent cases in the underground economy?

Sarah Kemple: What stood out most and in general what tends to, is the risks posed to people and property. 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. So that means serious risk of fire or shock. We're talking about unsafe wiring, improperly installed equipment, and work done without inspection, which removes a critical layer of protection for the public. And that's why we take the underground economy so seriously, it's just so unsafe.

Another case that stands out was unlicensed work carried out in a community living facility, putting especially vulnerable people at risk. In other cases, we saw individuals advertising themselves as licensed or certified when they weren't, tricking consumers and even using ESA branding or license numbers that didn't belong to them. Unlicensed work can have serious safety consequences, and our licensing team is dedicated to holding bad actors accountable.

Karen Ras: What are the key takeaways for license holders listening today?

Sarah Kemple: There are three key messages I want our license holders to take away from what I've shared about enforcement. First, ESA takes unlicensed electrical work extremely seriously. It's a priority for us because unlicensed activity puts lives and properties at risk, and it undercuts the licensed professionals who follow the rules, pull permits and stand behind their work. Second, repeat or deliberate non-compliance has real consequences. We hold these folks accountable. Warnings, fines, APOs, probation, public convictions, and in the most serious cases, jail time. All of those tools are used when necessary. Enforcement is progressive, but it's firm.

And third, this part is just as important. These cases also highlight the value of being licensed. LECs are very much part of the solution, and we are grateful to be partners in safety with you. Every time a license holder files a permit, schedules an inspection, corrects a defect and operates transparently, they reinforce the integrity of the system and protect the public.

Karen Ras: Can you speak to whether the new platform has improved tools, both to help LECs connect with consumers and to strengthen how ESA addresses non-compliance?

Sarah Kemple: Yes, we have new and improved tools that are making a real difference. With the updated contractor locator tool and the online complaint submission process, both tied to the new platform, there's more visibility and transparency than ever before. Serious compliance actions like convictions or APOs, are now visible to the public from within the contractor locator tool, not just on the website. We're also displaying license status including when a license is suspended, revoked, or subject to conditions. That helps consumers make more informed choices and clearly distinguishes licensed professionals from those who are not valid or have been caught operating unlicensed.

It also sets clear expectations and reinforces that there are real reputational consequences for repeat or deliberate noncompliance. Again, the vast majority of our license holders are doing the right thing, and these tools help protect their reputation by holding unlicensed or non-compliant actors accountable.

Karen Ras: I know for me personally, when I look to hire somebody, I appreciate all the information that really shows how compliant they are, so this is really helpful. Now, final message you want license holders to hear when it comes to enforcement.

Sarah Kemple: Yes, and it's a straightforward one. To our license holders, thank you. You are our partners in safety. The way you educate consumers, proudly stand behind your license number, and bring professionalism and technical expertise to every job is what protects Ontarians and supports Ontario's path to electrification. We truly value the work you do. I also want to reassure listeners that if someone chooses to operate without a license, deliberately misrepresents their status or repeatedly ignores their obligations, ESA will act, and the consequences will escalate. We take this regulatory responsibility very seriously, and know it's fundamental to safety, consumer protection, and the credibility of the trade. Licensing and inspection requirements are not optional. They're the foundation and we will continue to enforce them.

Karen Ras: I understand that your licensing team also runs proactive programs to tackle work happening in the underground economy. Can you tell us a bit about the building permit blitz in Markham last summer? Quick overview, what did you find?

Sarah Kemple: Yes. Alongside our responsive reviews of complaints and investigations, we're always balancing proactive initiatives as well to help address the underground economy. The building permit initiative is a great example of a proactive blitz we run. Our team cross references both residential and commercial building permit data with ESA's permit history, and we follow up on sites where there may have been electrical work performed without a notification.

Between July and August 2025, our dedicated inspectors visited 94 locations in Markham where electrical work was suspected to have been done without an ESA permit. Of the 94 sites, 22 confirmed electrical work had been performed. Two locations also had technical defects caught and corrected during inspection. The follow-up compliance rate was strong. 19 of the 22 locations, so just about 90%, subsequently obtained a permit.

Karen Ras: What should LECs take from blitzes like this?

Sarah Kemple: ESA uses data from different industry partners to proactively find unpermitted work. We're not just reacting to complaints. We're running several different proactive blitzes over the course of the year, every year. Right now, our dedicated inspectors are actually in Toronto hard at work. And these blitzes often create work for LECs, because unpermitted installations need licensed professionals to remediate, and they also reinforce to consumers why pulling permits matter. Safety, of course, being paramount. And of course, we're also educating consumers every step of the way. We understand that empowered and aware consumers are a critical part of the safety puzzle. If they know what to ask and are looking out for red flags and unlicensed work, they will help us reduce demand in the underground economy as well.

Karen Ras: Great to hear it, and looking forward to hearing the results of your work in Toronto. Maybe we'll do that in a future episode. Shifting gears a bit, we know that labor mobility and regulatory harmonization remain active political priorities across Canada. A quick update on labor mobility, what has changed for ESA license holders?

Sarah Kemple: Yes, there have been recent legislative changes as part of Ontario's broader effort to reduce interprovincial barriers. First, it is important to recognize that ESA is one part of a broader labor mobility framework. Electrician labor mobility has long existed through the Red Seal program, and continues to be administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. What is new, however, for ESA licensing, is we're now issuing provisional ME licenses for those with equivalent licenses in Canada. These are one time, six-month licenses for qualified individuals holding an equivalent ME license in Alberta or British Columbia, and who have confirmed they understand Ontario-specific code requirements. ESA has always had a pathway for these individuals to become licensed in Ontario, but the key difference is that eligible applicants can start working in Ontario within 10 business days of a complete application. And again, they have a six-month provisional license to work.

Karen Ras: And what hasn't changed?

Sarah Kemple: Well, to work beyond those six months, provisional license holders must pass ESA's Ontario-specific ME exam. Ontario's safety and consumer protection expectations and standards have not changed. Provisional license holders are held to the same compliance and enforcement expectations as every other EME in the province. So that's the labor mobility update on the ME front, but there isn't any changes on the EC license side yet. ESA's monitoring whether future provisions under the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act may apply to the EC license, but no changes there yet.

Karen Ras: Okay, Sarah, this is going to be like a lightning round. Let's run through a few quick hits from recent changes that LECs should be aware of. What's changed with fees?

Sarah Kemple: There was a 1.9% increase to wiring and licensing fees that took effect on April 1st, 2026. This was in response to inflationary pressures. The updated fee guide is available at ESAsafe.com.

Karen Ras: What's new with ESA on mobile?

Sarah Kemple: Very exciting updates for the ESA on mobile app that make photo submissions easier. The app now lets you upload photos from your camera roll, so not just ones captured live in the moment. Team members can contribute images too. The app still prompts you to confirm each photo accurately represents the work, which helps ensure the integrity of each submission.

Karen Ras: And Sarah, the 20th annual license holder meeting in November drew almost 500 attendees, and over 12,000 license holders on the new platform in just a few months. What does that tell you about where the industry is headed?

Sarah Kemple: It tells me our license holder community is adaptive and engaged, and that's energizing. We have a large, skilled professional community, and it deserves a modern system that matches that level of professionalism, and helps make business easy and fast. We want to keep pushing the boundary on burden reduction. And I also want to encourage everyone listening to mark their calendars for our next annual license holder meeting. It will take place on Thursday, November 19th, 2026. It's an hour and a half from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, packed with updates our license holders find valuable, including those on enforcement, the underground economy, and it always has a highly anticipated live Q&A portion. You don't want to miss it.

Karen Ras: I would agree that's the most interesting part of the license holder meeting. Any final messages for the LECs today and MEs listening?

Sarah Kemple: Three things. First, register on the licensing platform if you haven't already. And remember, there are great resources on our website. Please use them. They're the fastest way to get support. Second, take time to understand and share the compliance themes we covered today. The most common issues we're seeing are preventable. And lastly and most importantly, keep doing the great work you do. Ontario's strong electrical safety record is built on your professionalism. We don't take that lightly and we truly appreciate the role you play in raising the bar and keeping Ontarian safe.

Karen Ras: Thank you, Sarah. If you have any questions on today's topics or ideas for a future episode, we want to hear from you. Email us at podcast@esasafe.com. Your question or topic could be featured in an upcoming episode. And as I said before, don't worry about trying to remember any of these emails or links we mentioned. They're all on our website. Make sure you follow Grounded In Ontario wherever you get your podcasts, so you'll be notified about new episodes. And remember, stay informed and stay grounded.