Role of the Electrical Safety Authority

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) regulates and promotes electrical safety in Ontario. The ESA is Ontario’s delegated administrative authority for electrical safety, reporting to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP). ESA operates independently while working closely with the government to enforce and promote electrical safety regulations across the province.

The Ontario government has given ESA a mandate to improve public electrical safety. We fulfill this mandate by undertaking a range of activities aimed at enhancing public safety, including inspection, authorization, investigation, licensing, enforcement, training, field evaluation and continuous safety services.

Our objectives focus on:

  • Improving Public Safety: Delivering services such as inspections, plan reviews and incident investigations, with a focus on areas of high and emerging risk.
  • Regulatory Leadership: Acting under Ontario’s Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act, we uphold compliance with safety regulations, overseeing both the industry and the public’s adherence to electrical safety requirements.
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Education: Working with industry partners, government agencies and the public, ESA promotes awareness and fosters a culture of safety through collaboration and information sharing.
  • Supporting Economic and Industry Growth: By championing high safety standards and harmonized practices, we help support Ontario’s competitiveness and foster a strong, resilient electrical industry.

We administer Part VIII of the Electricity Act and oversee these five related regulations:

  1. Ontario Electrical Safety Code (Regulation 164/99) — sets out how to do electrical work.
  2. Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Regulation 570/05) — sets requirements for businesses and certain people who can do electrical work.
  3. Electrical Distribution Safety (Regulation 22/04) — provides objective-based electrical safety oversight and sets out the accountabilities of companies licensed to distribute electricity.
  4. Electrical Product Safety (Regulation 438/07) — governs pre-market approval of electrical products before their sale, distribution and advertisement. We also respond to unsafe industrial and commercial electrical products already on the market. Health Canada responds to unsafe consumer electrical products.
  5. Administrative Penalties (Regulation 12/23) — sets out what and how ESA can issue administrative penalties for non-compliant action(s).

ESA also administers the Appeals Regulation under the Safety Consumer and Statues Administration Act.

ESA is a not-for-profit corporation. Annual business plans, five-year strategic plans and stakeholder feedback guide our work.

We administer Part VIII the Electricity Act (under the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act) and have an administrative agreement with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP).