Huge Fine for Contractor Working in Oakville and Burlington

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Published November 1, 2017 at 5:59 pm

An unlicensed contractor has been convicted of 45 charges linked to unsafe electrical work performed at 14 locations in Oakville, Burlington, and Hamilton.

An unlicensed contractor has been convicted of 45 charges linked to unsafe electrical work performed at 14 locations in Oakville, Burlington, and Hamilton.

Jose Julio DeNobrega appeared in Burlington court on Oct. 10, pleading guilty to 45 charges in total, including multiple counts of working without an electrical contractor’s licence, not taking out an electrical permit, unauthorized connection of power, and leaving an electrical hazard.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of issuing a false document.

DeNobrega was ordered to pay a $45,000 fine plus a $5,625 victim fine surcharge.

Much of the electrical work DeNobrega did was found to be non-compliant with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

The most serious instance was when DeNobrega removed an electrical meter from an apartment building wall, leaving live wires and electrical parts exposed to the public and putting himself at major risk of an electrical injury.

If someone touched the exposed wires, they could have received a fatal shock.

“We will not stand idly by while illegal electrical work done in Ontario puts the public at risk,” said Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) chief public safety officer Scott Saint.

“Electrical safety is a shared responsibility among contractors, homeowners and the public. We all need to do our part – and comply with the law – to ensure a safer Ontario for everyone.”

DeNobrega provided the general contractor he was working with a false document containing an Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA) /ESA licence number that didn’t belong to him.

The laws for conducting electrical work in Ontario “are very clear: only a licensed electrical contractor can do electrical work for hire,” said director of contractor licensing Normand Breton.

“In this case, Mr. DeNobrega broke the law, provided misleading information and put the public at risk. This simply won’t be tolerated by ESA and this conviction has indicated it won’t be tolerated by the courts either.”

If anyone believes DeNobrega – who has also been known to operate as Phoenix Electrical Contractor – did electrical work on their property, you can contact ESA’s Customer Service Centre at 1-877-ESA-SAFE (372-7233) and ESA can address your concerns.

Tips for Hiring a Licensed Electrical Contractor

By law in Ontario, Licensed Electrical Contractors are the only contractors allowed to conduct electrical work for hire. When hiring someone to do work, homeowners and businesses are reminded to:

  • Ensure the contractor holds all required qualifications and licences – including an ECRA/ESA licence for electrical work. You should also ask for their references.
  • Check that the contractor has secured all appropriate permits and inspections.
  • Advise the contractor that you expect a copy of the ESA Certificate of Inspection from them once the electrical work is complete.

To verify or find a Licensed Electrical Contractor, click here.

More information on the Electrical Safety Authority can be found at esasafe.com and ESA’s customer service centre can be reached at 1-877-ESA-SAFE (372-7233).

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