Electrical Connection Autumn 2015

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10 E L E CT R I C AL CONNE CT I ON AUTUMN 2 01 5
EDITORIAL
I t seems like an ever-more-frequent
occurence these days for a news story to
appear, exposing questionable product or
behaviour in the electrical cabling sector.
Non-compliant product has been on
everybody’s mind for quite a while. A few years
ago, Electrical Connectionstarted a charge
against dodgy product with our ‘Business Risk
Update’ campaign. Shortly after, NECA’s ‘Does It
Comply?’ campaign also commenced.
Both initiatives largely focused on contractors
who did the wrong thing.
Awareness grew and non-compliant product
became a water cooler topic among all
members of the industry.
But what is a contractor, who is trying to do
the right thing, supposed to do when it is the
supplier that is at fault?
First, Infinity Cable happened. It was a
colossal blunder but it was also easy to place
blame on big box movers – “If you bought your
product from the traditional supply chain then
this wouldn’t have happened.”
But then it did.
A fewmonths after the ACCC issued a
national recall on Infinity Cable, reports surfaced
of more faulty cable being supplied to the
market – this time from a known supplier and
sold through established distributors.
Ecables Copper Clad Aluminium RE 110
insulated power cables was recalled after
extensive testing by the Australian Cablemakers
Association (ACA - see page 20).
The cable is designated to operate at
temperatures up to 110ºC and to conduct low-
voltage power up to 1,000V, but comprehensive
testing has shown that the insulation fails
at temperatures well below this rating, and
that the cable insulation actually melts if the
temperature reaches 110ºC.
While the supplier is at fault in both of these
examples, as far as consumers are concerned
they bought product from their electrician so
you are to blame.
These suppliers are potentially putting your
livelihoods at risk. So, what do you do?
The argument is often made that you should
trust established suppliers, using established
delivery channels - something that I have been
a strong advoate for in the past.
But now, the ACCC has issued proceedings
in the Federal Court against five companies,
six individuals and an industry association for
alleged cartel and exclusionary conduct in
the supply and acquisition of electrical cable
throughout Australia (see page 56).
All of the companies involved are well
established and well respected.
Where will this end?
I’m a big supporter of the traditional supply
channel. I think contractors are taking too
large a risk by circumventing it. But lately some
members of the industry are really making it
difficult to justify this position.
Where does that leave you, the electrical
contractor?
Who knows?
Until next time,
An industry in turmoil?
Paul Skelton
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jeff Patchell
GENERAL MANAGER
Jeremy Sweet
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Paul Skelton
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