Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most. If yours is not here, call 0407 705 917 or use the quote form.
Common questions
Choosing an electrician raises questions about cost, safety and what is actually required. Here are the ones we are asked most often, answered plainly.
Do you do emergency work on weekends?
Our normal hours are Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 3pm. On Saturdays and Sundays we attend genuine emergencies: loss of power that cannot wait, burning smells, water in a switchboard, or a fault that makes the property unsafe. Call 0407 705 917. If someone has received an electric shock, call 000 first. For fallen powerlines, stay well clear and call your electricity distributor.
How do your quotes work?
For anything beyond a small repair we give a written quote with a clear scope of what is included and what is not. If the scope changes on site, you get a written variation before the extra work is done. Send photos with your enquiry and we can often quote from them.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based at Lockyer Waters. The Lockyer Valley (Gatton, Laidley, Plainland, Forest Hill, Grantham, Helidon, Withcott, Glenore Grove), Somerset (Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah), Minden, Marburg and Ipswich are all regular territory. We travel to Brisbane for industrial and commercial work, and take on FIFO industrial projects. Not sure? Call and ask.
My safety switch keeps tripping. What should I do?
Do not keep resetting it. Unplug everything on the affected circuit and try once more. If it holds, plug appliances back in one at a time to find the faulty one. If it will not hold, or you cannot tell which circuit it is, leave it off and call us. A safety switch that trips is doing its job; the fault is somewhere in the circuit or an appliance and needs to be found and fixed.
When do smoke alarms have to be upgraded in Queensland?
Queensland legislation requires interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in every dwelling by 1 January 2027; homes being sold or leased have needed them since 2022. We install hard-wired interconnected alarms and provide the compliance paperwork.
Can you give me a report for my insurance claim?
Yes. After storm, lightning, flood, surge or fire damage we inspect and test the installation and give you a written electrical damage report with photos, test results and a separate repair quote.
Do you do high-voltage or hazardous-area work?
Yes. Our background is heavy industrial: HV switching and access permits, hazardous area (EEHA) installation and inspection, and HV/LV commissioning with full test records. Send us your scope, drawings or ITP and we will tell you straight whether it is work we can take on.
Are you licensed and insured?
Ian Christopher Matthews, trading as I.C.M, holds Queensland Electrical Contractor Licence No. 1507486 and is insured. Every job gets a certificate of test where required.
Can you upgrade my switchboard for solar, an EV charger or air conditioning?
Yes. New loads often need extra circuits, safety switches or a bigger main switch, and older boards may not have space. We assess the board, tell you what is actually needed, and quote the upgrade in writing.
How quickly do you reply to an enquiry?
Web enquiries are answered Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 3pm. For anything urgent, call 0407 705 917 rather than waiting on the form.
Still have a question?
If your question is not answered above, call 0407 705 917 or send the quote form with a photo of the job. We reply Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 3pm, and we will tell you straight what is needed and what is not.