Electrical Connection

ALDI has expanded its rooftop solar and battery offering into SA and WA, bringing the program to a total of six Australian states and territories. The supermarket first launched ALDI Solar in Melbourne in early 2025 before expanding into NSW, QLD and the ACT later that year. The latest rollout covers major metropolitan areas in SA and WA. The entry-level package costs $7,499 and includes a 5kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, 7kW solar system, 6kW smart hybrid inverter and installation.

How can you protect your margins when material costs keep rising? Clint Hewish explores how to win the job today and be in the red before you even start. Let’s be honest, pricing jobs right now is tough: You put a quote together, feel good about it, win the job…then go to order materials once the site is ready and the price has jumped. Suddenly, the margin you thought you had is gone. For sparkies, plumbers and mechanical trades, this isn’t a one-off anymore; it’s becoming standard.

NSW’s proposed Right to Charge reforms could make it easier for apartment residents and strata owners to install EV chargers, but Schneider Electric says removing approval barriers is only one part of the challenge as charging demand grows. The reforms, currently before the NSW Legislative Council, are intended to simplify approval processes for EV charging installations in strata buildings, giving committees a clearer pathway to approve charging infrastructure.

Trafalgar Fire is hosting a free training session in Perth on 5 August 2026 to help contractors, builders and other construction professionals understand updated NCC requirements and their implications for passive fire protection. The Fyre Training session will be held at Trafalgar’s Perth Head Office and led by members of its engineering and technical teams.

Buckaroo Belts has developed its Electricians Bag specifically around the tools and working conditions encountered by electrical contractors, with input from electricians used throughout the design process. The Australian-made leather bag can be attached to a tool belt or carried independently using its webbing handle.

Questions about firefighting around high-voltage transmission infrastructure have emerged in Victoria’s west, following reports that some local firefighters believe they wouldn’t attend fires on properties crossed by the planned VNI West transmission line. Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance spokesperson Cam Walker rejects the claims, arguing that established procedures already govern how crews operate around high-voltage power lines.

Standards are constantly evolving, especially in the technology world. David Meyer explores the network cabling standards and what they mean for electricians. Those who have known me long enough will remember that I’m a cable geek from way back. In fact, it was around 2000 that I started seriously paying attention to the difference decent cables can make.

Master Builders Australia is calling for greater priority to be given to construction workers within Australia’s skilled migration system, with new analysis highlighting the significant contribution migrant tradies can make to the country’s housing supply.

Accuenergy, available through Netonomy Australia, has launched the AcuRev 4100 Series, a high-density multi-channel submeter designed to deliver revenue-grade energy measurement and power quality monitoring for commercial buildings, industrial facilities and data centres.

Victorian-based fires have prompted warnings about the risks of charging everyday devices, with authorities urging safer habits at home. Casey McGuire tells more. A series of lithium-ion battery fires across Victoria in March 2026 has sharpened attention on how quickly everyday devices can turn dangerous, while also raising broader questions about how Australia is managing the rapid rollout of home battery systems.