(1) Only persons appointed and certified by the department shall act as electrical inspectors to represent the state of Montana.

(2) Inspectors shall give information as to the meaning or application of the code, but shall not perform duties for or assume the responsibilities of a consultant or advisor with respect to contractors, electricians, owners, or users for whom the inspectors perform compliance inspections under the authority granted to them by virtue of their employment as department inspectors.

(3) State electrical inspectors shall not inspect any electrical work in which they have any financial or personal interest, or which they have installed or repaired.

(4) State electrical inspectors shall have powers as are vested in them by the department, including but not limited to the power to make inspections and to ascertain that none of the provisions of the Electrical Safety Law, the National Electrical Code, as amended from time to time, or the rules of the section are being violated.

(5) A state electrical inspector has the right, during reasonable hours while showing proper identification, to enter any building or premise in the discharge of the inspector's official duties to make any inspection or test of electrical equipment that is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.