Who can install an EV charger in Australia?
Short answer: a licensed electrician, and not you. Longer answer: the licence is only the starting point, and the difference between a compliant install and a cheap one shows up years later. Here is what to check before anyone touches your switchboard.
Four things that decide whether an install is legitimate
DIY is not legal, anywhere in Australia
Hard wiring a charger is prescribed electrical work. In Western Australia it can only be carried out by a licensed electrician working under a registered electrical contractor, and the work must be notified to Building and Energy WA. Doing it yourself voids the product warranty, gives your insurer a clean reason to decline a claim after a fire, and carries penalties.
Licensed is the floor, experienced is the bar
Any licensed electrician is allowed to install a charger. Not every one of them has commissioned a solar diverting unit, set CT clamps at a meter, or configured load management on a tight single phase board. Ask how many EV installs they did last year, not whether they can do it.
Brand accreditation protects your warranty
Tesla, myenergi, Fronius and the rest all run installer programs. Using an accredited installer is often what keeps the manufacturer warranty valid and gets you priority support if the unit ever plays up. Candela is EC# 15317 and accredited with the brands we fit.
You should finish with paperwork in hand
Notice of completion lodged, electrical safety certificate for the new circuit, tax invoice, warranty registration and an app walkthrough. If an installer cannot produce a certificate for the circuit, that is the end of the conversation.
Eight questions to ask any installer
Copy this list into a message and send it to whoever quoted you. A good installer answers all eight without hesitating. Anyone who gets cagey about the certificate or the protection device has told you everything you need to know.
- Their EC number, and check it is current
- Public liability insurance, and the amount
- How many EV chargers they installed in the last year
- Whether they are accredited by your charger's brand
- Whether the quote is fixed or subject to on the day extras
- Who registers the manufacturer warranty
- What protection device they are fitting, it should be Type A plus 6mA DC
- Whether they lodge the notice of completion for you
Renting, strata or a workplace car park
Renting
You need the owner's written consent before any fixed wiring. A lot of landlords say yes because it adds value and costs them nothing. If not, a portable charger on an existing 15 amp outlet is a legitimate fallback, and we can install that outlet instead.
Apartment or strata
Strata approval comes first, and the committee usually wants to know how your charging is metered and billed. The clean answer is a dedicated circuit from your own meter to your bay. We write the technical detail up so it can go straight to the committee.
Workplace or fleet
Commercial installs bring in load management across multiple bays, driver authentication and billing, and often a supply assessment with Western Power. Different rules, same principle: licensed contractor, documented, certified.
EV charger rules, answered plainly
Can I install my own EV charger in Australia?+
No. Hard wiring a charger is prescribed electrical work. In Western Australia only a licensed electrician working under a registered electrical contractor can do it, and the work has to be notified to Building and Energy WA. A DIY install voids the charger warranty, will not be covered by home insurance after a fault, and carries real penalties.
Can any electrician install an EV charger?+
Legally a licensed electrician can, but that is not the same as being the right person for it. EV circuits run at full load for hours, need Type A plus 6mA DC fault protection, and the smart units need commissioning, CT clamps and app setup. Ask how many EV chargers they have installed, whether they are accredited by the brand you want, and whether they handle the manufacturer warranty registration.
What licence or accreditation should my installer have?+
A WA electrical contractor licence number, shown as an EC number, plus public liability insurance. Candela is EC# 15317. On top of that, check for brand accreditations such as Tesla approved installer or myenergi certified, because those are the ones that keep the product warranty intact.
Do I need landlord permission to install a charger in a rental?+
Yes, you need the owner's written consent before any fixed wiring goes in. Many landlords agree because it adds value to the property. If you would rather not fix anything permanently, a portable charger on an existing outlet or a socket outlet install that stays with the house are both reasonable middle grounds.
What about strata or apartment buildings?+
You will need strata approval, and usually a note on how the electricity is metered and billed back to you. The practical path is an individually metered circuit from your own meter to your bay, or a shared managed system if several owners want chargers. We put the technical detail in writing so it can go straight to the strata committee.
What paperwork should I get after the install?+
A notice of completion lodged with Building and Energy WA, an electrical safety certificate for the new circuit, your tax invoice, the manufacturer warranty registration, and a walkthrough of the app before we leave. Keep the certificate, insurers and future buyers both ask for it.
Can an EV charger be installed outside in the weather?+
Yes. Outdoor rated units are standard and are built for rain, dust and heat. The install detail matters more than the rating: correct gland and conduit entry, no standing water at the base, shade from harsh western sun, and marine grade fixings if you are within a couple of kilometres of the coast.
Where we install across Perth
We are a Perth based electrical contractor working the full metro, from Yanchep in the north to Mandurah in the south. Most jobs are booked within three to seven days of you accepting the quote.
Why Perth homeowners chose a licensed specialist.
Mark was 100/10. Communication, price and most important quality and immaculate workmanship. We had an EV charger and full solar with battery installed. He worked his quote to fit our budget, sorted the silly admin with the energy companies, and staggered the install over two Saturdays to suit us. The battery in the garage is a work of art. I will recommend him 10 times over.
Received a call back from Mark who arranged everything. He was very knowledgeable on the myenergi Zappi charger and left me feeling really confident. The finished job looked mint, the garage was left spotless. Two weeks later I asked Mark to fit a 16kWh GoodWe battery and inverter. Once again the work was done professionally, on time and at a fantastic price.
Mark installed our new GoodWe 33 kWh battery system, upgraded our solar inverter and added additional panels. Friendly, professional and easy to deal with from start to finish. He took the time to explain how the new system works. It's refreshing to deal with a local electrician who genuinely cares. 5 stars!
Great service from Mark installing our EV charger. He arrived right on time, worked efficiently, and left everything very tidy and neat afterward. The installation itself is clean and professional, excellent value for money. Would definitely recommend.
They responded to my request for a quote faster than anyone else. They were competitive and turned up exactly when they said they would. Their work was great. All went very well. I would happily recommend Mark and his team to everyone. A great service.
I'm impressed by Mark. Service exceeded expectations. I had a full install with supplied EV wall charger. Price reasonable and communication impeccable. Thank you Mark!
I was very impressed that Mark contacted me very soon after I submitted a request for a quote to install my Zappi charger. The installation was extremely quick and it was obvious that Mark certainly knew what he was doing, to the extent that I asked him to replace all of our solar panels and install a new battery too.
Today Mark installed a new EV charger at my property and I couldn't be happier with the result. Mark communicated really well in the lead up to the job, so I always knew the plan. The install itself looks very professional and there was no mess left when the job was completed.
Mark did an amazing job installing the myenergi Zappi Glo EV charger. Great workmanship, very tidy and professional. He arrived on time with great communication throughout. I would definitely recommend him for any electrical needs.