Hiring guide · TX
Hiring an EV charger electrician in Austin, TX
A charger circuit is routine work for any competent electrician — which means your job isn't finding a genius, it's filtering for licensed, insured, permit-pulling, and honestly priced. Here's the filter.
Step zero
Verify the license (2 minutes, saves everything)
The licensed electrical contractor (TECL via TDLR) pulls the permit in their name; Austin's homestead exception is deliberately narrow — owner-occupants only, applying in person with an affidavit, doing the work personally, limited to once per 12 months. Before comparing prices, look up each bidder's license: Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (verify electrician license) . The number should appear on the quote itself. No number on the quote is answer enough.
The interview
Six questions that sort the field
"Is the permit included, and will you pull it?"
In Austin, TX: City of Austin electrical trade permit (via the Austin Build + Connect portal), typical fee Electrical trade permit base fee of $167 under the current DSD residential fee schedule (flat regardless of scope; verify the current schedule at application). The right answer is an unhesitating yes, with the fee itemized. Not typically required for a residential branch circuit — trade permits issue without plan review. Service changes and panel upgrades add Austin Energy coordination (ESPA form) and 1–3 business days' notice for a disconnect.
"Can you price the outlet and hardwired options side by side?"
GFCI-breaker requirements changed this math — a pro quotes both without being defensive about it.
"Will you run a load calculation, and is it extra?"
Mandatory diligence on 100–125A panels. Many include it free; $75–$200 standalone is fair.
"Have you filed my utility's rebate paperwork before?"
Experienced installers know the local utility's photo and invoice requirements cold — that's weeks of back-and-forth saved.
"What wire gauge and breaker are you quoting for my amperage?"
You're not testing the answer — you're testing whether they explain it plainly (e.g. 6 AWG copper on a 50A breaker for a 40A charger).
"What's the warranty on your workmanship?"
One year written is the floor; many good shops offer more.
Walk away
Red flags, in order of severity
- "You don't really need a permit for this" — you do; unpermitted work surfaces at resale and in insurance claims
- No license number on the quote, or a "borrowed" license from an absent master electrician
- One lump-sum number with no line items — impossible to compare, easy to pad
- Quote sight-unseen without asking about panel size or wire distance
- Pressure to skip the GFCI breaker or undersize wire "to save you money"
- Cash-only, no written contract, or full payment up front
Compare quotes in Austin, TX
Three itemized bids routinely differ by 40% for the identical scope — the hour spent comparing is the best-paid hour of the project.
Finding an installer yourself: ask for the contractor's state license number, proof of insurance, and at least two recent Level 2 installs. Get the permit number in writing.
Use the free permit checklistTimeline expectations in Austin, TX: Trade permit issuance: fast (often same or next day through Austin Build + Connect). Inspection: typically within a week of request. Rebate processing afterward runs on Austin Energy's own timeline. City electrical inspection is required and is also an Austin Energy rebate condition. The inspector checks breaker sizing (125% continuous-load rule), wire gauge, GFCI where applicable, and labeling. Keep the permit number on the invoice — the rebate application effectively audits it.
Rules, rebates, and incentives change. Verify with the official program before applying.