Hiring guide · CO
Hiring an EV charger electrician in Denver, CO
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)
Licensed electrical contractors (Colorado state license + Denver registration); Denver also lets owner-occupants pull permits for their own single-family home if they're on the deed, do the work themselves, show ID, and pass a discipline-specific exam. Before comparing prices, look up each bidder's license: Colorado DORA — State Electrical Board (verify 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 Denver, CO: Electrical quick permit (flat-fee, no plan review) through Denver's e-permits system, typical fee $35 flat for the EV charger quick permit under Denver's current fee tables (no plan-review fee on quick permits; verify the current schedule at application). The right answer is an unhesitating yes, with the fee itemized. None for the quick permit — that's the point of the category. A panel upgrade or service change is a separate, valuation-based permit with more process and Xcel coordination.
"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 Denver, CO
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 Denver, CO: Quick permit: same-day approval is common. Inspection: 1–10 business days after request. Whole cycle for a simple install: about a week — the Xcel rebate paperwork afterward takes longer than the city does. At least one inspection closes the permit; concealed wiring gets a rough-in check before walls close plus a final. Metro scheduling typically runs 1–10 business days after the work is ready, and clean charger circuits usually pass first visit. Permits expire after a year without an inspection.
Rules, rebates, and incentives change. Verify with the official program before applying.