EV Charger Installation
Level 2 home charging, wired right the first time — by the same licensed crew that handles your panel and load calculation.
A home EV charger is only as good as the wiring behind it. We install Level 2 chargers with a proper load calculation, the right circuit and a clean run — so you're not tripping breakers or paying to redo it.
What "done right" means
- Real load calc before we quote — we tell you honestly if you need a panel upgrade.
- Licensed electrical, permitted and inspected.
- Charger-agnostic — we install your unit or recommend one.
- Solar-ready so you can charge off your own roof.
Hardwired or plug-in
A Level 2 charger runs on its own 240-volt circuit — the same kind of circuit as a dryer or range. It can be hardwired, or plugged into a 240-volt outlet. The electrical code requires ground-fault (GFCI) protection on outlets installed for EV charging, so a plug-in setup needs that protection on the circuit; a hardwired charger isn't covered by the outlet rule. We'll tell you which fits your charger and your garage.
Sizing the circuit
Code treats EV charging as a continuous load, so the circuit is sized at 125% of what the charger draws: a 48-amp charger needs a 60-amp circuit, a 40-amp charger a 50-amp circuit. Many Level 2 chargers can be set to a lower output, which is often the simple answer when panel capacity is tight.
Will my panel handle it?
Before we quote, we run the load calculation the code allows for an existing home. If the numbers work, the charger goes on your current service. If they're close, the code recognizes two ways to make room: set the charger to a lower output that only a qualified person can change, or add a load-management device that keeps the charger and the rest of the house within what your service can carry. Either can sometimes avoid a service upgrade — it depends on the math, and we'll show it to you. When an upgrade is the right call, here's how a panel or service upgrade works.
Permits and inspection
In Washington, a new charger circuit needs an electrical permit and an inspection. Who issues it depends on where you live:
- City of Olympia and City of Lacey run their own electrical permits and inspections inside city limits.
- Tacoma Power issues electrical permits and does the inspections in Tacoma and the rest of its inspection area.
- Washington L&I covers Tumwater, Yelm, Shelton and unincorporated Thurston County.
PSE also asks to be contacted before a charger is added, so it can confirm your existing service can carry the new load.
Rebates and credits (as of October 2026)
- PSE customers: up to $300 back on a qualifying ENERGY STAR smart charger. Income-qualified customers can get up to $600 on the charger plus up to $2,000 toward installation. Taking the rebate enrolls you in PSE Flex. Check PSE's program page for current terms.
- Tacoma Power customers: a $400 bill credit each for a Level 2 charger, the electrical work to install one, a smart splitter or a 240-volt EV outlet — up to $600 per account. Install first, then apply within 90 days.
- Mason PUD 3 (Shelton area): PUD 3 lists EV charger rebates tied to its EV charging study, subject to available funds — check with PUD 3 before counting on one.
- Federal tax credit: none for home chargers now. The federal credit ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026.
- Washington sales tax: the state's sales-tax exemption for EV charging equipment expired July 1, 2025.
Programs change. If you want the PSE rebate, check that your charger is on PSE's qualified list before you buy it. We verify current incentives at point of sale.
How it works
- 1. Tell us what you've got — your car, the charger (or that you need one) and where you park.
- 2. We check your panel and run the load calculation.
- 3. You get an itemized written quote. No pressure, no countdown.
- 4. We pull the permit, install, and schedule the inspection.
Charge off your own sunshine
Pair charging with a solar system and you fuel the car off your roof. Many add the charger during solar or electrical work — one trip, one crew.
Where we install
Level 2 chargers and the panel work behind them in Olympia & Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm & Thurston County, Shelton and Tacoma.
Common questions
Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Sometimes. We run a real load calculation first and tell you straight — many panels handle a Level 2 charger as-is. If you're close, a lower charger setting or a load-management device can sometimes avoid an upgrade.
Can you install any brand of charger?
Yes — we install the unit you bought or recommend a solid one, then wire and permit it properly. If you want the PSE rebate, the charger has to be on PSE's qualified list, so check before you buy.
Do I need a permit for a home EV charger?
Yes. In Washington a new charger circuit needs an electrical permit and an inspection — from the City of Olympia or the City of Lacey inside those cities, from Tacoma Power in Tacoma, and from L&I in Tumwater, Yelm, Shelton and unincorporated Thurston County.
Is there still a federal tax credit for home EV chargers?
No. The federal credit for home chargers (IRC §30C) ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026.
Does PSE offer an EV charger rebate?
Yes, as of October 2026: up to $300 on a qualifying smart charger, and more for income-qualified customers — up to $600 on the charger plus up to $2,000 toward installation. Terms can change, so check PSE's current program before you buy.
Should I get a hardwired charger or a plug-in?
Either works. Outlets installed for EV charging need GFCI protection under the electrical code; a hardwired charger isn't covered by that outlet rule. We'll recommend what fits your charger and your garage.
A written quote. Every time.
Name and phone is all it takes to start. We'll reach out with a real number — no pressure, no obligation.
Here's the price — in writing. Itemized, no surprise line items. It's yours to keep.
Licensed, permitted, inspected. WA electrical contractor MUDBABE765KS · GC MUDBABE743MM.
Rather talk? Call or text 360-999-6709, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm.