EV charger installation

A home EV charger is a dedicated wall unit on its own circuit, installed by a registered electrical contractor and, on the United Energy network that serves Carrum Downs, registered with the distributor through its online service. A published Melbourne cost guide puts installation at $1,050 to $3,150, with the spread driven mostly by the cable run from the switchboard and whether the board or supply needs an upgrade first.

Do you need a wall charger at all?

Not always. Energy Victoria’s guide to charging an electric vehicle puts a typical Victorian’s daily driving at around 38 km. Plugging into an ordinary power point (level 1) adds roughly 14 to 21 km of range for each hour on charge, so a few hours overnight in the garage covers most days. It also passes on the Electric Vehicle Council’s suggestion of a dedicated circuit, ideally with a 15 amp outlet, to avoid overloading existing circuits.

United Energy’s electric vehicle page gives a rough rule by distance: trickle charging from a regular outlet suits up to about 200 km a week, a basic wall charger suits 200 to 500 km a week, and above that a higher output charger makes sense.

Charging options compared

Option	Supply needed	Range added per hour (Energy Victoria)	Install notes
Level 1, existing power point	Standard 10 amp outlet	About 14 to 21 km	No work, but shares a circuit with other loads
Level 1, dedicated 15 amp outlet	New circuit from the board	About 50% faster than a 10 amp outlet	Simple circuit job, see the power points and circuits page
Level 2 wall charger, single phase	Dedicated circuit, often a larger cable	About 42 to 65 km for most vehicles	Most Victorian houses are single phase; covers most daily commutes
Level 2 wall charger, three phase	Three-phase supply and board	Limited by the car; most EVs accept up to 11 kW AC	Higher install cost; worth it mainly for several EVs or large loads

The installed price band of $1,050 to $3,150 comes from the What’s The Damage? Melbourne electrician cost guide, verified October 2026 including GST. The charger unit itself is a separate purchase in many quotes, so ask whether it is included. If the switchboard has to change, a single-phase upgrade adds $945 to $2,950 and a three-phase board $2,625 to $5,800 on the same guide.

What the provider will check

• Where the car parks and the distance from the switchboard. A charger mounted close to the board in the garage is usually the cheapest layout; a carport at the far end of a long driveway costs more.
• Switchboard space and condition. A full board or one without RCD protection may need work first, as covered in the switchboard upgrade guide.
• Supply capacity. United Energy notes that some homes need upgrades to their power supply to handle EV charging load. The provider will look at what else runs at the same time, such as heating, a pool pump or a second car.
• Solar and batteries. Many chargers can follow rooftop solar output or a time-of-use tariff. Tell the provider what system you already have.
• Network registration. United Energy says wall and fast chargers must be installed by a REC and registered through its myEnergy service. Your contractor lodges this.

What the installation involves

1. The provider confirms the charger model, the mounting spot and the cable route.
2. A dedicated circuit is run from the switchboard with its own protection. United Energy recommends having a registered contractor fit an RCD, noting that standard safety switches may not be enough to protect against some faults with an EV or charger; the installer chooses the type the charger’s instructions call for.
3. The charger is mounted, connected, tested and, if it is a smart unit, set up on your Wi-Fi with charging schedules.
4. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety and the contractor completes the distributor registration.

Rules and safety points

The work must be done by a registered electrical contractor to AS/NZS 3000, and the certificate is required under the Electricity Safety Act 1998. United Energy’s safety advice for owners is also worth following: never use household adaptors or double plugs between the charging equipment and the socket, avoid extension leads (and if one is unavoidable, use one suited to outdoor use), never use faulty or damaged supply equipment, and replace a charging cable that shows visible wear.

Renters should talk to the rental provider before booking. Energy Victoria notes that installing a dedicated outlet or a level 2 charger in a rental is something to discuss with the owner first.

What a careful provider will not do

• Install a high-output charger on a board or supply that cannot carry it alongside your other loads.
• Skip the distributor registration.
• Fit a charger outdoors without checking its weather rating and the cable protection.
• Recommend three phase without explaining the extra connection cost and whether your car can use it.

Charging in and around Carrum Downs

United Energy is installing a community battery at Banyan Reserve near Luscombe Avenue to soak up excess solar from nearby Carrum Downs rooftops. Energy Victoria describes charging from your own solar as the cleanest and cheapest way to charge, so a smart charger that follows panel output suits any home that already has panels on the roof. Where the garage or carport sits well away from the switchboard, as on some bigger blocks in Carrum Downs and Skye, the longer cable run pushes the price up. Our cost guide explains the other factors.

What to do next

Photograph the switchboard, the meter box and the spot where you want the charger, note the car model and send an EV charger enquiry. An independent registered electrical contractor reviews it, prices the job and does the installation and registration; this website only forwards your enquiry.

Send a job enquiry