What we install
Most electric cars come with a portable charging cable that plugs into a normal power point. That's called Mode 2 charging: the cable has its own control and protection box built in. It works, but it's slow.
A wallbox (Mode 3 charging) is a fixed charger on the garage or carport wall, on its own dedicated circuit from the switchboard. It charges faster and it's designed for the job. That's what we install.
You choose and buy the charger. We install it. That keeps it simple: you get the brand and features you want, and we only price the installation.
Single-phase or three-phase
Typical home chargers are:
- about 7 kW single-phase (32 A), which suits a home on a single-phase supply
- 11 to 22 kW three-phase (16 to 32 A per phase), for homes, sheds and farms that already have three-phase
The real charging speed is capped by the car's own onboard charger and by network rules, so a bigger wallbox doesn't always mean faster charging. Our guide to single-phase vs three-phase EV chargers walks through which suits you.
The rules for EV chargers in NSW
- It must be a licensed electrician. Installing a fixed EV charger is electrical wiring work. It needs a licensed electrician and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW), lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within 7 days of testing.
- Its own circuit. An EV charger is normally supplied by its own dedicated circuit. Appendix P of AS/NZS 3000:2018 gives guidance on EV charging installations.
- The right safety switch. The circuit needs a 30 mA Type B RCD, or Type A where the charger has built-in 6 mA DC fault detection. NSW lists EV chargers among the circuits with higher DC leakage risk. Type AC safety switches can't be used in new work in NSW at all.
- Check the supply first. We found no Essential Energy rule that sets a kW limit for home chargers or makes them three-phase. The real rule is in the Service and Installation Rules of NSW: if a new load would push your maximum demand above what your connection allows, you need to apply to Essential Energy first. A 7 kW charger on a home that already runs ducted aircon, an electric oven and a pool pump is exactly where that check matters.
- No demand-response rule here. NSW doesn't require "smart" demand-response chargers. You may have read about that for South Australia.
The EV charger installation guide covers the whole process in more detail.
How Nelson does it
- Quick questions first. Your address, your car, the charger you've bought, and where you want it mounted. The instant EV charger estimate asks these and emails you the price.
- Check the switchboard. Is there a spare spot for a new circuit? Is the board still on fuses? Will the load fit within your supply? If the board needs work, that's priced separately and you see it in writing first.
- Run the circuit. A dedicated circuit from the switchboard to the charger, with the correct RCD protection.
- Mount and connect the charger to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Test it and show you how it works.
- Lodge the CCEW, with a copy emailed to you.
When the switchboard needs work
An EV charger is a big, long-running load. If your board is full, still has ceramic fuses, or has no safety switches, it may need work before a charger can go on. In that case it's often worth doing a switchboard upgrade at the same time, which brings every circuit up to current RCD requirements. More on that in EV chargers and switchboard upgrades.
Riverina specifics
Distances out here are long. A trip from Wagga to Albury or Young and back is a lot of kilometres, so being able to charge properly at home overnight makes a real difference. On farms the charger might go in a machinery shed a fair way from the house, which means a longer cable run. Unusually long runs are quoted separately, with the cable sized for the distance.
Price
The price covers installing a charger you supply. What affects it:
- Install only: you buy the charger, so its cost isn't in our price.
- Switchboard work, or an unusually long cable run, is quoted separately and shown to you before work starts.
- Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out. The estimate works it out from your address.
Get the price emailed to you with the instant EV charger estimate, or call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote.
Common questions
Can I just plug my EV into a normal power point?
Most cars come with a portable Mode 2 cable that does exactly that. It's slower, and it's worth having an electrician check the circuit it's on. A wallbox on its own circuit is the better long-term setup.
Do I need three-phase power for an EV charger?
No. A single-phase 7 kW charger suits many homes. We found no Essential Energy rule requiring three-phase for home chargers. If you already have three-phase, a three-phase charger is an option.
Do I need to tell Essential Energy?
Only if the new load pushes your maximum demand above your existing connection. In that case a connection application is needed, and we'll tell you if your job falls into that.
What type of safety switch does an EV charger need?
A 30 mA Type B RCD, or a Type A where the charger has built-in 6 mA DC fault detection. Type AC isn't allowed for new work in NSW.
Are there NSW grants for home EV chargers?
Not that we know of. The NSW EV Ready Buildings grant for apartment buildings closed in October 2025, and the current kerbside charging grants are for charge point operators, not households.