Guidance, not advice. General information only — confirm the current wiring rules with your state electrical regulator and the rebates with the relevant program. Standards references and figures are as at May 2026 and change.
Installing electric-vehicle chargers is a fast-growing line for sparkies, driven by EV uptake and rebates — but every install is licensed electrical work on a dedicated circuit, and older switchboards often need upgrading to take it.
Licence and standards
Only a licensed electrician can install an EV charger. The governing standard is AS/NZS 3000:2018 (the Wiring Rules) — electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is covered by Appendix P together with the dedicated-circuit requirement in Clause 2.10.2.2. (Some guidance also points to AS/NZS 3820 for equipment safety under the EESS framework, and AS/NZS 4777 / AS/NZS 5139 where the charger integrates with solar or battery storage — see Construction Standards Register.) All EV charging equipment must carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
The dedicated-circuit rule and switchboard capacity
EVSE must sit on its own dedicated final sub-circuit — no sharing with the washing machine, dryer or other loads. Each install needs:
- a dedicated circuit sized for the charger,
- RCD protection (Mode 3/4 chargers typically need a dedicated ~32A circuit, an isolating switch and an appropriate RCD), and
- a correctly-sized circuit breaker.
Even a multi-connector station still needs its own dedicated circuit, so in older homes and commercial buildings you'll often need a switchboard upgrade to add capacity. For outdoor installs the equipment needs a minimum IP44 rating, and chargers are typically mounted around 800mm height with proper cable management (cables run 5-10m and weigh a few kilos).
Rebates and incentives (as at May 2026 — verify, these move)
- Federal: the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream offers up to $3,000 per eligible fixed smart charger or portable DC charger (a portable unit must cost at least $2,500), with business rebates covering up to 50% of cost, capped at $3,000 ex GST.
- State (indicative): NT ~$1,000 residential grant; SA up to ~$2,500 for businesses; ACT up to ~$15,000 in interest-free household loans; Victoria and Tasmania currently have no open EV-charger rebate (Victoria's earlier program ended in 2023).
Confirm each program is actually open and check the current amount before you build it into a quote.
The business opportunity
Commercial charging is expanding fast — workplaces, retail destinations, hospitality and fleet depots all want it, and the rebates cut the upfront cost. There are several revenue models to explain to a commercial client: a loss-leader (free charging to draw customers in), cost-recovery (usage fees that cover the chargepoint), profit (fees above cost), or fully-funded (a network operator pays for the install with operating conditions attached). For an installer that means recurring project work, not just one-off residential jobs (see EV Utes, Site Noise & Green Star for EVs in the construction context).
Common mistakes
- Citing the wrong rule — EVSE is in Appendix P / Clause 2.10.2.2 of AS/NZS 3000, not a "Section P3".
- Sharing the charger circuit with another appliance instead of running a dedicated final sub-circuit.
- Not checking switchboard capacity first, then discovering the board needs upgrading mid-job.
- Quoting a rebate that has closed (Victoria/Tasmania) or assuming a fixed amount without checking.
Know someone who needs this?
Keep reading
Was this guide useful?
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
In crisis? Lifeline 13 11 14 ·