Why does one North Vancouver electrician want a deposit before ordering a charger?

Deposits for EV charger installations are completely normal in Metro Vancouver, and a request for one before ordering hardware is a reasonable business practice, not a red flag on its own.

Why Electricians Ask for a Deposit on EV Charger Jobs

The short answer is that EV charger hardware is a significant, non-returnable special order. A Level 2 home charger (the 240V unit that actually lives on your wall) typically costs $600–$1,000 for the unit alone, before any installation labour. An electrician who orders that on your behalf and then has you cancel the job is left holding inventory they can't easily resell. A deposit, usually 25–50% of the total job cost, protects them against that risk.

There's also a lead-time factor. Some charger models, load management devices and smart panels have supply-chain delays of one to four weeks. Contractors order early to hold your installation date, and they want confirmation you're committed before tying up their purchasing account.

On the labour side, a North Vancouver EV charger job often involves more moving parts than a simple receptacle swap. If your panel is in a detached garage, the run is long, or the job requires a load management device (common in older North Vancouver homes with 100A services and electric baseboard heat), the electrician may also be pre-booking a BC Hydro disconnect or coordinating the electrical permit with the District of North Vancouver or the City of North Vancouver, both of which run their own electrical permit and inspection programs. That coordination takes time and sometimes has its own fees.

What makes a deposit reasonable versus a concern: A legitimate contractor will give you a written quote that itemises the charger hardware separately from labour, permit fees and any load management equipment. The deposit should be tied to that quote. Ask whether it's refundable if the permit is denied or if a load calculation shows your panel can't support the circuit without a service upgrade, that's a real scenario in North Vancouver's older housing stock.

Before handing over any money, confirm the contractor holds a Technical Safety BC electrical contractor licence (you can search the Technical Safety BC licence registry online), carries WorkSafeBC coverage, and has included the permit and inspection in the quoted price. Also ask whether the CleanBC Go Electric rebate has been factored in, for eligible single-family homes and row homes, BC Hydro's home charger rebate covers 50% of purchase and installation up to $350, and most rebates require the application to go in before work starts.

A deposit on a charger job is industry-standard. What you want to avoid is a contractor who takes a large deposit, goes quiet, and can't produce a permit number or a scheduled inspection date within a reasonable time after the work is done.

Want quotes from a second or third local electrician to compare? Vancouver Electrical Repair can match you with local North Vancouver electricians for free, confirm each one's Technical Safety BC licence before you commit.