How Long Does EV Charger Installation Take?
The installation itself takes half a day. The permit and inspection process around it adds a few days. Here's the complete Boise timeline so you can plan accordingly.
For most Boise homeowners with an attached garage, an EV charger installation is a half-day appointment. Your electrician assesses the panel, runs the circuit, mounts the charger, and tests it in 2 to 4 hours of actual work. The permit happens a day or two before, and the inspection follows a few days after. Plan for the full process to take about a week or two, not just the day of the install.
Full Timeline at a Glance
| Step | Typical Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Get quotes and schedule | 2 to 5 days | Good Boise electricians book a few days out |
| Permit pulled by electrician | 1 to 3 business days | City of Boise Building Department |
| Actual installation | 2 to 4 hours | Full day for panel upgrades or detached garages |
| Electrical inspection | 2 to 5 business days to schedule, 30 min to complete | Electrician handles scheduling |
| Idaho Power rebate | Varies, verify at idahopower.com | Submit promptly after installation |
What Makes the Job Take Longer
Panel upgrade
If your home has a 100-amp panel, more common in older Boise neighborhoods like the North End, Bench area, and East End properties built before 1985, adding a 50-amp EV circuit may require a panel upgrade first. That adds 3 to 5 hours of work, and sometimes requires Idaho Power to disconnect service at the meter, which may mean scheduling a separate appointment. The panel upgrade and EV charger install are often done as a single project, but plan for a full day. See the panel upgrade guide for specifics.
Detached garage or shop
Boise properties, particularly older homes and rural-edge properties toward Eagle, Star, and Kuna, sometimes have detached garages, workshops, or RV shelters where the homeowner wants EV charging. Running conduit underground from the main panel is more work than a simple attached garage run. Budget for a full day and expect somewhat higher material costs for the conduit and trench.
Long conduit runs
Even in attached garages, the panel location matters. If your panel is on the opposite end of the house from the garage, the electrician has more conduit to route, through attic space, along exterior walls, or under floors. Each extra run adds time.
The Idaho Power Rebate: Apply Promptly
Idaho Power offers $200 back on qualifying Level 2 charger installations. Verify the current application process and any submission deadline at idahopower.com. Rebate programs can change, and you want to know the current requirements before you install. Submit your application as soon as possible after installation rather than waiting.
Key steps before installing: confirm Idaho Power serves your address, check the eligible charger list, and have the rebate application ready to submit after your installation appointment.
Idaho Power TOU Rate: Set It Up at the Same Time
If you're getting a smart charger, also enroll in Idaho Power's Time of Day rate plan. It offers lower rates after 9 PM on weekdays and all day Sunday and holidays, perfect for overnight charging. Just contact Idaho Power to switch your rate plan. Do it the same week you get the charger installed and you'll start saving immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally yes. The electrician needs access to your panel and garage, and may have questions. Plan for a half-day block. You don't need to supervise constantly, but you should be available.
Some Boise electricians can get same-day permits for simple EV installs, but it varies. Many prefer to pull the permit a day or two ahead to avoid scheduling conflicts. Ask when you get quotes.
As soon as the electrician finishes and confirms everything is working. You don't need to wait for the inspection. The inspection verifies the work meets code but doesn't determine when you can use the charger.
A panel upgrade combined with an EV charger install typically takes a full day. If Idaho Power needs to disconnect service at the meter, it may require coordinating a separate utility visit, which can add a day to the overall timeline. Plan accordingly.
Want the full picture from start to finish? See our complete installation roadmap.