If you have an electric vehicle (EV) or are thinking to buy one, learn what’s required to safely charge your vehicle at home.
Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor
- In Ontario, if you’re hiring someone to do electrical work in your home, by law, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor. You can find one at findacontractor.esasafe.com.
- If a Local Distribution Company or its affiliate doing the installation, it must hold an ECRA/ESA electrical contracting licence.
- A Licensed Electrical Contractor will also file a notification of work to ESA for the installation, and will provide you with a Certificate of Acceptance once the work has been completed. Ask for a copy for your records.
File a Notification of Work with ESA
- You must file a notification of workwith ESA before starting the installation. The person doing the installation must file the notification of work.
- Installations must meet the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. In particular, Section 86 – Electrical Vehicles Charging Systems.
- ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance once the installation meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. If you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, ask them for a copy.
Look for an Approval Mark
- An EV charging system must carry the official mark or label of a recognized certification or evaluation agency.
- Before an electrical product or piece of electrical equipment is used, sold, displayed or advertised for sale in Ontario, it needs to be approved by an accredited certification or evaluation agency. This indicates that the product has been independently assessed for safety.
- Check out all the recognized approval marks at esasafe.com/approvalmarks
