ChatGPT's shortlist: EV charging installers in California

Places ChatGPT showed

• EV Charging Solutions · 5.0★ · Electricians
• A-EV Installs · 4.9★ · Electricians
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution · 5.0★ · Electricians
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• Sagan Electric · 5.0★ · Electrician
• Trout Electric · 4.5★ · Electrician
• Car Charger Guy · 5.0★ · Electrician
• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services · 4.6★ · Electrician

If you mean home Level 2 EV-charger installation, California has a number of strong local specialists. Rather than treating “best” as a single statewide ranking, I’d compare installers based on licensing, EV specialization, permitting, panel/load-management experience, and your location.

California installers worth getting quotes from

• EV Charging Solutions — Livermore / Tri-Valley. EV-focused electrician with extensive local review history; particularly relevant if you need help evaluating panel capacity or charger placement.
• A-EV Installs — Orange County. Focuses heavily on EV charging and can handle associated circuits, breakers, panel upgrades, and permitting.
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution — Los Angeles / Southern California. EV-specialized contractor serving LA, Ventura, Orange and San Diego counties.
• EV Pros Inc. — Orange County. EV-focused electrical contractor with experience handling permitting and more complicated residential installations.
• Sagan Electric — Sacramento. General electrical contractor with substantial EV-charger experience, including Tesla Wall Connector and 240V installations.
• Elite EV Electrical — Sacramento / Placer County area. Strongly EV-focused, particularly for Level 2 residential charging.
• Trout Electric — San Jose / Silicon Valley. Larger electrical contractor with EV-charging and electrical-upgrade capabilities.
• Car Charger Guy — North San Diego County. EV-specialist electrician focused on residential Level 2 installations.

There are also larger providers such as Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services, which uses a network of licensed electricians rather than functioning purely as a local installer.

What I'd check before hiring

Get 2–3 written quotes and make sure each includes:

• Charger installation and commissioning
• Dedicated 240V circuit or hardwiring
• Permit and inspection costs
• Load calculation for your existing electrical service
• Any panel/subpanel or load-management equipment
• Conduit/wiring distance and finish work
• Whether the installer is a California C-10 electrical contractor
• Warranty on labor

Don't automatically accept a recommendation for a panel upgrade. A proper load calculation can determine whether your existing service can support the charger, or whether a lower-current charger/load-management solution is sufficient.

Don't forget California rebates

This can substantially change the economics. California's official Drive Clean incentive database currently lists numerous utility-specific EV-charging incentives—for example, programs from PG&E, LADWP, SMUD, SCE and various municipal utilities.

For example, SMUD currently advertises up to $600 toward home charging equipment and/or circuit installation, while LADWP lists up to $1,000 for a qualifying charger plus $250 for a dedicated EV meter, with an additional incentive for certain income-qualified customers.

One important 2026 change: the federal 30C alternative-fuel refueling property credit ended for property placed in service after June 30, 2026, so I'd be skeptical of an installer advertising a current federal 30% charger-installation credit.

If you tell me your California city/ZIP code, EV model, and whether your electrical panel is 100A, 150A, or 200A, I can narrow this to the best 3–5 installers that actually serve your area and compare their reviews, licensing, typical pricing, and applicable rebates.

Places ChatGPT showed

• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services · 4.6★ · Electrician
• LilyPad EV · 4.8★ · Contractor
• EVCHARGE4U Inc · 4.7★ · Electrical installation service
• EV Charger Expert · 4.9★ · Electrician
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• WCI Electric · 5.0★ · Electrician

For California property owners and fleet operators, I’d separate the market into two categories: turnkey/multi-site providers and local electrical/EV specialists. There isn’t a single objectively “best” installer—the right choice depends heavily on site count, utility capacity, charger type, and whether you need ongoing operations.

Strong California options

• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services — best fit for large portfolios and fleets. Qmerit offers turnkey commercial deployment, including site assessment, permitting, electrical upgrades, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support. Its network has 23,000+ electricians and it explicitly supports multi-site fleet deployments.
• LilyPad EV — worth considering for complex commercial/fleet projects. LilyPad positions itself as an end-to-end EV infrastructure contractor covering planning, design, construction and support, including fleets, multifamily, workplaces, municipalities and utilities.
• EVCHARGE4U Inc — particularly interesting for Bay Area property owners and fleets. Its services include commercial, municipal and fleet charging, site assessment/design, installation and commissioning, with support for OCPP-compatible equipment.
• EV Charger Expert — Bay Area option for smaller commercial/multifamily projects. It handles commercial/public and multifamily charging as well as engineering, load calculations, permitting and installation.
• EV Pros Inc. — Southern California commercial specialist. It combines EV charging installation with electrical engineering and panel/infrastructure work, making it relevant when a property needs more than simply mounting chargers.
• WCI Electric — Silicon Valley commercial-electrical option. It has a broader commercial/industrial electrical capability in addition to EV charging, which can be useful for properties requiring panels, distribution or other electrical upgrades.

For fleets specifically

For a depot fleet, I would put considerably more weight on the installer's ability to handle utility coordination, transformer/service upgrades, load management, DC fast charging, commissioning, networking and long-term maintenance than on the installer's consumer EV-charger reviews.

California's own fleet-transition resources identify services such as charging-infrastructure design, facility upgrades, utility coordination and fleet electrification planning as important components of a fleet project.

For a large or multi-site fleet, Qmerit is particularly notable because it offers centralized project management and coordinated installations across multiple locations.

For property owners

For apartments, offices, retail, hotels or mixed-use properties, I'd ask each bidder for:

1. A site/load study rather than simply a charger quote.
2. Utility-service and transformer requirements.
3. Permitting and inspection responsibility.
4. Network/software compatibility and who owns the charging-data account.
5. Maintenance/SLA and uptime commitments.
6. Future expansion plan—e.g., designing the electrical infrastructure for 20 ports even if you initially install 6.
7. California/utility incentives they're actually eligible to obtain.
8. A clear separation between charger hardware, electrical construction, trenching, utility work and software costs.

As a rough 2026 benchmark, Qmerit's California project data puts commercial Level 2 installations at roughly $3,500–$15,000 per port, while DC fast charging can range from $18,000 to $350,000+ per port, depending heavily on infrastructure requirements.

If you tell me your California location (e.g. LA, Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento), property type, number of chargers, and whether this is passenger vehicles or a fleet, I can narrow this to 3–5 installers and compare their capabilities, service area, reviews, and likely project fit.

Places ChatGPT showed

• Camber Charging | Reliable EV Fleet Charging · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• LilyPad EV · 4.8★ · Contractor
• EV Range · 5.0★ · Energy equipment and solutions
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructures · 4.5★ · Electrician
• Salvatore Electric Inc · 4.3★ · General contractor
• Green Water and Power Charging Station · 4.1★ · Electric vehicle charging station
• California Electric Vehicle Power · Electricians

Yes. For California commercial projects involving DC fast charging (DCFC) and fleet depots, I’d put the following firms on a shortlist based on their stated capabilities and current California presence:

• Camber Charging — San Francisco. Fleet-focused; handles depot planning and infrastructure, including very high-power DCFC for transit/heavy-duty applications.
• LilyPad EV — Martinez / Bay Area. Full lifecycle EV infrastructure contractor with fleet depots, engineering, installation, permitting and ongoing support.
• EV Range — San Pedro / Southern California. Focuses on commercial and mission-critical fleets, with Level 2 and DCFC plus deployment, permitting and compliance services.
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructures (EVI) — Upland. EV-focused electrical contractor doing commercial/industrial charging construction, including larger fleet and transportation applications.
• Salvatore Electric Inc — Murrieta / Inland Empire. Commercial/industrial electrical contractor offering DCFC, electrical upgrades, utility coordination, BESS and commissioning.
• Green Water and Power — Los Angeles area. Turnkey design, permitting, construction, commissioning and O&M, with Level 3/DCFC and fleet applications.
• California Electric Vehicle Power — Alameda / Northern California. Commercial and fleet charging contractor covering DCFC, design, equipment selection and installation.
• Real City Charging Solutions — Southern California. C-10 contractor explicitly offering DCFC, fleet/workplace charging, utility coordination, service upgrades, permitting and design-build.
• SLC Energy Solutions — California statewide. Particularly relevant if the project needs substantial engineering: it designs DCFC cabinets/dispensers and heavy-duty truck depots from utility service through the charger, including load studies and switchgear coordination.
• Fox Electric — Bay Area. Commercial C-10 contractor advertising fleet depots and DCFC, including electrical infrastructure, load management, permitting and PG&E coordination.

For large truck/bus depots

If you're talking about Class 7/8 trucks, buses, or 1+ MW depot loads, I'd distinguish these from ordinary EV charger installers. California's current projects increasingly involve substantial utility infrastructure, high-voltage distribution, switchgear, civil work and potentially MCS.

For example, California's current South Bay Truck Charging Hub project calls for 30 DCFC stalls up to 350 kW plus 20 MCS stalls up to 1,200 kW. And Forum Mobility's California truck-depot projects are adding 30 MW of charging capacity across three sites.

For that class of project, I'd investigate Camber, SLC Energy Solutions, EVI, and specialized EPC/depot developers rather than treating it as a conventional charger-installation job.

California's CALeVIP provider directory is also useful for screening contractors because it lets you filter for 50-kW and 100-kW+ DCFC and for services such as design/engineering, permitting, trenching, electrical work, commissioning and maintenance.

If you tell me Northern vs. Southern California, approximate charger count/power (e.g. 10 × 150 kW), and whether this is light-duty, vans, buses, or Class 8 trucks, I can narrow this to 5–8 contractors that appear genuinely suited to that depot size, including their service area and whether they do turnkey EPC versus electrical installation only.

Places ChatGPT showed

• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services · 4.6★ · Electrician
• EV Electrical · 4.6★ · Electrician
• EVCHARGE4U Inc · 4.7★ · Electrical installation service
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution · 5.0★ · Electricians
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor

Yes. In California, some EV-charger installers explicitly offer turnkey permitting, utility coordination, and rebate paperwork, rather than leaving you to deal with the utility yourself. The right contractor depends heavily on your utility territory—PG&E, SCE, LADWP, SDG&E, SMUD, municipal utilities, etc.—because rebate rules differ. California’s official incentive database shows substantial differences among utilities.

Installers worth checking

• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services — Irvine-based platform with a statewide/nationwide installer network. It coordinates permitting and inspections; ask specifically whether the assigned California electrician will submit the utility rebate application and handle utility approval, rather than merely provide documentation.
• EV Electrical — Oakland/Bay Area installer. Its customer-facing information specifically describes handling permitting, paperwork and PG&E-related coordination.
• EVCHARGE4U Inc — Berkeley/Bay Area specialist with permitting and inspection/project-management experience. I'd confirm the exact rebate-administration scope before signing.
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution — Southern California installer. Business information indicates support with LADWP rebate paperwork and permitting/inspection coordination.
• EV Pros Inc. — Orange County/Southern California EV specialist that handles installation planning and permitting; utility rebate eligibility should be confirmed for your specific SCE territory/program.
• Hertz Electric — particularly interesting for PG&E customers. It says it is a PG&E Authorized Trade Ally Contractor and handles rebate applications, permits, PG&E coordination, inspections and final documentation.
• ChargeWizards — particularly relevant around Palo Alto Utilities. It says its turnkey service includes Palo Alto Utilities rebate paperwork and the municipal permit process.

One important distinction

“We handle rebates” can mean three very different things:

1. We tell you which rebate exists.
2. We give you the paperwork/documentation so you submit it.
3. We actually submit the application, reserve funds, communicate with the utility, coordinate inspections/approval, and close out the rebate.

If you want a genuinely hands-off installation, ask the installer:

> “Will you submit the rebate application and utility paperwork on my behalf, obtain any required pre-approval, pull the permit, coordinate the utility inspection, and handle final rebate submission until payment is approved?”

For example, PG&E explicitly has a Trade Ally Network in which participating contractors can help customers reserve rebates and submit completion documentation. PG&E's income-qualified Rebate Plus process can go further: after pre-approval, the contractor assesses the panel, files the project application, pulls the permit and installs the equipment.

If you tell me your California city or ZIP code and electric utility (e.g., PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, LADWP, SMUD), I can narrow this to installers that explicitly offer true end-to-end utility approval + rebate handling in your area and compare their coverage.

Places ChatGPT showed

• Plug-In EV Charging Solution · 5.0★ · Electricians
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• A-EV Installs · 4.9★ · Electricians
• Hi Power Electric · 4.9★ · Electricians

If by “reliable” you mean licensed electrical contractor, EV-specific experience, permitting, and a substantial track record, these are some Southern California installers I’d put on a quote shortlist. I’m not treating review scores as proof of quality; I’m weighing EV specialization, licensing/certifications, permitting, and breadth of service.

Strong Southern California options

• Plug-In EV Charging Solution — Los Angeles / Ventura / Orange / San Diego counties. Particularly EV-focused rather than a general electrician, and handles residential, multifamily, workplace and fleet charging. Good choice if your project is more complicated than a straightforward garage install.
• EV Pros Inc. — Orange County / Southern LA. EV-focused contractor with extensive customer volume and capabilities including Level 2 installations, panel upgrades and troubleshooting. Its listed California C-10 license is #1022572.
• A-EV Installs — Orange County. EV-specialized installer with a large review history; structured electrical work includes new circuits, breakers and panel upgrades in addition to the charger itself.
• Hi Power Electric — South Orange County. Strong EV-charging focus, including Tesla Wall Connectors and 240V/NEMA 14-50 installations, with substantial customer-review volume.
• Rizzo Electric — Orange County / Los Angeles. This one stands out on credentials: it says it is Tesla-, ChargePoint- and Qmerit-certified and handles both EV chargers and panel upgrades. It also advertises permitting and licensed crews.
• ElectriCare — Temecula / Inland Empire / Orange County areas. A particularly interesting option if you're in the Inland Empire or Temecula Valley. It lists California license #778366, Tesla Wall Connector Preferred Installer and ChargePoint certification, and says it handles permits, inspections and load calculations.
• SPD Electric — Inland Empire / San Gabriel Valley / North Orange County. EVITP-certified, C-10 licensed (#1116728), and specifically advertises permitted installations and SCE Charge Ready Home eligibility.

What I'd insist on when getting quotes

For a home Level 2 installation, don't choose solely on the lowest bid. Ask each installer for:

1. California C-10 license number and verify it with the CSLB.
2. A load calculation, rather than simply saying your panel “looks like it can handle it.”
3. Confirmation that the quote includes permit and inspection.
4. The exact breaker size, wire size, charger amperage and continuous-load calculation.
5. Whether they recommend hardwiring vs. NEMA 14-50, and why.
6. Whether a load-management device could avoid an expensive panel upgrade.
7. Written pricing for any potential panel/service upgrade before work starts.

That permitting point is important: ChargePoint, for example, requires certified technicians for installation/service of its stations.

Also, don't assume a panel upgrade is automatically necessary. A proper load calculation can sometimes show that the existing service is adequate, while other homes may genuinely need a larger service or load-management solution. Local project costs vary enormously depending on panel work and how far the charger is from the panel; a 2025 Santa Barbara Clean Energy dataset, for example, showed completed residential projects ranging from under $1,000 to several thousand dollars, with panel upgrades contributing substantially to higher-cost projects.

If you tell me your city/ZIP, EV model, and whether you want a Tesla/ChargePoint/other charger, I can narrow this to 3–5 installers that actually serve your area and compare their credentials, reviews, and typical pricing.

Places ChatGPT showed

• Fitch Electric · 4.9★ · Electrician
• Phase One Electric · Contractor
• Sunnyvale Electric · 5.0★ · Electrician
• Under The Sun Solar & Electric · Solar Installation
• Absolute Electrical Services · 5.0★ · Electrician
• Altamont Electric · 5.0★ · Electrician

If you mean home or commercial EV charger installation, rather than public charging networks, these are some Northern California installers worth getting quotes from. I’m not treating “best” as an objective ranking; I’d shortlist them based on licensing, EV-specific experience, service area, and whether they handle permits/panel work.

• Vine Electric — Particularly interesting for both residential and commercial work. They install Tesla/NACS, ChargePoint, Wallbox, JuiceBox, Emporia and Enphase equipment, and handle load calculations, panel upgrades, permits and inspections. They list California CSLB license #948504 and EVITP partnership.
• Fitch Electric — A strong Bay Area option. They are a licensed B/C-10 contractor, Tesla-certified, and install residential and commercial chargers. They specifically advertise load calculations, permitting and solutions that can sometimes avoid a panel upgrade.
• Phase One Electric — Bay Area electrical contractor with ChargePoint certification. They handle the complete EV installation scope, including load calculations, permits, panel work, conduit and commissioning.
• Sunnyvale Electric — Worth considering around Sacramento/Placer. They're a California C-10 contractor and Tesla-certified Wall Connector installer, with EV chargers and panel upgrades among their services.
• Under the Sun Solar & Electric — Sacramento-area C-10 contractor installing Tesla, ChargePoint, Wallbox, JuiceBox and other Level 2 chargers, including permits and panel evaluations/upgrades.
• Absolute Electrical Services — A useful option for Sonoma County/North Bay. They list California license #993812 and install Tesla, ChargePoint, Emporia and JuiceBox chargers for residential and commercial applications.
• Altamont Electric — Good geographic fit for Tracy/San Joaquin and eastern Alameda County, including multi-charger commercial installations, trenching, load management and panel upgrades.

How I'd narrow it down

For a single-family home, I'd get 3 quotes and ask each installer to provide:

1. Total installed price, including permit.
2. Whether your existing panel needs an upgrade.
3. Whether they recommend hardwired 48A/60A charging versus a NEMA 14-50 outlet.
4. Exact charger model they're quoting.
5. Charging speed in kW.
6. Warranty on both the equipment and electrical installation.
7. Whether they perform the permit and final inspection.
8. Whether they can use load management instead of upgrading the panel.

For a commercial, multifamily, or fleet installation, I'd put much more weight on experience with utility coordination, networking/payment systems, multiple chargers, trenching, ADA requirements, load management and incentives.

If you tell me your city/ZIP, whether it's home or commercial, your EV model, and whether you have a 100A/150A/200A electrical panel, I can narrow this to 3–5 installers that actually serve your area and compare their credentials and typical scope.

Places ChatGPT showed

• EV Charging Solutions · 5.0★ · Electricians
• A-EV Installs · 4.9★ · Electricians
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution · 5.0★ · Electricians
• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services · 4.6★ · Electrician

If by “best cost per charger installed” you mean the lowest credible all-in installed cost, rather than simply the lowest advertised labor rate, the answer depends heavily on whether you're talking about residential Level 2 or commercial/multifamily charging.

For California in 2026, published benchmarks put residential Level 2 installations around $1,100–$2,800, while commercial Level 2 is much wider at roughly $3,500–$15,000 per port because trenching, electrical-service upgrades, permitting, and site infrastructure can dominate the cost.

Installers I'd get quotes from

• EV Charging Solutions — Livermore/Tri-Valley. EV charging is a major focus, including Level 2 installations and the associated circuit/conduit work. Its specialization makes it worth including in a price comparison.
• Elite EV Electrical — Lincoln/Sacramento region. Strong focus on residential Level 2 installations, including Wall Connectors and 240V circuits.
• A-EV Installs — Orange County/Irvine. EV-specific installer that also handles panel upgrades and other electrical work.
• EV Pros Inc. — Santa Ana/Orange County. EV-focused contractor with permitting and project-planning experience.
• Plug-In EV Charging Solution — Southern California. Handles residential, multifamily, workplace and fleet charging, so it is particularly relevant if you're installing multiple ports.
• Qmerit - EV Charger Installation & Home Electrical Services — statewide/network approach rather than a single local crew. Its 2026 California data puts the average residential Level 2 installation at $1,810, useful as a benchmark when evaluating competing quotes.

What I'd consider a competitive quote

For a simple residential Level 2 install—existing 200A service, spare capacity, charger close to the panel, no trenching—I'd use roughly $1,200–$1,800 all-in including charger, wiring, labor and permit as a comparison range. Published California estimates support that general territory, although individual projects vary considerably.

For commercial Level 2, I'd be much more careful about comparing headline prices. A $5,000/port quote can actually be cheaper than a $3,500/port quote if the former includes trenching, switchgear, permitting, networking and commissioning while the latter doesn't. California's own commercial charging material has historically shown installation costs around $1,500–$4,000 for AC Level 2 equipment installation alone, with total project costs potentially much higher once infrastructure is included.

For a true cost-per-port comparison, I'd ask each installer for the same scope:

> Charger hardware + electrical design/load calculation + conduit/wire + breakers/panel work + trenching + permits + inspection + commissioning + networking + bollards/signage, divided by number of operational ports.

That prevents a contractor from appearing cheaper simply by excluding infrastructure from the per-charger price.

If you tell me (1) residential vs. commercial, (2) number of chargers, (3) approximate California city/ZIP, and (4) Level 2 vs. DC fast, I can narrow this to a quote-by-quote cost comparison and identify the installers most likely to give you the lowest $/port.

Places ChatGPT showed

• EVCHARGE4U Inc · 4.7★ · Electrical installation service
• Infinity Electric · 4.8★ · Electrician
• EV Pros Inc. · 4.9★ · Electric vehicle charging station contractor
• Smart Plug EV · 4.9★ · Electricians
• King Electric and Solar · 4.9★ · Electrician
• Mizo Electric · 5.0★ · Electrician

If by “trust” you mean strong customer reviews plus evidence that the company is locally/family owned and actually works with property owners, I’d put these California installers on a shortlist. I’m not treating review counts as proof of quality; I’d still verify licensing, insurance, permitting, and references for your specific property.

Particularly relevant for property owners

• EVCHARGE4U — Berkeley / Bay Area. This is one of the clearest matches for your question. It has been operating locally since 2011 and specifically handles apartment buildings, commercial buildings, condo HOAs, multifamily properties, hotels, fleets and public charging. Its site features testimonials from a commercial property owner, condominium property manager, and HOA resident; BBB lists it as accredited with an A+ rating.
• Gorgen EV Charging Installations — Inland Empire. A particularly interesting option for commercial real estate, HOAs and property managers. Gorgen describes itself as commercial-only, locally rooted in the Inland Empire, with C-10 licensing, EVITP certification, SCE Charge Ready familiarity and relationships with Riverside/San Bernardino building departments.
• DCP Electric — Ventura / Santa Barbara / LA / Orange counties. Woman-owned, C-10 licensed and EVITP-certified, with a stated specialization in multifamily and commercial EV charging. Its EPC model means engineering, procurement and construction are handled under one point of accountability.
• Infinity Electric — Ventura County. Locally based electrical contractor doing both residential and commercial EV charging, with C-10 licensing and BBB A+ accreditation. Its scope includes panel/load-capacity analysis, 240V circuits and commercial charging. The current business listing shows 4.8/5 from 99 reviews.
• EV Pros Inc. — Orange County / Southern California. Very EV-focused, with permitting and planning repeatedly mentioned in customer feedback. The current local listing shows 4.9/5 from 565 reviews, while the company is identified as a C-10 contractor in available licensing information.

Family/local operators worth considering

• Rizzo Electric — Southern California. Three-generation family-owned electrical contractor, operating in California for decades. It does EV chargers, commercial electrical work and panel upgrades and says it handles permits and inspections. Its site currently reports 5.0 from 96 Yelp reviews.
• Smart Plug EV — San Gabriel Valley / Southern California. EV-charging-focused local contractor with 4.9/5 from 59 reviews in the current business data. Review themes include panel-capacity solutions and end-to-end EV installation.
• King Electric and Solar — Sacramento / Foothills. The company specifically markets commercial EV charging and currently displays 4.9/5 from 74 Google reviews. Customer feedback includes panel upgrades and EV circuits.
• MIZO Electric — North County San Diego. Family-owned, C-10 licensed and EV-focused, with 5.0/5 from 70 verified Google reviews reported on its site. It handles site evaluation, load considerations, permitting and installation and says it works on businesses/commercial properties as well as homes.
• Volticity — Orange County / Inland Empire / San Diego. A family-owned Orange County company whose parent electrical business has been around for more than 30 years. It handles commercial/industrial electrical work as well as EV charging, including underground and overhead infrastructure.

How I'd vet them for a property

For an apartment/condo, office, retail center or other income-producing property, I'd ask each installer for:

1. Three references from property owners/managers with similar-size installations.
2. Their California C-10 license number and proof of insurance.
3. Who handles utility coordination, permits and inspections.
4. Experience with your utility — PG&E, SCE or SDG&E — and applicable EV-charging programs.
5. A written explanation of load calculations, panel/service upgrades and load management.
6. Whether they provide ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting, not just installation.
7. Whether they use employees or subcontractors for the electrical work.
8. A 10-year total-cost estimate, including networking/software, maintenance, payment processing and future charger expansion—not merely the installation price.

One useful signal is that property managers themselves tend to be a better referral source than generic online reviews. In a recent California EV-charging discussion, a commenter specifically recommended asking property managers which electrical contractors they actually use.

If you tell me what part of California and what type of property (e.g. 20-unit apartment building, 100-unit HOA, office, hotel, retail center), I can narrow this to 5–7 genuinely local installers and compare their reviews, ownership, C-10 licensing, commercial experience, utility territory, and likely fit.