Tesla EV charger installation incentive timeline and permit experience

I’m in the Los Angeles area and recently received the EV charger installation rebate from LADWP. The whole process took about 3 months and was honestly smoother than I expected, so I figured I’d share my experience in case it helps someone else. Before installation, I bought a Tesla Wall Connector for Model Y. The chargers supported by the LADWP rebate program are listed here: [https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles/residential-ev-charger-rebate-program/qualifying-product-list](https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles/residential-ev-charger-rebate-program/qualifying-product-list) ***Sept 6, 2025 - Permit*** Applied for the **LADBS Express Permit** online: [https://permitla.lacitydbs.org](https://permitla.lacitydbs.org) I chose Level-2 charger installation, no separate EV meter. My house already has a **200A panel**, so no panel upgrade was needed, just to add a 60-amp breaker on the panel for the electric vehicle charger. No plan check or ESR visit required. Paid $98, and the permit showed up in my email within a day. ***Sept 7\~10 - Electrician quotes*** Called a few licensed electricians found on Google and sent them floor plan + photos. Quotes ranged from $1,000 to $4,000 with similar installation plans. Notes: * LADWP requires a **licensed electrician** for the rebate. * Tell them upfront you need to pass LADBS inspection and qualify for LADWP rebate. I went with an electrician quoting $1,000 including labor and materials. He had shown me his previous charger installations and had good experience with LADWP/SCE incentive programs before. ***Sept 13 - Installation day*** My electrical panel is at the back of the house and the garage is in the front. The wire run ended up being about **100 feet**, longer than expected. So the install took over 5 hours and the final cost was **$1,250**. The installation was clean and well done: [charger photo](https://imgur.com/a/QtcCzLu) and [breaker panel photo](https://imgur.com/a/aift9Dg). ***Scheduling inspection*** Scheduled inspection online: [https://dbs.lacity.gov/services/inspection](https://dbs.lacity.gov/services/inspection) You can pick the **day**, but not the **time window.** You won't be told the exact inspection time until that day so you basically need to stay home that day. ***Sept 22 - First inspection*** Got an automated call around **8am** saying the inspector would come between 1–4pm. Inspector showed up around 3:30pm, checked all the wires and connections quite carefully, pointed out a few corrections, and explained to me what he expected (I could not understand half of them but I took the note). Later that evening I got a PDF listing the corrections. Called my electrician and he came back about two weeks later to fix them. ***Oct 27 - Second inspection*** Scheduled another inspection. Same automated call in the early morning with a 3–4 hour window. Inspection passed. ***Oct 29 - Rebate submission*** Uploaded documents here: [https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles/residential-ev-charger-rebate-program](https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles/residential-ev-charger-rebate-program) There was **no confirmation email or reference number**, which made me unsure if it went through. I thought to resubmit if I didn’t hear back in 3 to 4 months. Documents submitted: * Electrician invoice * Charger purchase receipt * Permit + final inspection report (from LADBS permit status page) ***Jan 5, 2026 - Rebate check arrived*** A letter from ladwp with a $1,000 check inside showed up in the mail box. https://preview.redd.it/5c7zno8weeig1.jpg?width=1063&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26ce3b5ac92db0a98f40a9e7db05db17670a700b Voila...about 2 months after submission, and roughly 4 months total from permit to rebate. ***Things to know before starting*** * Inspection scheduling basically means **stay home all day** * Electrician pricing varies a lot, so get multiple quotes * The rebate submission site doesn’t send confirmation emails * Failing the one or two inspection isn’t a big deal. The corrections are meant to ensure safety and code compliance. Just make sure your electrician is willing to come back and fix things. Mine did and didn’t charge extra.