Chicago, IL
EV CHARGER INSTALL ESTIMATING.

## EV Charger Estimating in Chicago Moves Fast — Your Bid Has to Keep Up Chicago is one of the busiest EV charger install markets in the Midwest. The city's Building Electrification ordinance, ComEd's EV charging incentive programs, and the Illinois Electric Vehicle Act have pushed residential and commercial install volume up sharply since 2022. That means more RFPs, faster turnarounds, and customers who have already priced three other installers before you walk in the door. Estimate.Pro gets you from job walkthrough to a sendable bid in 8 minutes. No spreadsheet archaeology. No guessing at permit line items. --- ## What Makes Chicago EV Charger Bids Different **Panel capacity work is almost always part of the job.** Chicago housing stock — three-flats, greystones, vintage two-flats — routinely runs 100A service. A Level 2 EVSE pulling 48A dedicated circuit usually requires a panel upgrade or load calculation before the City of Chicago Department of Buildings will issue a permit. Your bid needs to price that reality, not ignore it. **NEC 625 compliance is non-negotiable.** Article 625 governs EVSE wiring, overcurrent protection, and disconnecting means. The City of Chicago adopts the NEC on a trailing cycle, currently the 2020 NEC. Your scope of work needs to call out the specific NEC 625 requirements — inspectors here know the code. **ComEd territory means load calculation documentation.** ComEd's EV charging rebate programs (Charging Forward and residential Level 2 rebates) require documentation that the electrician performed a proper load calculation before sizing the circuit. Estimate.Pro's scope-of-work output includes a load calculation summary field so that paperwork is ready when the inspector or utility rep asks for it. **Commercial jobs hit IECC and accessibility requirements.** If you're bidding a parking garage or multi-tenant commercial property in Chicago, ADA-accessible EVSE placement and IECC energy code compliance for the distribution wiring become part of the scope. These line items belong in your estimate, not in a change order conversation after permit review. --- ## How Estimate.Pro Works for EV Charger Installers 1. **Walkthrough capture.** Use your phone to walk the panel, the garage or parking area, and the proposed EVSE location. AR-assisted measurement on supported devices gives you conduit run distances. Camera and photo measurements are flagged as estimates. 2. **AI scope-of-work generation.** The app builds a line-item scope covering the EVSE unit, dedicated circuit, conduit and wire run, panel work, permit, and inspection. You review and adjust — you're not signing off on a black box. 3. **Chicago cost data.** Material costs pull from your saved workspace. Labor rates are yours to set and save. You're not stuck with national averages that don't match what a union or merit-shop electrician actually costs on the North Side. 4. **Send the bid.** PDF or link, delivered before you leave the driveway. Pro plan is $39 per seat per month. Elite is $79 and adds Stripe Connect invoicing with 0% platform fee and invoice exports. Free tier is available with no credit card required. --- ## Chicago-Specific Permit and Code Checklist When you build an EV charger estimate in Estimate.Pro, include these line items for Chicago jobs: - City of Chicago Electrical Permit (fee scales with project value — residential single-family vs. commercial rates differ) - Licensed Chicago Electrical Contractor required — city license separate from state license - Load calculation documentation per NEC 625.14 and ComEd rebate requirements - Panel upgrade scope if service is below 200A and the calculated load requires it - GFCI protection per NEC 625.54 for all EVSE receptacles - Weatherproof enclosure if the EVSE is in an unattached garage or exterior location - Chicago Buildings Department inspection scheduling (can run 2–4 weeks; factor into your project timeline, not just your materials list) --- ## Stop Leaving Money on the Table The EV installer who wins the job is usually the one who shows up with a clear, detailed estimate — not the lowest number on a napkin. Estimate.Pro gives you a bid that documents your scope, justifies your price, and satisfies the permit application in one pass. Start free at Estimate.Pro. No credit card. No platform fee on the free tier.