For a charging point at your holiday home, you will in practice need four types of documents: a quote or job confirmation from the installer, an inspection of your meter box and connection, possibly an application to the grid operator if you need more power than your current connection provides, and a completion certificate in which the electrician confirms that everything is safely connected. In addition, if you want to rent out the charging point to guests, you will need a business account with the system you use for billing.
The document that matters most for a charging point is the completion certificate. This is because a charging point has a different electrical load than a socket or a washing machine: the charging process of a car can allow a small amount of direct current to leak away, and a standard residual current device does not always detect this. For this reason, a charging point usually requires a residual current device of type B, or an integrated variant that has the same effect. The certificate is proof that this has been checked and put in order, and you need this proof for your insurance and, if you are letting out the property, for the safety of your guests.
The documents in order, in the sequence you need them
The first document is the quote from the installer, which states which charging point will be installed, at what capacity, and what the lead time is. Next comes the meter box inspection: the electrician checks how much power your connection can currently provide and whether there is still room for a charging point alongside the rest of the building. For those who want to know more about what exactly is in that meter box, this can be found in the knowledge base with explanations for each component of the meter box. If there is insufficient space, this is followed by an application to the grid operator for a higher-capacity connection; this is the company that manages the cable from the street to your building, not your energy supplier. After installation, the completion certificate follows, and only then, if you want to rent out the point to guests, the registration of a business account with which the point gets its own tariff and its own QR code.
What the grid operator requires, and why that sometimes takes longer
The grid operator does not look at your charging point itself, but at the connection capacity: the maximum amount of power your building is allowed to draw in total. A typical holiday home often has enough room for a charging point with standard capacity; with multiple points running at the same time, or with a chalet that already uses a lot of power for heating and hot water, an application for a higher-capacity connection may be needed. This application is handled through the grid operator itself and not through the installer, and the lead time for this often determines how quickly the entire charging point is ready for use.
Why the completion certificate is more than just a formality
The certificate confirms that the installation complies with the applicable safety standards for electrical installations, and that the correct residual current device has been used for the type of load that a charging point entails. For you, this is especially relevant in the event of an insurance claim: insurers often ask for this document when there is damage. For guests, it is the assurance that the point is safely connected, even if several cars are charging at the same time in the evening. If you want to know exactly what such a certificate should contain, this is something to discuss with your own electrician; he is familiar with the current standards for your specific connection.
What you do not need to get started
To view the charging station, understand how it works and consult the knowledge base, you do not need to create an account or sign anything. Only when you actually want to rent the station to guests and attach your own tariff per kWh do you open a business account, which is linked to your Chamber of Commerce and VAT number and not to a separate email address. If you are still uncertain whether your situation involves one station or multiple stations, then the decision tool with a few short questions gives a first indication, and the page about how the system works shows how the measurement, QR-code and invoicing are precisely connected.
Everything surrounding, and then
Once the installer has connected the charging station, the handover certificate is received and, if necessary, the grid operator has approved it, the charging station is technically ready for use. What follows after that, such as setting a tariff and activating the module, is administrative work that you handle yourself via your phone.
Would you like to see first which documents apply to your own situation before calling an installer? Do the free quick-scan or browse the topics in the knowledge base; both can be consulted without an account.