Insight · EV Charging
Charge point operator versus installer
A charge point operator (CPO) runs the charging service. An installer connects hardware to the site’s electrical and civil works. Some firms do both. The contracts are still two jobs.
WattFund Editorial Team · Published 17 Sept 2026 · 4 min read
Installer
The installer prices and delivers bays, cabling, distribution, civils and commissioning against a scope. That is a costing and delivery conversation. It does not, by itself, decide who owns the chargers or who takes session revenue.
CPO
The CPO typically provides the customer-facing service: software, payment, roaming, maintenance model and, in some cases, funded hardware. A CPO conversation is commercial: terms, exclusivity, who pays for grid upgrade, who owns the assets.
When you need which
Fleet and many workplace projects need an installer, and may never need a CPO. Public and destination sites often need both, or a CPO who appoints an installer. Hosts who want “someone to put chargers in for free” are asking a CPO question, not an install quote.
Do not ask an installer for operator economics
A delivery estimate will not tell you whether an operator will fund the site. An operator teaser will not install the sub-mains. WattFund helps name the requirement so the right provider or operator is approached.
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