An electric motor-driven compressor having an electrical terminal block assembly and corresponding method of assembly are provided. The electrical terminal block assembly includes a base plate that has a staging feature for receiving a lug end of a motor stator cable prior to connection of the motor stator cable with a terminal bar of the terminal block assembly. In this way, once the terminal block assembly is lowered into the enclosure and the motor stator cable is no longer visible to the user, a stator cable fastener may be passed through a stator cable mounting hole in the terminal bar to engage the stator cable lug that is being held in the proper position by the staging feature of the base plate. Upon rotation of the stator cable fastener, the stator cable lug may be drawn into conductive engagement with the terminal bar.