What Is a Temporary Power Pole Used For?
Contractors call it a "temp pole" or a construction power pole. It stands between the utility transformer and your job site, holding a meter base, a breaker panel, and outlets rated for job-site loads. Framers run saws off it. Trailers plug lights and heaters into it. Event crews sometimes need one too, alongside a restroom trailer rental or a light tower rental for a night shoot, and a film set restroom rental covers crews on location. Berwyn Porta Pros builds the pole to match your amperage need, whether that is a small 100 amp setup for a remodel or a full 200 amp temporary power pole for a ground-up build. Sites running heavier equipment often pair the pole with a temporary fence rental to keep the panel secured, since an open breaker box on an active site is a liability nobody wants, the same way OSHA portable toilet requirements treat unsecured sanitation as a site hazard.
How Do You Install a Temporary Power Pole?
Installation starts with a call to the utility company and, in Berwyn, a check with the local building department, since placement in the right-of-way or near a sidewalk needs confirming with the city before the pole goes in. Nobody has verified a specific ordinance number for this, so treat it as a call you make, not a rule you assume. Once cleared, the pole gets set in a concrete footing, wired to spec, and inspected before the utility energizes it. This usually happens alongside other early-phase deliveries, often the same week as a temporary fence cost estimate and a dumpster permit requirements check. A crew setting up a job site in Berwyn will often schedule the pole delivery the same week as a construction dumpster rental and a standard porta potty rental, since OSHA 1926.51(c)(1) requires toilet facilities on site once workers show up, regardless of whether permanent power exists yet. If your crew count changes mid-project, the how many porta potties do i need guide walks through the ratio, and the porta potty rental cost page breaks down what that adds to the budget.
What Does a Temporary Power Pole Cost to Rent?
Pricing depends on amperage, pole height, and how far the crew has to run wire from the transformer. A basic setup with a meter socket and single breaker panel costs less than a multi-circuit pole feeding several trailers. Berwyn Porta Pros quotes each temporary power pole installation on-site because utility distance and inspection timing vary block to block, the same way a dumpster rental cost quote depends on container size and haul distance.
| Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Delivery fee (day) | $100 to $500 |
| Delivery fee (week) | $50 to $150 |
| Delivery fee (month) | $120 to $420 |
| Service fee (month) | $100 to $300 |
Ask for a written quote through request a quote once you know your amperage and site address in Berwyn, and check the frequently asked questions page or about page if you want more background before calling.
Most jobs also need GFCI protection on temporary circuits under OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii), so confirm your electrician has that built into the panel before final inspection. Sites near Forest Park, about 3.0 miles northwest of Berwyn, often share the same utility crews and inspection windows, so lead time can shift depending on demand across that stretch. If your project also needs sanitation, a porta john rental or a full portable restroom rental setup can go in the same delivery run as the pole. For longer builds, a mobile office trailer rental or a storage container rental rounds out the site, and a construction site services package can bundle all of it under one delivery schedule.
How much power do I need for a construction site?
Depends on tools and trailer count. A single trailer with lights and a space heater might run on 100 amps; multiple saws, compressors, and a job trailer usually call for a 200 amp temporary power pole. An electrician sizing the load will look at total connected amperage, not just headcount.
Does the city require a permit for a temporary power pole?
Placement rules in Berwyn need confirming with the city building department before you install. No specific ordinance is listed here, so call ahead rather than assume. Your electrical contractor typically pulls the permit as part of the utility connection process.
How long does a temporary power pole rental last?
It stays up through the length of the project, from groundbreak until permanent service is connected. Some contractors keep it through the whole build, others swap over once the building has its own meter. Delivery and service fees are usually billed monthly for longer jobs.
Can I get power and sanitation delivered together?
Yes. Berwyn Porta Pros can schedule the pole alongside a portable toilet rental or an ADA accessible porta potty for one site visit. Bundling delivery cuts down on separate truck trips and keeps your site opening on schedule.
What is a temporary power pole diagram used for?
Electricians use the diagram to show meter socket height, panel location, and grounding rod placement before inspection. It helps the utility company and the inspector confirm the setup meets code before the pole gets energized. Ask your electrical contractor for one before the site visit.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.