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What Is a Temporary Power Pole?
It is a standalone post, usually wood or metal, carrying a meter socket and a breaker panel so a job trailer, saws, and lighting have power before the building has its own service. Most Tempe crews spec a 200 amp panel because it covers a mixed-use job site: a couple of light towers, a mobile office trailer, and a handful of power tools without tripping breakers all day, the same logic we use when sizing an 8 stall restroom trailer for a large crew. A typical temporary power pole diagram shows the meter base, a main disconnect, weatherproof outlets, and a ground rod driven near the post base. Tempe Porta Pros does not pull the electrical permit itself, since that always runs through a licensed electrician and the city's inspection process, but we coordinate delivery timing so the pole is standing and ready when your electrician shows up, much like we schedule emergency porta potty rental drops around tight jobsite windows. If your site also needs temporary fencing around the pole and panel, we can schedule that on the same trip, along with a crowd control barrier rental if the site needs pedestrian separation.
How Much Does Temporary Power Pole Installation Cost?
Installation cost depends on your electrician's labor, the panel size, and how far the pole sits from the transformer, so we do not quote electrical work directly. What we can tell you is how it fits into a broader site setup budget alongside sanitation and fencing, which we do price. A standard porta potty rental on a job site runs in the range below, and most crews order it the same week the power pole goes in, often alongside a porta potty rental per day quote for short scopes or a monthly porta potty rental for longer ones.
| item | day | week | month |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard portable toilet | 100 to 350 | 130 to 500 | 125 to 325 |
| temporary fencing | 30 to 75 | - | - |
| delivery fee | 100 to 500 | 50 to 150 | 120 to 420 |
Ask your electrician for the panel and labor quote, then check our porta potty rental cost page, our dumpster rental cost page, or our dumpster sizes and dimensions page to round out the site budget before mobilization.
Do I Need a Permit for a Temporary Power Pole in Tempe?
Yes, in almost every case, since a temporary power pole ties into utility service and requires an electrical inspection before it's energized. Permit and inspection specifics differ by jurisdiction and by scope of work, so confirm the exact requirement with the City of Tempe before your electrician schedules the pull. We are not able to state a specific ordinance number here because that detail was not verified for this page. The same is true for exact placement setbacks. Check our porta potty permit requirements page or our dumpster permit requirements page for how we handle permitting questions on the sanitation and disposal side, since the process is similar in spirit: confirm with the city, get it in writing, then schedule delivery around the approval.
Once the pole is approved and energized, a general contractor in Tempe typically lines up the rest of site support in the same week: a construction dumpster rental, a handwashing station to satisfy OSHA 1926.51(a)(1)'s potable water requirement, and enough portable toilets, sized using our how many porta potties do i need guide, to meet OSHA 1926.51(c)(1), which calls for 1 toilet facility per 20 workers on crews of 20 or fewer. If painting, coating, or pesticide work is part of the scope, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) requires washing facilities for that specific work, separate from general jobsite sanitation.
How long does a temporary power pole stay up?
It typically stays until permanent service is connected and the final inspection passes, which can run from a few weeks to most of a build. Coordinate removal with your electrician once the permanent meter is live, and time your roll-off dumpster rental pickup and temporary fence rental teardown for the same week to close out the site.
Can Tempe Porta Pros install the power pole itself?
No. We do not perform electrical work. We supply and service the sanitation, fencing, and storage side of a job site, including portable restroom rental and storage container rental, while a licensed electrician handles the pole and panel.
What amperage do most construction sites need?
Many mid-size sites run a 200 amp temporary power pole, which covers job trailers, light towers, and standard power tools. Larger sites with heavy equipment may need more capacity; your electrician can size it based on your load list.
Does the power pole need a permit inspection?
Almost always, yes. Electrical work tied to a temporary power pole in Tempe requires inspection before energizing. Confirm the current process with the City of Tempe directly, since permit steps were not verified for this page.
What else does a construction site near Tempe usually need?
Most jobs pair the power pole with portable toilets, a dumpster, and fencing. Crews working sites 3.5 miles out toward Guadalupe or projects near Paradise Valley, 15.8 miles north, order the same package through our service areas page.
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