What Is a Temporary Power Pole?
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a construction meter pedestal or a "Tempo" pole, is a freestanding pole with a meter socket and breaker panel mounted on it. The utility runs service to the pole, and your subcontractors tap power off the panel instead of running extension cords across the site. Most job sites in Chino Hills use a 200 amp temporary power pole because it covers typical framing, concrete and finish trades without tripping breakers under load. The pole has to be inspected before the utility energizes it, and that inspection generally checks grounding, panel rating and mounting height against local code. We do not carry the electrical permit ourselves, but we schedule our deliveries around your electrician's install date so the construction dumpster rental, the temporary fence rental, and the porta potty rental are already staged when the inspector shows up. A typical temporary power pole diagram shows the meter socket at eye level, the panel below it, and a ground rod driven near the base. Ask your electrician for that layout before ordering, since pole height and panel amperage both depend on what equipment is actually running.
How Much Does Temporary Power Pole Installation Cost?
Installation cost depends on the electrician's labor, the utility's connection fee, and how far the pole sits from the transformer, and none of those numbers live in our sanitation and site services price sheet below. What we can tell you is what else on a typical site costs, since power poles rarely go in alone. A 10 yard dumpster rental or 20 yard dumpster rental usually shows up the same week as the pole, and a standard portable toilet often follows OSHA 1926.51(c), which sets one toilet facility for every 20 workers on site.
| service | duration | typical price |
|---|---|---|
| standard porta potty | day | $150 |
| standard porta potty | week | $200 |
| dumpster (10-20 yd) | week | $600 |
| temporary fence panel | day | $50 |
| delivery fee | day | $150 |
Get your electrician's quote for the pole itself, then call us for request a quote on everything around it.
Where Should a Temporary Power Pole Go on Site?
Set it close to the panel's future permanent location, with clear vehicle access for the utility truck, and keep it out of the path your roll-off dumpster rental needs for delivery and pickup. A roll-off truck needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the box, so plan the pole and the dumpster pad on opposite sides of the lot if space allows. Keep the pole away from your handwashing station rental and portable toilets too, since service techs need unobstructed access on pump days. If you're placing units near an active excavation or scaffold, check our porta potty placement guide for spacing that keeps servicing safe and code-compliant. Lighting is often wired straight off the pole; pair it with a light tower rental for night work, and route any GFCI-protected circuits per OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) since that standard governs ground fault protection on construction sites. Chino Hills sites with tight lot lines benefit from mapping pole, dumpster, and toilet locations on one site plan before delivery week, not after.
How long does temporary power pole installation take?
Once the electrician sets the pole and the utility confirms the connection, energizing typically happens within a few business days of inspection sign-off. Weather, utility backlog and permit timing all affect that window, so build in buffer before your crew needs power for saws or lifts.
Do I need a permit for a temporary power pole?
Almost every jurisdiction requires an electrical permit for temporary power, but Chino Hills-specific fees and processing times aren't verified here. Confirm requirements directly with the city before your electrician orders equipment, since delays on the pole can push back everything scheduled around it.
What size temporary power pole do I need for construction?
A 200 amp pole covers most residential and light commercial builds, but heavier equipment or multiple trailers running simultaneously may need more. Your electrician should size the pole against your actual equipment list, not a general rule, since undersizing causes nuisance trips mid-project.
Can I rent a temporary power pole from Chino Hills Porta Pros?
We focus on sanitation, dumpsters, fencing and storage, so the pole itself comes from your electrician or a power rental specialist. We coordinate delivery timing for everything else, including storage container rental and portable sink rental, so your site stays organized around the install.
What else does a construction site need besides power?
Most sites need toilets, a dumpster, fencing and often a wash station running at the same time as power. See how many porta potties do I need and OSHA portable toilet requirements for crew-size planning, and check dumpster permit requirements before your debris box lands in Chino Hills.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.