A temporary power pole feeds electricity to a construction site before permanent utility service is hooked up, usually built around a 200 amp meter base mounted on a treated wood pole. Carson Porta Pros arranges rental and coordinates the setup so your crew has power on day one, not week three. Most jobs also need temporary fencing and a light tower alongside it.
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a construction power pole or "temp pole," is a standalone pole with a meter socket, breaker panel and outlets that the utility company connects to before your permanent service goes in. Picture a stripped-down version of the panel on the side of a house, mounted on a pole planted in the ground near your construction site services staging area. Most jobs in Carson spec a 200 amp temporary power pole, enough for saws, compressors and a small crew of trailers. Smaller jobs can run on 100 amp service instead. The pole has to be inspected before the utility energizes it, and placement matters: it needs clear access for the utility truck and enough distance from your roll-off dumpster and material staging so nothing blocks the panel. We pair it with a temporary power pole diagram from the electrician so the inspector sees exactly what was built. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, and any temp pole feeding hand tools needs that GFCI built in before anyone plugs in.
Installation cost depends on amperage, trenching distance and how far the pole sits from the utility transformer. A basic 100 amp setup runs less than a 200 amp temporary power pole with a full panel and multiple circuits, and rural or long-driveway sites in areas like Lomita, 7.7 miles southwest of Carson, often carry higher costs from added trenching. Get a firm number before you commit, since utility fees and inspection timing vary by jurisdiction and this page cannot quote city permit costs. Carson Porta Pros can point you toward a licensed electrician for the actual installation, since we handle the site services around it, not the electrical work itself. While you are budgeting the job, most sites also price out dumpster rental cost, temporary fence cost and restroom trailer rental cost in the same pass, since all three show up on the same permit application in most cities.
Yes, in nearly every jurisdiction a temporary power pole needs an electrical permit and a utility company connection request, but permit rules and fees differ city to city and this page cannot state Carson's exact requirement. Confirm directly with Carson's building department before you schedule installation. The same goes for placement near sidewalks or the public right of way, similar to the confirmation step covered in dumpster permit requirements and porta potty permit requirements. Once the pole is approved, most crews schedule delivery of the porta potty rental, handwashing station rental and fencing together so one inspection covers the whole site setup. Sites near Signal Hill, 7.1 miles southeast, and East Rancho Dominguez, 7.0 miles northeast, follow this same sequence: permit first, then equipment.
Once the permit clears, installation itself usually takes a single day for the pole and panel, but utility energization can take longer depending on their inspection queue. Plan for the utility step to be the bottleneck, not the physical pole install.
No. The pole itself can be rented, but connecting it to live utility service and passing inspection requires a licensed electrician in almost every city. Carson Porta Pros supplies the equipment coordination, not the electrical hookup.
Most mid-size construction sites use a 200 amp temporary power pole, which covers power tools, a job trailer and basic lighting. Smaller renovation jobs, like those covered under home renovation porta potty planning, often get by on 100 amp service.
Yes. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1.ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, and that applies to circuits run off a temporary power pole feeding hand tools or portable equipment.
Most job sites pair the pole with temporary fence rental, a portable toilet rental meeting OSHA portable toilet requirements, and a storage container rental for tools and materials.
Yes. Carson Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across Carson and the surrounding metro, with same-day and next-day drop-off available on most orders.
Pricing depends on the unit and how long you need it. See our cost breakdown and request a free quote for an exact figure.
Standard rentals include scheduled service — a pump-out, a clean, a restock and fresh deodorizer. Busy or hot-weather sites can be serviced more often.
Call now or request a free quote — clean units, on-time delivery, transparent pricing.
