A temporary power pole feeds construction trailers, tools and site lighting before permanent utility service goes in, and most jobs run a 200 amp temporary power pole setup that a licensed electrician mounts on a treated post with a meter base. Louisville Porta Pros coordinates delivery timing around your electrical contractor's schedule so the pole is on site when it's needed, not before.
It's a freestanding post, usually wood, with a weatherproof panel, a meter socket and breakers, built to feed a job site before the building has its own service. Think of it as a stand-in utility connection. Most construction sites pair it with temporary power pole planning alongside a light tower rental for after-hours work and a mobile office trailer rental for the site office. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, and that applies to whatever runs off the pole, from saws to the handwashing station rental pump if it's electric. A temporary power pole diagram from your electrician should show conduit depth, grounding rod placement and the meter height the utility requires. Louisville sites often set the pole near the same staging area as the construction dumpster rental and the temporary fence rental line, so plan clearance for both.
Installation cost depends on amperage, trench length and how far the pole sits from the utility transformer, and pricing runs project to project rather than off a fixed rental table like our porta potty rental cost page. A 200 amp service costs more to install than a 100 amp one because of heavier wire and a larger panel. Budget for the electrician's labor, the utility's connection fee and any trenching separately. Most general contractors treat it the same way they treat dumpster rental cost or storage container rental cost: a line item quoted by a licensed sub, not a flat daily rate. Ask your electrician for a written quote before the pole goes in, and confirm with Louisville utility staff what documentation they need before they'll energize it.
Yes, in most cases, though exact permit requirements need confirming directly with the city before you install. Louisville treats temporary electrical service like other temporary site infrastructure, similar to how dumpster permit requirements and porta potty permit requirements work: sometimes a placement needs sign-off, sometimes it doesn't, and it depends on right-of-way and site specifics. Don't assume; check first. Pair that call with a look at temporary fence cost if the pole sits near a public sidewalk, since fencing and pole placement often get reviewed together on active job sites.
Placement matters for safety and for keeping the site usable. Keep the pole clear of vehicle paths, especially near a roll-off dumpster rental swap zone, since a delivery truck needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind it to set or pull a container. OSHA 1926.202 requires barricades meeting ANSI D6.1 around hazards like an exposed pole base, and OSHA 1926.51(a)(1) still requires potable water on site regardless of where power lands, so don't let the pole crowd your portable restroom rental or handwashing setup. Keep it close enough to the panel for your electrician's cable runs but far enough from foot traffic to avoid conflicts.
Most installations take a single day once the electrician has the permit and the utility has scheduled the connection. Trenching and inspection can add time. Coordinate the date with your construction site services delivery schedule so the pole, fencing and sanitation all land the same week.
Some electrical contractors rent poles and panels for short jobs; others build and remove them as part of installation cost. Ask your electrician directly, since Louisville Porta Pros doesn't supply the electrical equipment itself.
It depends on load: trailers, tools and lighting all draw current. A 200 amp temporary power pole covers most mid-size sites, but your electrician should size it against your actual equipment list.
Yes, typically the utility and a local inspector both sign off before energizing. Build inspection time into your schedule alongside other Louisville site prep like temporary fence rental placement.
Sanitation, fencing and waste removal round out the basics. Louisville Porta Pros handles the porta john rental, storage container rental and chain link temporary fence side while your electrician handles the pole.
Yes. Louisville Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across Louisville 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.
