What is a temporary power pole and do I need one?
If your Winston-Salem site has no permanent electrical service yet, you need one. A temporary power pole (sometimes called a spider box on a post) is a freestanding pole with a meter base and breaker panel that your utility connects to the grid. It's the legal bridge between raw dirt and a finished building. Most contractors order a 200 amp temporary power pole for anything beyond a small renovation, since that covers saws, compressors, a light tower rental at night, and a job trailer running heat or AC. Smaller residential jobs sometimes get by with less. Either way, the pole has to be inspected and connected before anyone plugs in a tool. We place these poles across Winston-Salem and out toward Kernersville, about 12.4 miles east, on the same routes we run for construction site services.
How much does temporary power pole installation cost?
Installation cost depends on amperage, trenching distance to the meter, and how long you need the pole standing. There's no flat published rate because every site's distance from the utility connection point differs, but budgeting alongside your other rentals helps. Compare it against a portable toilet rental or roll-off dumpster rental line item, since all three usually get ordered together for a groundbreaking. If you're staging a full site setup, look at temporary fence rental and storage container rental costs at the same time so your budget reflects the whole yard, not just the pole.
| service | duration | typical low | typical high |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard toilet | day | 100 | 350 |
| standard toilet | month | 125 | 325 |
| dumpster | week | 426 | 778 |
| fence | day | 30 | 75 |
Request pricing specific to your amp draw and trench length through request a quote.
Where does the temporary power pole get installed on a construction site?
Placement follows the utility's point of connection and your site's traffic flow, and a rough temporary power pole diagram from your electrician speeds up approval. The pole usually sits near the property line closest to the transformer or overhead line, clear of where trucks turn and clear of any dumpster sizes and dimensions footprint you've already planned. Keep it away from your portable restroom rental service path too, since our truck needs clear access on pump day. Winston-Salem sites with tight lots benefit from marking the pole location before delivery of any other equipment; installing temporary power pole first, then building around it, avoids relocation costs later. If your job is agricultural or spans a large footprint, review farm and agricultural restrooms for how we handle spread-out sites, since power and sanitation placement often follow the same logic: keep it out of the mud path and out of the turning radius.
What amperage temporary power pole do I need?
Most general construction sites order 200 amp service; smaller renovation jobs sometimes need less. Your electrician sizes it based on total equipment load, not guesswork. Ask before ordering so the utility connection matches on the first inspection, avoiding a second site visit.
How long can I rent a temporary power pole?
As long as the job runs. Sites keep poles up from initial grading through final utility hookup, sometimes several months. Coordinate removal with your electrician once permanent service is live, so you're not paying for standing equipment nobody needs anymore.
Do I need a permit for a temporary power pole in Winston-Salem?
Permit and inspection requirements vary by project and utility, so confirm specifics with the city before delivery. See our porta potty permit requirements page for how we handle similar placement questions, and ask your electrician to pull the right paperwork alongside the pole order.
Can I get a temporary power pole delivered with my other site rentals?
Yes. We coordinate power pole delivery alongside construction dumpster rental, fencing and restroom orders so your site opens with everything staged at once. One phone call schedules the whole yard instead of chasing separate vendors for each piece.
What else does a construction site need besides a temporary power pole?
Most sites also need toilets sized to crew count under OSHA 1926.51(c), a fenced perimeter, and a dumpster for debris. Check how many porta potties do I need to size the restroom order correctly before your crew shows up on day one.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.