What is a temporary power pole?
It is a freestanding pole, usually wood, set in the ground near your build with a weatherproof meter socket and breaker panel mounted at a fixed height. Contractors use it to run saws, lights and small tools during framing, before the permanent panel goes in. Most jobs around Little Rock spec a 200 amp temporary power pole for a single-family build, though smaller remodels can run on less, similar to how a home renovation porta potty scales down for a smaller crew. If you are also renting a light tower or fencing off the site with temporary fencing, the pole location matters for keeping cords out of foot traffic. A rough diagram from your electrician showing pole placement relative to the meter, the transformer and the building footprint speeds up inspection and keeps the utility happy, the same logic covered in our porta potty rental checklist for staging deliveries in order.
How is a temporary power pole installed?
An electrician sets the pole in a hole deep enough to keep it plumb under load, wires the meter base and panel, and grounds the whole assembly to code before anyone calls for inspection. Installing a temporary power pole is not something Little Rock Porta Pros performs directly, since it is licensed electrical work, but we coordinate delivery timing so your pole, your portable toilet rental, and your roll-off dumpster rental all land on site the same week instead of trickling in over a month. Clearance matters here too, especially if you are also scheduling a construction dumpster rental or a 20 yard dumpster rental. A roll-off delivery needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, so if the pole sits near your entrance, plan the drop zone before the truck shows up. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, which applies to whatever gets plugged into that panel once it is live.

Temporary power pole installation cost and site prep
Pole and panel pricing depends on amperage, wire run length and whether the electrician trenches or runs overhead, and those numbers vary enough by site that we will not quote a figure we have not verified for Little Rock. What we can say is that site prep runs alongside the rest of your setup, and a look at dumpster rental cost or porta potty rental cost helps you budget the whole week rather than one line item. A storage container rental or a mobile office trailer rental often sits near the pole so the panel stays accessible to the crew. If your project also needs restrooms, pair the pole scheduling with a look at how many porta potties do i need so both trades show up in the right order, and check standard portable toilet rental if you have not picked a unit yet.
| service | typical day rate | notes |
|---|---|---|
| standard portable toilet | $150 | pairs with most pole setups |
| dumpster | $75 | debris from trenching or panel work |
| fence | $50 | secures pole and panel from foot traffic |
Jobs in College Station, 9.2 miles east, Bryant, 13.7 miles southwest, and Maumelle, 13.4 miles north, follow the same inspection sequence as sites inside Little Rock proper. Check current temporary power pole requirements with your electrical inspector before scheduling, since local code review is not something we verify from here.
What amperage temporary power pole do I need for construction?
Most single-family construction sites run a 200 amp temporary power pole, which covers saws, compressors and basic lighting. Larger commercial sites or multi-trade crews sometimes need higher capacity. Your electrician sizes it based on total tool load, not guesswork.
Can I rent a temporary power pole from Little Rock Porta Pros?
No. We coordinate site logistics like handwashing station rental, portable sink rental, toilets and dumpsters around your pole schedule, but pole installation is licensed electrical work. We can recommend timing so it lands with your other deliveries.
Do temporary power poles need inspection before use?
Yes. The utility will not energize the meter until an electrical inspector signs off on the panel, grounding and wiring. Schedule inspection early since it can add days to your timeline if the first attempt fails.
How long does a temporary power pole stay on a job site?
It typically stays until permanent service is connected, often through framing and rough electrical. Some sites keep it longer if final inspection gets delayed. Coordinate removal with your electrician once permanent power is live.
Where does the temporary power pole go on site?
Placement depends on the utility transformer location and your building footprint. A site diagram showing the pole relative to the porta potty placement guide and other equipment helps keep clearances workable for delivery trucks and inspectors alike.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.