Portland Porta Pros arranges temporary power pole rental for job sites that need electrical service before permanent power goes in. A 200 amp temporary power pole is the most common size for a single-family build. Most poles ship out with a licensed electrician handling the hookup, not our crew.
Temporary power pole requirements come down to amperage, mounting height and utility company sign-off before the meter gets energized. The utility inspects the setup and the electrician handles the wiring; we handle the logistics around it.
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or spider box, is a metering pole set at the edge of a job site so the utility company can run power before the building has a permanent panel. It holds a meter socket, a breaker panel and outlets rated for construction tools. Sizes run from 100 amp for small remodels up to 200 amp for larger builds. If you are already planning construction site services in Portland, the power pole usually gets ordered alongside a roll-off dumpster rental and a construction dumpster rental since all three show up in the same early phase of a build.
Installing a temporary power pole starts with a site visit to pick the pole location, usually near where the permanent service will land. An electrician sets the pole, wires the panel, and the utility company connects service at the meter. Portland Porta Pros can coordinate delivery timing around your other site needs, like a portable toilet rental or a temporary fence rental going up the same week. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, which matters once tools start plugging into that panel. Site electricians handle the GFCI wiring; we just get the pole where it needs to be.
Clearances matter too. If a dumpster or roll-off dumpster rental is landing near the pole, plan for a straight 60 foot clearance behind the delivery truck so nothing gets crowded. Ask early about the exact rules for your address, since placement in the public right of way in Portland needs confirming with the city, and we won't guess at a permit number we haven't verified.
Temporary power pole installation cost depends on amperage, how far the pole sits from the existing line, and whether trenching is needed. Portland Porta Pros does not sell or install the electrical pole itself. We can bundle delivery scheduling with sanitation and site equipment so your porta john rental or emergency porta potty rental shows up on the same trip. For comparison, here is what other site equipment runs during a typical construction phase in Portland:
| item | day | week | month |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard porta potty | 100-350 | 130-500 | 125-325 |
| 10-30 yard dumpster | 51-112 | 426-778 | 91-500 |
| storage container | n/a | n/a | 100-250 |
Check dumpster rental cost or storage container rental cost for a fuller breakdown by size.
Most residential builds use a 100 amp or 200 amp temporary power pole. Larger commercial jobs may need more. Your electrician sizes it against expected tool load, not against square footage, so get their read before ordering. Portland projects vary a lot here.
Likely yes, but permit rules differ by jurisdiction and are not something we can confirm from here. Check with the city before the pole gets set. See porta potty permit requirements for how we handle permit questions on the sanitation side, since the process is similar.
A temporary power pole diagram from your electrician will show meter height, panel placement and grounding, and it should match what the utility company expects on inspection day. Set the pole close to where the permanent service will land and clear of delivery paths. If you're also placing a portable restroom rental or fencing, map the whole layout together. Our porta potty placement guide covers the same clearance thinking.
No. Construction temporary power pole installation needs a licensed electrician and a utility company connection. We coordinate scheduling and site logistics around other rentals, like temporary fence rental or light tower rental, but the electrical work is not ours to do.
It usually stays up through the entire construction phase, from foundation to final inspection, then comes down once permanent power is active. Sites 12.3 miles southwest in Tigard or 17.8 miles west in Hillsboro follow the same general timeline. For everything else on site, see Construction Site Services in Portland, OR.
Yes. Portland Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across Portland 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.
