What is a temporary power pole?
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or spider box pole, is a freestanding structure that brings utility power to a job site before permanent electrical service exists. It typically holds a meter socket, a breaker panel and outlets rated for construction tools, lighting and small equipment. On a construction site services job in Boston, the pole usually goes in near the site entrance so the utility crew has clear access and your light tower rental and temporary power pole equipment can share the same run. Placement matters because everything else on site, from your portable restroom rental to your temporary fence rental, gets staged around where power and access sit. We coordinate delivery timing with your electrician so nothing blocks the pole's clearance zone once it is set.
Installing a temporary power pole: what's involved?
Temporary power pole installation starts with a licensed electrician setting the pole, wiring the panel and coordinating meter connection with the utility. This is not a DIY task and it is not something Boston Porta Pros installs directly. What we do handle is the site layout around it. If your job also needs a roll-off dumpster rental, a storage container rental, or a mobile office trailer rental, we plan drop points so a roll-off delivery, which needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, does not conflict with the pole's service drop. GFCI protection on construction power circuits falls under OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii), and your electrician will need clear ground access to the panel throughout the job. We keep our construction dumpster rental and chain link temporary fence placements far enough back that inspectors and utility crews are not working around parked equipment.
How much does a temporary power pole installation cost?
Installation cost depends on amperage, run length and your electrician's rates, and none of that is priced by Boston Porta Pros since we do not sell electrical service. What we can tell you is how site services around it typically run in Boston. Below are current rental bands for the equipment we do provide alongside a temp pole setup.
| item | duration | typical price |
|---|---|---|
| standard porta potty | week | $200 |
| standard porta potty | month | $200 |
| dumpster | week | $600 |
| storage container | month | $125 |
| fence rental | day | $50 |
See our porta potty rental cost and temporary fence cost pages for fuller breakdowns. General housekeeping around any temp pole and its wiring runs falls under OSHA 1926.25, which requires scrap and debris cleared from work areas, something worth planning into your what cannot go in a dumpster rules if you are clearing conduit packaging or panel crating on site.
How long does a temp pole stay up on a job site?
It stays until permanent power is connected, often the full length of construction. That could be a few weeks for a small renovation or the better part of a year on a large build. Coordinate teardown timing with your electrician and your home renovation porta potty or construction dumpster rental provider so pickups do not clash with utility disconnect day.
Does a temporary power pole need a permit in Boston?
Placement and permitting for temp power poles needs confirming directly with the City of Boston, since requirements vary by neighborhood and utility provider. The same holds for right-of-way placement of dumpsters and restrooms. Check our dumpster permit requirements and porta potty permit requirements pages, and always confirm with the city before setting anything at the curb.
Can Boston Porta Pros install my temporary power pole?
No. We handle portable sanitation, dumpsters, storage, fencing and restroom trailers. For the pole itself, you will need a licensed electrician coordinating with your utility. We are happy to schedule our porta john rental or emergency porta potty rental deliveries around your electrician's timeline.
What amperage temp pole do most Boston job sites need?
A 200 amp pole covers most mid-size residential and light commercial builds. Larger sites may need higher capacity; your electrician sizes this based on tool load, trailer HVAC and lighting draw across the site, including any restroom trailer rental units with electric pumps.
Where does the power pole go relative to other site equipment?
Closest practical point to the utility line, usually near the entrance, away from delivery paths. We plan our storage container rental and temporary fence rental placement in Boston, Somerville and Cambridge sites 7.6 miles northwest to keep clearance zones open for both crews.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.