A temporary power pole delivers construction-grade electricity to a job site before permanent utility service exists, typically feeding a 200 amp service through a meter socket and disconnect mounted on a treated wood pole. St. Louis Porta Pros coordinates delivery and setup so your electrician and the utility can connect without delay, and we can walk you through general portable toilet rental needs on the same call.
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or spider box on a pole, is a freestanding structure that holds a meter base, breaker panel and outlets so a construction site can draw power before the building has its own service. Most jobs spec a 200 amp temporary power pole because that size covers saws, welders, lighting and small pumps without tripping breakers all day. St. Louis Porta Pros sets these up alongside other construction site services so crews get power, sanitation and waste handling from one delivery schedule. If your site also needs illumination after dark, pair the pole with a light tower rental rather than running extension cords across the lot, which creates a tripping hazard under OSHA 1926.25 housekeeping rules. A temporary power pole diagram from your utility usually shows conduit depth, meter height and grounding rod placement, and your electrician follows that before the utility will energize it, much like a site handling construction dumpster rental logistics on the same timeline.
Installation cost depends on amperage, permit fees and how far the pole sits from the utility transformer, and none of those figures are standardized citywide, so get a written quote before you schedule the utility inspection. What we can say: budget separately for the pole rental, the electrician's labor, and any inspection fee charged by the city, the same way you would budget separately for dumpster rental cost or porta potty rental cost on a bigger job. St. Louis Porta Pros does not set electrical rates, but we coordinate delivery timing so the pole is on site when your electrician needs it, and we handle the temporary fence rental that most jobs require around the meter base for public safety.
| item | typical range |
|---|---|
| pole and panel rental | varies by amperage |
| electrician labor | quoted per job |
| utility inspection fee | set by utility, not fixed |
Most jurisdictions require an electrical permit before a temp pole is energized, but permit rules, fees and inspection steps differ by city and were not verified for this page, so confirm directly with the City of St. Louis before you order equipment. Ask your electrician to pull the permit as part of the installation quote, since they already coordinate with the inspector on conduit depth and grounding, much like coordinating a porta potty rental checklist ahead of delivery day. While you are sorting permits, check whether your dumpster or fencing placement also needs sign-off; our dumpster permit requirements page and porta potty permit requirements page cover the sanitation and waste side of that same conversation.
Once the pole is approved and energized, most sites still need a jobsite restroom nearby. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets toilet counts for construction crews based on headcount, starting at one facility for 20 workers or fewer. Pair a standard porta potty rental with the pole delivery so both land the same week, or check the how many porta potties do i need guide first if headcount is still moving. Crews doing painting, coating or pesticide work also trigger washing requirements under OSHA 1926.51(f)(1), which is why we recommend a handwashing station rental for those specific tasks. General potable water for the crew falls under OSHA 1926.51(a)(1), regardless of what the power setup looks like, and a portable sink rental or porta john rental can round out that setup.
St. Louis job sites in University City, 7.9 miles northwest, and Kirkwood, 12.5 miles west, order temp poles and portable restrooms together on the same delivery run more often than not, since both need clear truck access, the same way crews near Webster Groves plan deliveries around narrow driveways. A roll-off delivery needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, so plan your temp pole location with that in mind if a roll-off dumpster rental is also coming to the same lot. For longer builds, a storage container rental or mobile office trailer rental often sits near the power pole so the site super has power at the desk from day one, and it is worth checking storage container rental cost or the OSHA portable toilet requirements guide while you are planning the rest of the layout.
Once permitted, most electricians can set the pole and panel in a day, though the utility's energizing inspection adds time that varies by department workload. Schedule the pole delivery a few days ahead so it is staged and ready when the electrician arrives.
No. The pole itself is just the structure; a licensed electrician has to wire the panel, ground it, and coordinate the utility connection. St. Louis Porta Pros handles delivery and pickup, not the electrical work itself, the same way we handle emergency porta potty rental logistics without touching plumbing or wiring.
Most residential and small commercial jobs run fine on 200 amp service, which covers standard power tools, lighting and small equipment. Larger sites with welders or trailers may need higher capacity; ask your electrician to size it against your equipment list, and consider a restroom trailer rental if crew size grows past what a standard unit handles.
Many sites fence the meter base for safety and to prevent tampering. See temporary fence rental or chain link temporary fence for options that fit around a pole footprint.
Keep it clear of dumpster and delivery truck paths, since a roll-off needs roughly 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck. Coordinate the layout with your porta potty placement guide so power, waste and restrooms do not compete for the same access lane.
Yes. St. Louis Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across St. Louis 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.
