Most job sites need this before framing starts, and it pairs with the rest of your construction site services setup: a standard porta potty rental, a temporary fence rental around the panel, and sometimes a light tower rental running off the same pole. If you're staging a full site in Lakewood, it helps to plan power, sanitation and fencing together rather than calling three separate vendors on three separate days.
What Is a Temporary Power Pole?
It's a freestanding pole, usually wood or treated post, with a meter base, a breaker panel, and outlets mounted at a height an inspector can reach. The utility company sets the meter after the panel passes inspection; the pole itself is what your electrician mounts and grounds ahead of that visit. On most residential and light commercial jobs in Lakewood, a 200 amp temporary power pole covers tool use, lighting, and small equipment until permanent service is connected.
A temporary power pole diagram typically shows the meter base up top, a weatherproof panel below it, a grounding rod driven at the base, and GFCI-protected outlets for cord-and-plug tools. That last detail matters on any active job: OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, and a temporary pole without GFCI outlets won't pass a site safety walk. If you're also running a mobile office trailer rental or a storage container rental on site, the pole often feeds those too, so sizing it right the first time saves a second trip.
How Much Does Temporary Power Pole Installation Cost?
Installation cost depends on amperage, mounting, and how far the pole sits from the transformer or existing line, and it varies enough by site that we quote it after a look at your plans rather than guessing over the phone. What we can say: a temporary power pole rental is a separate line item from the sanitation and fencing gear on your site, and bundling a request through request a quote lets us schedule the electrician's rough-in alongside your porta john rental drop so both land before your inspection date.
Delivery logistics matter too. A roll-off dumpster rental or construction dumpster rental needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, and if your power pole sits near the same access point, we plan the drop order so nothing blocks the other. Sites in Lakewood with tight lot lines, especially infill lots, benefit from this kind of sequencing more than sites with open frontage.
Where Should a Temporary Power Pole Be Installed on a Construction Site?
Placement depends on your site plan, but the pole needs clear access for the utility company's meter reader and enough clearance that vehicles and equipment don't clip it. Keep it away from your portable restroom rental traffic path and outside any swing radius for delivery trucks bringing a 20 yard dumpster rental or a 30 yard dumpster rental.
Local placement rules for anything sitting in a right of way or easement need confirming with the City of Lakewood before you set final stakes; we don't guess at that on a customer's behalf. If your site also needs temporary fence rental around the pole and panel for security, that's worth planning at the same time as the electrical rough-in, not after. Sites within about 6 miles of Lakewood, like Wheat Ridge or East Pleasant View, follow similar review steps but should still confirm locally rather than assume Lakewood's process carries over.
Do I need a permit for a temporary power pole?
Likely yes, but permit requirements are set by the city and by your utility provider, not by us, so we don't quote a number here. Check with the City of Lakewood building department before installation. See our porta potty permit requirements page for how permitting generally works on adjacent site services.
How long can I rent a temporary power pole?
As long as your project needs one, from a few weeks on a small remodel to the full duration of a build. Coordinate the rental timeline with your other site gear, like a holding tank rental or storage container rental, so everything comes down around the same time.
What size temporary power pole do I need?
Most residential and light commercial sites run on 200 amp service, but larger builds with more equipment may need higher capacity. Your electrician determines the load before ordering, since undersizing means a second installation mid-project.
Can a temporary power pole run lighting for a construction site?
Yes. A pole with adequate amperage can power a light tower rental alongside tools and small equipment. OSHA 1926.56(a) sets minimum illumination intensities for construction areas, so confirm your lighting load before finalizing pole capacity.
Does the temporary power pole need to be inspected?
Yes, the utility company typically won't set the meter until the panel and grounding pass an electrical inspection. Schedule that inspection early so power isn't the item holding up your Lakewood project start date.
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