Joliet Porta Pros sets up temporary power poles for construction sites, events and remodels that need electric before permanent service is live. Most jobs run a 200 amp temporary power pole, sometimes called a spider box or temp pole, mounted on treated lumber and inspected before the utility company energizes it. Plan on days, not hours, for scheduling, and check our porta potty rental cost page if you're pricing out the rest of the site at the same time.
We pair temp power with construction site services on most jobs, since crews need portable toilet rental, a porta john rental for smaller crews, and light or fencing at the same time.
A temporary power pole is a freestanding pole, usually wood, carrying a meter socket, breaker panel and outlets so a job site can draw electricity before the building has permanent service. The utility company runs a line to the pole; an electrician wires the panel side. On most Joliet jobs this feeds saws, pumps, a light tower rental, or trailer hookups for a restroom trailer rental that needs power to run its own pump and lighting. A 200 amp temporary power pole is the common size for a single home build or a mid-size commercial site; smaller jobs sometimes run on 100 amp service instead. The pole has to meet the utility's clearance and grounding specs before an inspector signs off, and OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites using this kind of temporary wiring. Nobody plugs into an ungrounded pole and calls it done. That same job-site checklist often includes a handwashing station rental or a portable sink rental once OSHA 1926.51(c) toilet counts are worked out.
Installation cost depends on amperage, distance from the utility's line, and whether the site needs trenching. There's no fixed number here since utility fees and electrician labor vary by job, but budgeting for both the pole rental and a licensed electrician's hookup fee up front keeps a project from stalling mid-week over paperwork nobody filed. Ask early, because utility scheduling windows are often the longest part of the timeline, longer than the physical install itself, similar to how dumpster rental cost estimates often hinge more on hauling logistics than on the box itself.
| item | notes |
|---|---|
| pole rental | daily, weekly or monthly terms available |
| electrician hookup | separate line item, licensed electrician required |
| utility connection | scheduled by the utility company, not by us |
Sites juggling several rentals at once often bundle temp power with a temporary fence rental, a chain link temporary fence for longer perimeters, and a storage container rental so deliveries land in one trip instead of three; some also add a 20ft storage container for tools once power is live.
Set it close to the point of use but clear of vehicle paths, excavation and any planned foundation footprint, since it may sit there for months. A roll-off delivery needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, and that same clearance matters for pole placement if a roll-off dumpster rental will be swapping on the same site. Keep the pole out of the swing radius of equipment and away from where a 10 yard dumpster rental or larger box gets dropped and pulled. Joliet sites with tight lots sometimes need the pole near the street frontage instead of mid-lot, which changes the utility's trenching distance and, in turn, the hookup cost. Check placement against your dumpster permit requirements plan too, since city right-of-way rules can affect both, and review our porta potty placement guide while you're mapping the lot.
Crews working sites near Crest Hill, about 5.4 miles northeast of Joliet, or out toward Plainfield, 12.2 miles northwest, should confirm utility service territory before ordering, since providers can differ by township even within a short drive; our service areas page covers both towns if you're comparing options.
Usually yes, through the utility company and sometimes the city electrical inspector, but requirements are not something we can state generically here; confirm with Joliet's building department before scheduling. Pair that call with a check on porta potty permit requirements if you're setting up sanitation at the same time, and see OSHA portable toilet requirements for the sanitation side of the same inspection.
Rentals run day, week or month depending on project length. Home builds often need it for months; a weekend event or film shoot might need it for days. Talk timeline through when you request a quote, and check monthly porta potty rental pricing if the toilets need to run the same length as the pole.
A 200 amp temporary power pole covers most construction trailers and tool loads; smaller renovation jobs may only need 100 amp. An electrician can size it against your actual equipment list before ordering, the same way we size toilet counts using how many porta potties do i need.
Yes. Most Joliet customers order it alongside a mobile office trailer rental, fencing, a standard porta potty rental, and sometimes a light tower rental in one delivery window to save on trip fees.
We supply and place the pole; the utility company makes the final line connection and energizes it. A licensed electrician handles the panel wiring in between, per standard practice on every Joliet site we've set.
Yes. Joliet Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across Joliet 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.
