Temporary Power Costs

When building a home, you will need to make sure that you are able to get electricity to your space. However, this actually comes in two different phases. Before permanent power can be added, there needs to be temporary power. This type of power is only used during the construction phase at the home. Those who are building the property will need to have a way to plug in various tools and pieces of equipment that will be necessary for the construction process.

Often, a contractor will not start any work on the property until you have the temporary power up and running. There are two options when it comes to getting temporary power. You could opt to rent a generator, or you may have a pole at the home for electricity that can be set up for temporary usage. Below is an example of the cost of renting a generator for a two-week construction project at the home.

Temporary power rental: 20kw generator, 2 weeks.

Other considerations and costs

• You need to consider the size of the project. Larger projects will naturally require more power, which will add to the overall costs.
• Consider how long the project is likely to take. You need to pay for the temporary power whether it is through an installed pole or a generator for as long as you use it.
• Safety is imperative. It is a good idea to work with a professional electrician to make sure everything has been properly installed.

DIY considerations

• If you are using a pole, you or an electrician will need to set that pole up to ensure it conforms to local codes. This is generally best left to the professionals.
• It will need to have at least two outlets.
• The pole should be no further than 70’ from the location where the house is being built.
• You will need to have a temporary power permit, and the costs can vary
• After the pole has been set up, a building inspector will still need to come to the location to approve it.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.