Temp poles, panels and spider boxes
Temporary Power Poles
Overhead or underground temp poles with a meter base, main breaker and GFCI outlets. Each one sits outside the utility easement, ready for inspection. A licensed electrician builds and wires it.
Commercial Jobsite Power & Lighting
Temporary Power Poles & Site Lighting
in Houston, TX
Construction temporary power and site lighting for commercial and industrial jobs across Greater Houston. We plan temp poles, generators and light towers with your site layout. A TDLR-licensed contractor makes every electrical connection.
23Years on Houston Jobsites
98%Repeat & Referral
$2MGeneral Liability
1Superintendent Per Job
Service Overview
Construction Temporary Power Planned With Your Houston Site
A Houston jobsite with no power loses the first week. Crews wait on a temp pole, a permit release and a CenterPoint meter while the trailers sit dark. Construction temporary power closes that gap. Jimenes Construction plans and manages it, and a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor builds and connects every pole and panel.
The work covers temp poles and panels for trailers and tools, plus spider boxes that split power out to the trades. Generators fill in where the utility is not ready. Light towers and string lighting cover night work and security. We plan where each one goes. In Texas, only a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor may build and wire a temp pole. That licensed contractor builds and energizes every pole, panel and connection. We run the site work around it and hold the schedule, the same way we do on jobsite support.
In Houston, a master electrician registered with the City pulls the permit for a temp pole. The City issues a temporary saw pole permit or a temporary cut-in permit. Both need a passed inspection. CenterPoint then assigns an ESI ID, and your retail electric provider orders the meter. No permit release, no meter. In unincorporated Harris County, the County Engineer sends the power release to CenterPoint. Other cities and counties run their own steps. Your utility depends on the address: most Houston sites are CenterPoint, while Conroe and parts of The Woodlands are Entergy Texas.
We pick the pole spot with the laydown yard and the access road in mind, so it does not get moved twice. We dig the underground temp feed trench with the rest of the underground utility work. The electrician pulls the conductors, then we backfill and mark the route. Generators sit on level gravel pads, and cords stay out of the traffic lane.
Temp Power at a Glance
- Temp poles, panels and spider boxes
- Electrical work by a TDLR-licensed contractor
- CenterPoint and Entergy service requests tracked
- GFCI-protected temp receptacles, installed by the electrician
- Lighting laid out to OSHA foot-candle levels
- Generator placement and fuel planning
Coverage
Temporary Power and Lighting We Coordinate
We plan and coordinate all six. The electrical work is done by a TDLR-licensed partner.
Temp Panels & Spider Boxes
Panels and spider boxes that carry power from the pole to each floor and trade. The licensed electrician puts them in and keeps light and outlet circuits apart.
Trailer & Office Hookups
Power planned for job trailers, site offices and tool cribs, then connected by the licensed electrician. The office has lights and air on day one.
Light Towers & Night-Work Lighting
Towable light towers placed for night work, excavation and security, aimed to meet OSHA minimum foot-candles.
Generators & Fuel Planning
Generators sized to the load and parked on a level pad, with a refuel schedule so power never runs dry overnight.
String & Interior Temp Lighting
Temporary string lighting run by the licensed electrician through stairwells, corridors and interiors. Exits and walkways stay lit as the building closes in.
Our Process
Our Temporary Power Process
Five steps, the same on a light-tower drop and on a multi-trailer site. Call (832) 576-3278 to start at step one.
- 01
Site Walk & Load List
We walk the site plan and list trailers, tools, cranes and pumps, plus the areas that need light. Then we mark the pole, panel, generator and tower spots away from traffic and excavation.
- 02
Permit & Utility Request
A master electrician registered with the City pulls the temp pole permit. In unincorporated Harris County, the County Engineer sends the power release. We track the CenterPoint request and check if the site is on CenterPoint or Entergy Texas.
- 03
Set the Feed & Pad
The licensed electrical contractor builds, wires and connects the pole and panel. Our crew trenches and backfills the underground feed, preps the generator pad, and keeps cords out of the traffic lane.
- 04
Inspection, Meter & Energize
The city inspection is passed and the release goes to CenterPoint. Your retail electric provider orders the meter, CenterPoint sets it, and the electrician tests every GFCI before crews plug in. Generators bridge the gap if the meter runs late.
- 05
Lights, Upkeep & Removal
Light towers are placed and aimed, fuel runs are scheduled, and cords are checked through the job. When permanent power is live, the electrician removes the temp wiring and we pull the rest. NEC Article 590 requires removal at completion.
Timeline
How Long Does Temporary Power Take?
Planning ranges, from request to power. CenterPoint and city schedules set most of it.
| Project Type | Typical Size | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Light tower or generator drop-off | 1 - 4 units | Same Week |
| Temp pole near existing CenterPoint service | 1 pole, 100 - 200 A | 1 - 3 Weeks |
| Temp pole needing a CenterPoint line extension | 1 pole | Set by CenterPoint |
| Multi-trailer site with spider box distribution | Trailers plus 2 - 4 floors | 2 - 4 Weeks |
| Plant turnaround or night-work lighting package | Varies by scope | Planned to the outage window |
Engineering & Compliance
Codes, Safety & Utility Requirements
Temp power on a Houston site answers to the NEC, OSHA and the utility at the same time. Here is what that means on the ground.
Codes & Permits
- 2023 NEC Article 590 as enforced by the City of Houston
- Temporary saw pole or cut-in permit pulled by a registered master electrician
- Harris County power release in unincorporated areas
- CenterPoint service standards for pole location and meter base
Shock Protection
- GFCI protection on temporary receptacles
- OSHA 1926.404 GFCI rule for 120-volt, 15- and 20-amp jobsite outlets
- Hard-usage and extra-hard-usage cords only
- Cords inspected, and damaged sets pulled from service
Lighting Levels
- OSHA 1926.56: 5 foot-candles for general construction areas
- 3 foot-candles for excavation, accessways and refueling areas
- 10 foot-candles in shops and electrical rooms
- 30 foot-candles in first aid stations and site offices
Generators & Storms
- Generators sized to the running and starting load
- Level pads and spill containment at fuel points
- TCEQ permit-by-rule records kept for portable units
- Hurricane plan: secure towers, top off fuel, stage backup power
Why Jimenes
Why Choose
Jimenes Construction
Power Planned With the Site
Temp poles often land in the wrong spot and get moved twice. We plan pole and panel spots with the laydown yard, the trenches and the access road on one plan.
We Chase the Release
A pole with no permit release never gets a meter. We track the inspection, the release and the CenterPoint ESI ID until the meter is set.
Clear on Who Is Licensed
In Texas, only a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor may wire a temp pole. That work goes to a licensed contractor, and the proposal shows their license and their line item.
23 Years of Houston Storm Seasons
Hurricane Beryl left about 2.2 million CenterPoint customers without power in July 2024. We plan fuel, generator backup and tower tie-downs before June 1.
Credentials
Licensing, Insurance & Warranty
Texas licenses electrical contractors, not site-work firms. The electrical work on your site is done under a licensed contractor's TECL number. Our insurance papers come with every proposal.
Licensed Electrical Partner Master electrician pulls every permit
Licensed Electrical Partner Master electrician pulls every permit General Liability $2M per occurrence
Workers’ Comp Full crew coverage
Workers’ Comp Full crew coverage Warranty 1-yr workmanship
Warranty 1-yr workmanshipWhere We Work
Our Service Area
We plan temporary power and lighting for jobsites across Greater Houston. Most sites here sit in CenterPoint territory. Conroe and parts of The Woodlands are served by Entergy Texas, and we plan for either. If you searched for temporary power in Houston and landed here, this is the radius we cover.
- Houston
- Spring
- The Woodlands
- Conroe
- Cypress
- Katy
- Sugar Land
- Missouri City
- Pearland
- Pasadena
- Baytown
- League City
Do not see your town? Call us, we travel for the right project.Check Your Address
Good Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Still sorting out power for your site? Call and talk to the superintendent who will plan it.
Talk to a Builder(832) 576-3278
Who can install a temporary power pole in Houston?
In Texas, only a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor may build and wire a temp pole. In Houston, the permit for that pole is pulled by a master electrician registered with the City. Jimenes plans and manages the power on your site, and a licensed electrical contractor builds, wires and energizes every pole and panel. We handle the trenching, pads and layout around it and keep the schedule.
Do I need a permit for temporary construction power in Houston?
Yes. The City of Houston issues a temporary saw pole permit or a temporary cut-in permit, and both need a passed inspection. The permit is valid for 180 days. In unincorporated Harris County, the County Engineer issues a power release instead. CenterPoint will not set a meter until that release is in hand. Getting the ground ready is part of our site preparation work.
How long does it take to get temporary power from CenterPoint?
It depends on the permit, the inspection and whether CenterPoint has to extend a line to your site. CenterPoint assigns an ESI ID, then your retail electric provider orders the meter. Conroe and parts of The Woodlands are Entergy Texas instead. Generators bridge the gap if the meter runs late. A temp pole can stay up for the length of construction under NEC Article 590, and it comes out when the job is done.
What are the requirements for a temporary power pole?
Houston inspects to the 2023 National Electrical Code, and Article 590 governs temporary installations. In plain terms, a temp pole needs a meter base, a main disconnect, GFCI protection on the receptacles and proper grounding. It has to sit where CenterPoint's service standards allow, outside the utility easement. Pole depth and the number of ground rods follow the utility spec and the electrician's design, so they vary from site to site. We dig and backfill the trench for an underground feed. Our trench safety and shoring page covers how we keep that trench safe.
How much light does OSHA require on a construction site?
OSHA sets minimum light levels in 1926.56, Table D-3. General construction areas need 5 foot-candles. Excavation, accessways and refueling areas need 3. Shops and electrical rooms need 10, and site offices and first aid stations need 30. We place and aim towers to hit these levels, with more light for night work and detailed tasks. Night work on our concrete slabs jobs gets the same lighting plan.
Should we use a temp pole or a generator?
It depends on the job. A temp pole makes sense when the work runs long and the utility line is close. A generator fits a remote or early site, the gap before the meter is set, and storm backup. Many Houston sites use both. Cost is driven by any line extension, the distance, the load, fuel and how long you need power. We also plan an entrance that fuel trucks can use after rain.
Keep Reading
Related Services
Temp power rarely runs alone. These are the site services that most often go with it.
Laydown Yards
Stabilized storage and trailer yards, laid out with power and lighting in mind.
Learn More
Access Roads
All-weather construction entrances so fuel trucks and equipment reach the site after rain.
Learn More
Built On Integrity. Powered On Schedule.
Let's Get Your SitePowered and Lit.
Free estimates, line-item pricing, and one superintendent from the first permit to the last light tower pulled.
OR CALL (832) 576-3278
