Temporary Power for Construction

Temporary power gives the site usable electricity before the permanent service is live

Temporary construction power is the electrical setup that lets the site run tools, chargers, lighting, temporary heat controls, office trailers and protection equipment while the permanent service is still being built or approved.

On a practical site, that usually means a temporary panel or distribution point, properly protected receptacles, construction lighting and a safe route for temporary feeders or branch circuits. The setup has to survive mud, rain, demolition dust, moving ladders, lifts, delivery traffic and multiple trades plugging in at the same time.

City Power Electrical Services installs temporary power for residential renovations, new builds and commercial fit-outs. For a house renovation, the need may be a small temporary panel and several site outlets while old wiring is being removed. For a new build, it may involve coordinating the temporary service location before framing and rough-in. For a retail or office fit-out, it may be temporary lighting and tool power while the landlord’s base building service, tenant panel or final distribution is still being completed.

Temporary does not mean improvised. We look at the actual site conditions: where trades enter, where material is stored, where saws and compressors will run, where lights are needed after daylight, and which areas will be wet, outside or exposed to damage. Then we build a setup that is clear, labelled and easy for the site supervisor to manage.

This page is separate from full new construction electrical. New construction covers the permanent rough-in and final electrical system. Temporary construction power is the safe bridge that keeps work moving before that permanent system is energized.

You need temporary power before trades start relying on cords and shared outlets

You need temporary power when the permanent panel is not ready, not inspected, not energized, or not safe to use during demolition and construction.

We often see the need at the awkward middle stage of a project: demolition has started, the old circuits are being disconnected, but framing, layout and utility approvals are not far enough along for the final service. That is when crews begin stretching cords through windows, borrowing power from neighbouring spaces, overloading old receptacles or running lights from circuits that should already be decommissioned.

Common situations include:

• Whole-home renovations where existing wiring is being removed
• Additions where the old service stays live but cannot feed the whole work area
• Custom new builds before the final meter and panel are ready
• Basement excavations or underpinning work needing pumps and task lighting
• Commercial fit-outs where the tenant panel is not yet installed
• Restaurant, retail or office work where multiple trades need tool power
• Exterior work where weather-rated outlets and lighting are needed

The equipment is matched to the work. A small renovation may only need a few protected receptacles and temporary lighting. A larger job may need a dedicated temporary panel, feeder protection, construction lighting runs and a planned energization sequence as areas move from demolition to rough-in to finishing.

Good temporary power also reduces conflict between trades. Drywall crews, plumbers, HVAC installers and finish carpenters should not be fighting over one extension cord or unplugging each other’s tools. A planned layout gives the site supervisor known power points and reduces nuisance shutdowns.

If the project is already active and you have partial outages, tripped breakers, damaged cords or unsafe temporary connections, call before continuing work. We also provide emergency electrician service for urgent site hazards and power loss.

ESA and utility coordination must be built into the plan

Temporary construction power may require ESA notification and inspection, and utility coordination may be needed depending on the source of supply and service arrangement.

In Ontario, electrical work must follow the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Where ESA notification is required, the work must be filed, inspected and accepted through the proper process. For construction temporary power, City Power Electrical Services works as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, ECRA/ESA #7015314, with ESA permits and inspections arranged wherever they are required.

On a construction site, the inspector is looking for more than whether the lights turn on. The temporary setup needs suitable overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, weather-rated equipment where exposed, mechanical protection where wiring can be damaged, safe support of cables, correct covers and devices, and GFCI protection where required. Panels and receptacles should be accessible, not buried behind materials or left in areas where they will be hit by carts, lifts or demolition debris.

Utility coordination depends on the property and the stage of the project. In Toronto and the GTA, that can involve Toronto Hydro, Alectra, Oakville Hydro, Burlington Hydro, Oshawa Power, Elexicon, Hydro One or another local distributor. Some sites can draw from an existing service with approved temporary distribution. Others need a temporary service arrangement before the permanent service is released. The builder, owner, utility and electrician need to be aligned early so the electrical plan does not hold up framing, inspections or occupancy steps.

For projects where documentation is the main issue, see our ESA electrical safety certificate page. For temporary construction power, the focus is the physical site setup plus the required notification and inspection steps.

We quote after a site visit and build the setup around the construction schedule

Temporary power for construction is quoted in writing after a site visit because the scope depends on the source of power, site layout, load, access and inspection requirements.

During the visit, we review the construction stage, panel or service location, utility status, drawings if available, and the equipment the trades expect to use. We ask practical questions: what must run at the same time, where work will happen first, whether the site needs evening lighting, whether areas are outdoors or wet, and when the permanent electrical rough-in is expected to begin.

From there, we provide a written estimate. City Power offers free written estimates, and pricing for temporary construction power is quoted in writing after a site visit. We do not use a generic per-outlet price for this work because one site may be a clean interior fit-out with an available panel nearby, while another may need exterior-rated equipment, a longer feeder route, utility coordination and multiple inspection steps.

The installation is planned to be understandable for the site supervisor. We label temporary panels and outlets, keep paths neat, protect wiring where it crosses work areas, and place lighting where it supports the actual construction sequence. If the work is in a commercial space, we can also connect the temporary setup to the broader electrical plan and ongoing commercial maintenance needs after turnover.

Once the permanent service and distribution are ready, temporary power should be removed cleanly. We disconnect and remove temporary wiring, check that no construction circuits are left hidden or re-used improperly, and clean up the work area. Full cleanup is part of how we work.

City Power Electrical Services is based at 1800 Sheppard Ave E in North York and serves Toronto and the GTA. Call 416-837-4038 if your site needs safe temporary power before permanent electrical service is ready, or start from our electrical services hub if you are planning the full project scope.