San Francisco · Temporary Power Services
Temp Power in SoMa
Metered temp service, generator rental, site lighting, cooling, cameras and internet for SoMa jobs, with the PG&E filing done for you.
SoMa · Temporary Power Services
Temporary Power Services for SoMa
San Francisco Temporary Power serves general contractors, builders, and homeowners in SoMa and the surrounding San Francisco-area communities. We handle the work end to end, from the first phone call through the final cleanup, so your SoMa project keeps moving without the runaround. Most jobs here rent more than one item, and temp services and rental equipment shows how poles, generators, lighting and site gear fit together on one schedule.
DBI Filing and Street Space in SoMa
SoMa permits run through DBI like the rest of the city. The harder question is usually where the pole goes, because many lots are built from property line to property line. When there is no room inside the fence, the service may need a spot in the parking lane or on the sidewalk, and Public Works has to approve that with a street space permit. Sometimes a wall-mounted temp service inside the building line avoids that permit entirely, and we look at both options before quoting.
Mid-Rise Infill on Narrow Lots and Alleys
A lot of SoMa construction is mid-rise housing or office over a podium, squeezed onto a narrow lot or fronting an alley like Natoma or Clementina. Power has to climb the structure as it goes up, so we plan distribution floor by floor with spider boxes and cord runs the inspector will accept. Alley access limits what a truck can deliver, which is why compact skid-mounted units and interior string lighting often beat anything on a trailer here.
Neighbors, Noise and Overnight Security
Residents live wall to wall with most SoMa jobs. Running a generator or a diesel light tower after hours can draw complaints, so check with DBI or Public Works about a night noise permit before planning evening work. Solar light towers and quiet generator packages help. For the fence line on the street side, a camera on a pole or a solar camera trailer with motion alerts keeps watch over cable and tools staged overnight.
Our Services
Six services from the same crew, billed on one invoice. We permit it, deliver it, keep it running and haul it away.
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Temporary Power Poles
Temporary electrical services from 100A to 400A, single or three-phase, with the DBI permit, PG&E request, inspection and removal handled by one C-10 crew.
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Jobsite Internet
Bonded LTE and 5G kits with satellite backup and outdoor mesh WiFi for job trailers, gates and cameras, set up and removed by our own crew.
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Security Camera Trailers
Solar camera trailers and pole or steel-mounted cameras with cellular uplink, motion alerts, timelapse and optional live monitoring, rented month to month.
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Generator Rentals
Towable diesel generators sized 20kW through 500kW and beyond, portable gas units, load sizing, cable, distribution and fuel delivery.
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Light Towers
Diesel and solar LED towers, balloon lights and interior LED strings for night pours, winter afternoons and dark basements.
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Portable AC & Spot Coolers
Rental spot coolers sized 1 to 5 tons, ducted portable AC, evaporative coolers and winter heaters for trailers, server rooms, labs and climate-controlled finish work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a temporary power service include?
You get a pole or pedestal carrying the meter socket, main disconnect, branch breakers and GFCI outlets, along with ground rods and the wiring that ties it to the utility. We pull the electrical permit, request service from PG&E, meet the inspector and remove everything when the permanent service is live.
Which office permits temporary power in the city?
Inside the city the electrical permit comes from the Department of Building Inspection. On the Peninsula each city has its own building division, and unincorporated areas go through San Mateo County Planning and Building. Across the bay, Oakland and Berkeley each run their own permit counters. We file with whichever office covers the address.
How far ahead should I call?
Call once the address is settled and you have a rough load list. How long PG&E takes depends on the time of year and how big the service is, and several weeks is common. Our own install usually takes a day once the permit is issued.
What if PG&E cannot energize the pole in time?
We bring a towable generator sized to what you actually run and keep it fueled. When the meter is released, we switch the site over and the generator comes off rent.
Do I need 100A, 200A or three-phase power?
Small remodels and ADUs usually run fine on 100A single-phase. Ground-up homes and multi-trade sites often need 200A. Mid-rise, lab and commercial builds with hoists, welders or temporary HVAC tend to need 400A three-phase. We size it from your equipment list.
Can you put equipment on the sidewalk or street?
Sometimes. In the city that takes a Public Works permit for occupying the right of way, and the Peninsula and East Bay cities issue their own encroachment permits. We check placement at the site walk and tell you which permit applies before anything is delivered.
What does temporary power cost in the Bay Area?
Most 100A to 200A single-phase installs land between $1,800 and $4,500. Three-phase work at 400A usually falls somewhere from $6,000 up past $14,000. PG&E bills its own fees separately. Monthly pole rental is usually $150 to $400. Call (415) 936-1338 for a free quote on your site.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We hold a California C-10 electrical contractor license and carry liability and workers comp coverage. We can send certificates of insurance to your office before the first delivery.
Need power on a San Francisco site?
Tell us where the job is, when crews start and which tools and machines will draw power. A project manager calls back with a written quote.
Or call us now: (415) 936-1338