San Francisco · Temporary Power Services
Temp Power in Oakland
Metered temp service, generator rental, site lighting, cooling, cameras and internet for Oakland jobs, with the PG&E filing done for you.
Oakland · Temporary Power Services
Temporary Power Services for Oakland
San Francisco Temporary Power serves general contractors, builders, and homeowners in Oakland 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 Oakland project keeps moving without the runaround. Most jobs here rent more than one item, and the gear and permits we cover shows how poles, generators, lighting and site gear fit together on one schedule.
Oakland Permits, PG&E and Port Land
Oakland is in Alameda County, just over the Bay Bridge from our San Francisco yard. Building and electrical permits for a temp service come from the City of Oakland Planning and Building Department, and PG&E runs the distribution lines and sets the meter. We send the permit application and the PG&E service request together, then track both until the inspector signs off. Land near the waterfront can fall under the Port of Oakland, which keeps its own review process. If your lot is anywhere close to the port, check with the Port and the city about which office has the parcel before we file.
Downtown Towers, Uptown Infill and West Oakland Yards
Downtown and Uptown jobs tend to be mid-rise apartments or mixed use with shops on the ground floor. Those builds usually need a 400A three-phase temp service for the hoist, welders and temporary heat, plus panels that move up the building floor by floor. In West Oakland and the industrial blocks near the port, the work shifts to warehouses, shops and yard conversions. Those sites pull heavy motor loads, so we size the service for starting current and often park a towable diesel on standby. Big open yards with copper on the ground are a good fit for a solar camera trailer and a light tower at the gate. Truck traffic near the port is heavy, so we book deliveries for the hours your gate is actually staffed.
Hillside Homes and Fire Rebuild Lots in the Oakland Hills
Up in the hills, streets are narrow and winding, and some lots drop away sharply from the curb. A fire rebuild often starts on a bare lot with no working service at all, so a compact generator runs tools and the job trailer until PG&E energizes the permitted pole. We pick the delivery truck to fit the road and use skid-mounted gear when a trailer cannot turn around. High fire weather can bring PG&E safety shutoffs to hillside areas, and a fueled standby unit keeps tools and the site office running through one. Cell coverage in the canyons is uneven, so we test the signal before we promise jobsite internet or camera uplinks. Street parking for equipment, and any work outside normal hours, are both things to check with the city first.
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