San Francisco · Temporary Power Services
Temp Power in Berkeley
Metered temp service, generator rental, site lighting, cooling, cameras and internet for Berkeley jobs, with the PG&E filing done for you.
Berkeley · Temporary Power Services
Temporary Power Services for Berkeley
San Francisco Temporary Power serves general contractors, builders, and homeowners in Berkeley 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 Berkeley project keeps moving without the runaround. Most jobs here rent more than one item, and our power and rental services shows how poles, generators, lighting and site gear fit together on one schedule.
Berkeley Permit Service Center and the Utility Hookup
Berkeley sits in Alameda County on the east side of the bay, north of Oakland. Permits for a temp service go through the City of Berkeley Permit Service Center, part of the Planning and Development Department. PG&E handles the line work and meter. We put the electrical permit and the utility request in at the same time, because either one can hold up the other. Projects on land owned by the University of California may follow the university process instead of the city one, so check who has jurisdiction before anything is submitted.
Apartments and Infill Near the UC Campus
Around the campus and along the main commercial corridors, most new work is multifamily housing and infill on lots that used to hold a single house or a small store. These buildings often need 200A or 400A three-phase temp power for hoists, framing crews and temporary heat while the shell goes up. Space is tight, and the sidewalk out front is busy with students and buses, so we keep the pole inside the fence line when we can. If a generator or light tower needs to go at the curb, ask the city whether a street-use permit is required for it. Cameras on the fence and a timer on the lights help protect material that stays on site overnight.
Older Houses and Steep Hillside Streets
Much of the housing in Berkeley is old, and a remodel often begins with a main panel or service drop too small or too worn to keep using. We set a 100A temp service so the trades can work while the electrician replaces the main gear, then pull the pole once the new service passes inspection. In the hills, steep and narrow streets limit what a truck can bring up, and parking for equipment is scarce. Some hillside lots need a long overhead span or a trench to reach the panel, and that run length shows up in the quote. Berkeley neighborhoods are close and quiet, so check with the city on allowed construction hours before planning any evening work.
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