Why it matters more than it sounds

Concreters, framers, plumbers and the crane all need power on day one. If the temporary supply is not energised, the site runs on generators, which is expensive, or trades reschedule, which is worse. The lead time is the Ausgrid notification and energisation, not the physical install, so booking early is the whole game.

The five steps

  1. Confirm where the network connection is. Overhead pole in the street, or an underground pit at the boundary. This decides the pole position and the cable run. We check this on the site visit or from Ausgrid's records.
  2. Decide single or three-phase. Single phase covers most residential builds. If there is a tower crane, a large site shed, or the permanent supply will be three-phase anyway, go three-phase from the start.
  3. Book the install and we lodge the notification. Allow about five business days. Faster is sometimes possible; do not plan on it.
  4. Install day. Pole stood, service run, site box with RCDs and metering fitted, tested, energised. One day.
  5. At the end of the build, convert. When the permanent switchboard is in, we do the final connection and remove the temporary pole. Same trade, no second Level 2 to find.

What compliant means

Construction site supply has its own standard, AS/NZS 3012. The box needs RCD protection on every outlet, correct labelling, weather protection and a lockable enclosure. Cheap hire boxes that do not meet it get failed by the inspector and the site goes dark. Ours are compliant and we sign them off.

Costs

  • Single-phase builders pole: from about $1,800
  • Three-phase: from about $2,600
  • Included: pole, box, metering, notification, energisation, decommissioning and removal
  • Extra: long cable runs, tree clearing, traffic control

Full details on the temporary builders supply page.

For subdivisions

Multiple lots need multiple supplies, and the sequencing with Ausgrid's pit and pillar work matters. We do this regularly for small Coast developers; talk to us before the civil works so the trenches and pits are in the right place. See builders and trades.