Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
A basic 200A overhead temporary service in Arkansas usually costs $450 to $1,275 all in: $250 to $600 for the meter pole, $150 to $400 for the disconnect, $50 to $200 for the local permit, and $20 to $75 for utility connect plus any deposit. No state temp power license exists, but the wiring needs an Arkansas electrical contractor. Utility connect takes 2 to 10 business days after inspection.
Real talk: what does temp power actually cost in Arkansas?
Start with the real number. A basic 200A overhead temporary service in Arkansas usually lands between $450 and $1,275 on the final invoice, before any generator fuel. That bracket covers the meter pole, the service disconnect, local permit and inspection, and the utility's connect fee [6]. It does not cover a big security deposit, which depends on your credit and the utility.
The spread is wide because Arkansas does not publish one state fee. You are buying three separate things: work from an Arkansas licensed electrical contractor, a local permit, and a utility action priced on the utility's tariff sheet. Anyone who quotes you a firm number below $450 without seeing the site is missing a line item.
Here is the one number to memorize. A 200A temporary pole and meter loop usually runs $250 to $600 installed, and a 200A outdoor main breaker or disconnect adds $150 to $400 in materials and labor [6]. Local permit and inspection are usually $50 to $200. Some counties and cities charge separately. Some don't charge at all.
What line items make up an Arkansas temporary power quote?
Break the quote down before you pay it. Most Arkansas temporary power invoices bury at least one of these four items.
| Line item | Typical Arkansas range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meter pole, guy kit, and ground rod | $250 to $600 | Installed by licensed contractor [6] |
| 200A outdoor main breaker/disconnect | $150 to $400 | Materials and labor, not always itemized [6] |
| Local permit and inspection | $50 to $200 | Set by city or county, not the state |
| Utility connect or service initiation | $20 to $75 | Tariff-sheet fee, utility-specific [4][5] |
| Security deposit | $0 to $400 | Credit-based; can be zero on a good credit file |
If the job site runs tools, add the cost of temporary wiring and GFCI protection. OSHA treats construction wiring as a real electrical installation, not a weekend project you improvise [8].
Do you need a license for temp power in Arkansas?
For the utility side, no separate temp power license exists. For the electrical work, yes. Arkansas Code § 17-28-302 says, 'A person shall not engage in the business of an electrical contractor without first obtaining a license from the director.' [1] The person who builds the pole, lands the meter socket, and connects the ground has to be a licensed Arkansas electrical contractor or a licensed journeyman working under one.
There is no temp power certificate from the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. The board, under the Department of Labor and Licensing, issues the electrical contractor and journeyman licenses, and it has no short-term site power permit [2]. If a company tells you they hold a separate temp power license in Arkansas, ask for the statute. It is not in Title 17, Chapter 28.
If you own the property and want to do the work yourself, Arkansas has homeowner and farm exemptions in the code. The definitions and exemption language live in § 17-28-101 [9]. Do not assume. Call the board's electrical program and confirm the current exemption before you cut a pole.
Does a temporary service pole need a permit or inspection in Arkansas?
Yes, both, in almost every county and city. The pattern is local permit, then final inspection, then utility connection. Entergy Arkansas and SWEPCO will not set a permanent or temporary meter until the service entrance passes inspection [4][5].
The local permit is not a state form. There is no single Arkansas temp power permit. Your city or county issues it, and the fee can be bundled into a building permit or billed on its own. The inspection is the proof the utility wants: a tag or green sticker on the meter loop.
Some rural stretches of Arkansas still allow a temporary service fed from a pole without a full building permit, but the electrician still files with the local inspection authority. No inspection, no meter. That rule holds fairly uniform across Entergy Arkansas and SWEPCO Arkansas.
How long does temp power take in Arkansas?
Two to ten business days after the inspection is the realistic window for most utility reconnects and new temporary service connects [5]. A clean 200A pole installation itself is usually one day. The wait comes from inspection scheduling and the utility's local service order.
Here is the honest sequence. The contractor installs the pole and mast on day one. The local inspector shows up anywhere from one to five business days later. The utility schedules the meter set after the inspection tag clears. Entergy Arkansas requires the inspection to be complete before it connects temporary service [4]. SWEPCO's new service process runs the same way; it wants the inspection release and a service order before the meter goes in [5].
You cannot pay a fee to skip the line. No Arkansas law forces a two-day utility turnaround on new temporary service. Weather and storm work push the date out further. If your job site cannot lose a week, you either start with a rented generator or you file the application before the trench and pole work starts.
Which utilities set the actual connect fee in Arkansas?
Two big investor-owned utilities, Entergy Arkansas and Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), cover most of the state. The Arkansas Public Service Commission approves their tariffs, including connection charges, line extension contributions where they apply, and security deposit rules [3].
Cooperatives and municipal systems work differently. They do not answer to the PSC for rate setting in the same way, and their temporary service charges come from local board policy, not a state fee chart. That is why a temp power connect fee in Conway may not match one in Jonesboro or Springdale.
So nobody can quote the connect fee from memory. Ask for the utility's service initiation or connect fee line by line. If the utility is Entergy Arkansas, ask for its Service Entrance Standards and the tariff sheet called Connect/Disconnect Service. If it is SWEPCO, ask for the new service request fee schedule [5]. The number is likely small. The deposit is where the surprise hides.
What size temporary service do most Arkansas job sites need?
For single family new construction, a 200A overhead temporary service is the default. That is enough for a small house getting framed with two or three crews, a couple of compressors, and a table saw. It is also the size most Arkansas utilities set on a standard meter loop without a special load study [4].
For a larger commercial job or a site with a concrete pump, a crane, or heat, you may need a 400A service or a 480V service. That changes the quote hard. The disconnect, mast, conductors, and CT metering all go up in size and price.
The load calculation is not optional. Tell the utility you need 200A but run a 400A load and the main trips while the inspector asks questions. Do the math on startup current, not running watts. A 5 hp compressor can pull six times its running amps for a few cycles. If the site load is marginal, move to the next standard size before you buy the gear.
Can you skip the pole and rent a generator instead?
Yes, for short jobs. A towable 20kW diesel generator rents for roughly $60 to $180 per day in Arkansas before fuel, depending on size and delivery. A temp pole costs $450 to $1,275 once, plus the utility bill. The break even usually lands somewhere around a week to ten days [6].
For a three day roofing job, a generator is often the right answer. For a three month build, the pole wins easily. Fuel is the hidden cost. A diesel unit running all day can burn ten to twenty gallons, and road diesel in Arkansas has sat between $3 and $4 per gallon in recent years. That is $30 to $80 per day in fuel alone, on top of the rental.
Nobody has clean head to head data on Arkansas generator versus temp pole costs; the closest useful comparison comes from national cost guides [6]. The arithmetic is simple though. If the job lasts more than a week, buy the pole.
How do you keep an Arkansas temp power project legal?
Work in this order. One, call the utility before you buy the pole. Ask which service standard applies and whether they want a temporary pedestal or a temporary overhead pole. Two, use a licensed Arkansas electrical contractor for the install [1]. Three, pull the local permit. Four, pass the local inspection. Five, let the utility set the meter.
Do not energize the service yourself from the utility side. That is how people get hurt and how inspectors fail a site. The utility owns the service drop up to the meter point. You own the pole and loop beyond it. The final connection belongs to the utility.
Keep clearances real. Entergy Arkansas service entrance standards give minimum vertical clearances over driveways and final grades, and temporary services get no pass on those measurements [4]. Keep the temp pole away from excavation and truck traffic too. A broken temp pole is not covered by the utility's connect fee.
How much should you budget for a 200A Arkansas temp service?
Use $450 to $1,275 as the working budget. Break it down so you know which part is negotiable.
| Item | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|
| Materials: pole, meter enclosure, disconnect, ground rod | $180 | $500 |
| Electrical contractor labor | $200 | $450 |
| Permit and inspection | $50 | $200 |
| Utility connect/reservice | $20 | $75 |
| Security deposit | $0 | $400 |
| Total before deposit | $450 | $1,225 |
| Total with deposit | $450 | $1,625 |
The deposit comes back; the rest does not. If your utility quote runs above $1,625 on a standard 200A overhead service, ask why. It usually means a long secondary run or a line extension is getting added. A fixed materials kit like TempPowerPath's $179 Cable + Fuel + 480V Kit is not a substitute for an Arkansas contractor or a utility connect, but it makes materials pricing predictable.
Are Arkansas temp power costs regulated by the PSC?
Only for investor-owned utilities. The Arkansas Public Service Commission reviews Entergy Arkansas and SWEPCO tariffs and runs a consumer complaint process if a utility charges something the tariff does not authorize [3]. It does not set electrician pricing, local permit fees, or generator rental rates.
Cooperatives and municipal power companies are not rate-regulated by the PSC in the same manner. Their boards and city councils set connect fees and deposits. If you are on a co-op, the cheapest first call is the co-op's engineering or member services line, not the PSC.
The PSC can help with billing disputes on an investor-owned utility. If Entergy tacks on a service charge you cannot find on the tariff, file a complaint with the PSC. But the complaint moves slow for a temp build, and it will not get your job powered this week. Get the fee quote in writing before you apply.
Where do temp power costs in Arkansas come from: rates and deposits
The monthly energy bill on a temp service is not the same as the installation cost. Run a 200A service on a house site and the usage charge follows whatever rate schedule the utility files for the meter class. EIA data shows Arkansas residential electricity prices have run between 11 and 13 cents per kilowatthour in recent years, while commercial rates sit lower, often in the 8 to 10 cent range [7]. For a construction site, the delivery charge, demand charge, or monthly minimum may matter more than the per kWh price.
Ask the utility for the temporary service rate schedule before you sign. Some Arkansas co-ops charge a monthly minimum as low as $20 or so on a construction meter; others charge a commercial demand rate. The house build pulling 600 kWh a month will not be expensive. A site running a heat treat oven will be.
Deposits are separate. They usually get replaced by a credit reference or waived on a signed service agreement. I would not pay a large deposit for a short residential temp service. I would get the contractor's license number on file and let the utility run the credit check. The deposit comes back, but it sits with the utility for months.
How does Arkansas compare to other states for temp power costs?
Arkansas sits near the middle on cost. It does not carry the high utility deposits or licensing friction that drive up temp power in California, and it does not see the hurricane season demand spikes that push Florida quotes around a storm. California temp power Florida temp power.
Alabama and Georgia compare more directly on utility charges. Illinois and Colorado add local inspection and winter weather costs. Alabama temp power, Georgia temp power, Illinois temp power, Colorado temp power.
TempPowerPath is an independent publisher, not a law firm and not a service company. Its $179 one-time Cable + Fuel + 480V Kit is a flat reference set for the wiring and fuel side; it does not include Arkansas board licenses, local permits, utility deposits, or inspection labor. Start at /start only if you want the kit details, not as a shortcut around an Arkansas contractor or inspector.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for temp power in Arkansas?
No separate Arkansas temp power license exists. The electrical work on a temporary service requires an Arkansas licensed electrical contractor or a journeyman under one. No permit means no meter. Confirm current homeowner exemptions with the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing Electrical Board before doing the work yourself.
How much does temp power cost in Arkansas?
A basic 200A overhead temp service runs $450 to $1,275 all in before deposit. The pole install costs $250 to $600, the disconnect $150 to $400, permit and inspection $50 to $200, and utility connect $20 to $75. Security deposit ranges from $0 to $400. Larger services cost more.
How long does temp power take in Arkansas?
Most utility connects happen two to ten business days after the inspection passes. The pole installation itself is usually one day. The wait comes from local inspection scheduling and the utility service order. Severe weather and storm work can add days.
Can a homeowner install their own temporary service pole in Arkansas?
Possibly, under limited homeowner or farm exemptions in Arkansas Code. Do not assume. Confirm the exemption with the Arkansas Electrical Board and the local inspector before work, because utilities still require an inspection release before the meter is set.
What size temporary service do I need for a house in Arkansas?
A 200A overhead temporary service is standard for single family new construction. It covers most framing crews, small compressors, and saws. Larger commercial jobs often need 400A or more, and the disconnect, conductors, and metering all go up in cost.
Does Entergy Arkansas require an inspection before connecting temp service?
Yes. Entergy Arkansas Service Entrance Standards require an approved inspection before temporary service is energized. SWEPCO Arkansas follows a similar procedure. Without the local inspection tag, the utility will not set the meter.
How much does a generator rental cost on an Arkansas site?
A towable diesel generator typically rents for $60 to $180 per day before fuel. Fuel adds $30 to $80 daily at recent diesel prices. For jobs longer than a week, a temporary pole usually costs less than renting.
Are co-op temp power fees different from Entergy Arkansas?
Yes. Entergy and SWEPCO tariffs are PSC-regulated. Cooperatives and municipal systems set connect fees and deposits locally. Always get the fee schedule in writing from the utility serving the address before you compare quotes.
When does Arkansas require an electrical inspection on a temp service?
Before utility energization. Local inspection is required in nearly all counties and cities. The utility sets the meter only after the inspector approves the temporary loop, ground, and disconnect.
Can temporary service be converted to permanent later?
Usually, yes, if the panel, grounding, and meter enclosure meet permanent service standards. Many builders use the temp loop as the permanent feed point for the house after framing. Confirm with the utility and local inspector before planning the conversion.
What is the cheapest legal way to get temp power in Arkansas?
Use a standard 200A overhead pole on a short job, skip the expensive generator rental, and get multiple licensed contractor quotes. The cheapest legal system is usually a standard meter pole, not a special pedestal or skid-mounted service, unless the utility requires one.
Does Arkansas have a state temp power permit?
No. City or county permits and inspections apply, plus utility service standards. State electrical licensing covers who does the work, not the temporary service itself. There is no single Arkansas temporary power permit.
Sources
- Arkansas Code § 17-28-302 via Justia: Unlawful to engage in business as an electrical contractor without first obtaining a license from the director.
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: The Arkansas Electrical Board issues and renews electrical contractor and journeyman licenses.
- Arkansas Public Service Commission: The Arkansas Public Service Commission regulates rates and tariffs of investor-owned electric utilities.
- Entergy Arkansas, Customer Service Standards: Temporary service pole clearances, inspection requirement, and standard 200A overhead service requirements.
- SWEPCO, New Service Request: Utility new service process, inspection release before meter set, and service order turnaround.
- HomeGuide, Temporary Power Pole Cost: Temporary power pole cost ranges for meter pole, disconnect, installation, and generator rental comparison.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Arkansas State Electricity Profile: Arkansas residential and commercial electricity prices have run in the cited cents per kilowatthour ranges.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1926.405 Wiring Methods: Temporary construction wiring must comply with OSHA electrical installation requirements.
- Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 via Justia: Definitions and exemption language for electrical contractor licensing in Arkansas.