From Temporary Builders Supply to Permanent Connection: An Inner West Builder's Guide

How do you move from a temporary builders supply to a permanent connection? Plan the permanent meter position, consumer mains route and connection application before the temporary supply goes in, then switch over once the permanent switchboard is ready, the meter is booked and the retail account is in the owner's name. Builders who plan both at the start avoid the most common Inner West delay: a finished home with no permanent power at handover.

1. What a temporary builders supply is

A temporary builders supply gives trades safe, metered power during demolition and construction. It's usually a builders pole or temporary switchboard with RCD-protected outlets, fed from the street by a Level 2 ASP after Ausgrid approves the connection. On Inner West sites with tight frontages, it has to be positioned so it's safe from vehicles and excavation, accessible for the meter, and clear of where the permanent works will go. Our older guide to how temporary builders supply keeps your site running covers the basics.

2. Plan the permanent connection at the same time

The best time to decide where the permanent meter, main switchboard and consumer mains will go is before the temporary pole is installed. That lets the ASP place the temporary supply so it doesn't sit where the permanent trench, footing or meter box needs to be. On some builds, the permanent connection point or pillar can be installed early and used to feed the temporary board, which saves a second network connection later. If the plans involve relocating the point of attachment, our guide to moving the point of attachment and meter during a renovation is worth reading first.

3. The typical sequence

1. Design: load calculation, permanent meter position and consumer mains route on the plans.
2. Temporary connection application: lodged with Ausgrid by the Level 2 ASP.
3. Temporary supply installed: builders pole or board, meter fitted, retail account set up (often in the builder's name).
4. Permanent works: conduits and consumer mains installed during the build, permanent switchboard fitted.
5. Permanent connection application and meter booking: lodged weeks before handover.
6. Switchover: the ASP connects the permanent consumer mains, the metering provider fits the permanent meter, and the temporary supply is disconnected and removed.
7. Certification: Notification of Service Work and Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work.

4. Common hold-ups and how to avoid them

• Late applications: lodge the permanent connection application and meter booking well before practical completion.
• Wrong meter position: the meter must be accessible and not enclosed by fences, gates or later works.
• Retail account gaps: set up the owner's permanent account before handover.
• Undersized supply: check whether single-phase is enough for an all-electric home with EV charging, or whether three-phase is needed. Our power supply upgrades service covers the change.
• Damaged temporary supply: keep the builders pole protected from machinery and trenching.

5. Duplexes, granny flats and multi-dwelling sites

On duplex and multi-dwelling builds, each dwelling's permanent supply and meter position needs to be planned from the start, especially if the lots will be subdivided. Our guide to electrical connections for duplexes and granny flats explains the options, and the guide to granny flat connections on narrow Inner West blocks covers tight sites. For larger buildings, the supply may need current transformer metering or network augmentation, which takes longer, so start earlier. The permanent switchboard should be sized at the same time.

How Does High Demand Electrical Help With Temporary and Permanent Connections?

We're a Level 2 ASP team (Licence 397193C) working with Inner West builders and owner builders. We install the temporary builders supply, plan and install the permanent consumer mains and switchboard, lodge both Ausgrid applications, coordinate the metering provider and handle the switchover so handover isn't held up by power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Site Power Sorted From Day One

Starting a build? Get a temporary builders supply quote, plan your permanent consumer mains, or call 0402 808 808. We'll map out both connections before the first trade arrives.