Energex Temporary Power Connection: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Getting a temporary power pole live in Brisbane takes the pole, the Energex paperwork and an account with your electricity retailer. Poles and Holes installs the pole and lodges the paperwork, the Connect Application and the EWR, for you. Energex then connects the network, and the retailer's metering provider installs the meter and completes energisation.

This guide walks you through every step of the Energex temporary power connection process — from the Connect Application and accepted Connection Offer, through pole installation and the EWR, to Energex's network connection and the metering provider making the site live.

Hiring a pole from us? How your pole gets connected shows who does each step and how long it usually takes, for temporary and permanent poles.

What Is a Temporary Power Connection?

A temporary power connection (also called a temporary builder's supply or TBS) provides metered mains electricity to a construction site before the permanent house connection is installed. It's a dedicated power pole installed on your property boundary, connected to the Energex overhead network via a service line.

A temporary mains connection supplies metered electricity for site equipment. Your electrical contractor should confirm that the supply capacity and site distribution suit the equipment you plan to use.

Most residential builds in Brisbane need a temporary power connection from day one. The slab pour, framing, and fit-out stages all require consistent power, and running a generator for months is expensive, noisy, and unreliable.

What Is an Energex EWR (and Who Lodges It)?

An EWR — short for Electrical Work Request — is the licensed electrical contractor's final notice to Energex that the electrical work is complete and the site is ready for connection. It is not the initial connection application: a Connect Application must be lodged and the Connection Offer accepted first.

Poles and Holes lodges the Energex paperwork for you, both the Connect Application and the EWR, as part of your temporary power pole hire. We email you the EWR number as soon as we have it. Your part is to give that number to your electricity retailer, so it can book the Energex connection and the meter.

The Connect Application and accepted Connection Offer establish the network connection arrangement. The EWR confirms the site is ready. Your retailer then uses the EWR number to send the service orders. Energex connects the network, and the retailer's appointed metering provider installs the meter and completes energisation.

Check Energex's current new-connections process for the latest official sequence and timeframes.

The Step-by-Step Connection Process

Here's exactly what happens from the moment you place your order to the moment you have live power on site.

Step 1: Order Your Temporary Power Pole

Place your order through our online form or call us on (07) 3367 2237. We'll need your site address, expected start date, and whether you need single-phase or three-phase supply. Most residential builds use single-phase. Commercial and industrial sites may need three-phase — we can help you work out which one you need.

Step 2: We Lodge the Connect Application

Before the EWR stage, a Connect Application goes to Energex, and we lodge it for you. Energex assesses the request and issues a Connection Offer. The offer must be accepted before the connection can progress; if Energex identifies chargeable network work, the charge and conditions appear in that offer.

Step 3: We Install the Pole

Our crew delivers and installs a timber power pole on your property boundary, positioned to align with the nearest Energex overhead service line. The pole is augered into the ground to the required depth (typically 1.2-1.5 metres for a standard residential pole) and secured with compacted backfill. Installation usually takes 1-2 hours.

If the pole needs to be positioned where there's existing underground services (water, sewer, gas, Telstra), we'll arrange service locating (Dial Before You Dig) before installation. This is included in our service — we won't dig without confirming it's safe.

Step 4: The Meter Board and Electrical Work Are Completed

We build and certify the temporary power pole at our depot, meter board included, then install it on site. You don't need your own electrician to get the pole connected. Energex's network connection and the retailer's metering arrangements are separate steps; installing the pole does not make it live.

Step 5: Choose Your Electricity Retailer

Choose your electricity retailer early, open an account for a temporary builder's supply at the site address, and tell us which retailer you chose. Once we lodge the EWR, we email you the EWR number: give it to your retailer, which then sends the required service orders to Energex and its nominated metering provider. Your account and the relevant service orders must be in place before connection and meter installation.

Step 6: We Lodge the EWR and Email You the Number

Once the pole and meter board are complete and compliant, we lodge the EWR with Energex as the final ready notice. It follows the Connect Application and accepted Connection Offer. We email you the EWR number as soon as we have it; pass it to your retailer, because the retailer account and required service orders must be in place before connection.

Step 7: Energex Connects the Network

In practice, Energex usually connects a temporary pole within 2–4 weeks of the EWR, or 6–8 weeks if traffic control is needed. Energex's own aim is to attend within 5 business days once all paperwork and retailer service orders are complete and the site is ready, but in practice it usually takes longer. Energex performs the network connection; the meter is a separate step.

Step 8: The Metering Provider (Meter Hanger) Installs the Meter

Your retailer's appointed metering provider installs the meter and completes energisation where applicable. This timing is separate from Energex's network attendance and depends on the retailer and metering provider. A connected service line does not by itself mean the temporary power pole is live.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

There is no single guaranteed end-to-end timeline, but plan on Energex taking 2–4 weeks to connect once the EWR is in, or 6–8 weeks if traffic control is needed. The metering provider's timing is separate.

Pole installation: Usually within 1-3 business days of your order, depending on our schedule and your site readiness.

Paperwork: Timing depends on the Connect Application assessment and acceptance of the Connection Offer.

Energex network attendance: Usually 2–4 weeks from the EWR, or 6–8 weeks if traffic control is needed. This does not include meter installation or energisation.

Because Connect Application assessment, offer acceptance, retailer service orders, site readiness, Energex attendance and metering are separate dependencies, start early and do not book trades against a fixed end-to-end promise.

What Does It Cost?

Costs can come from several parties, and not every site attracts the same charges:

1. Our Pole Hire (From $600+GST)

Our temporary power pole hire starts from $600+GST for a standard single-phase pole (+ delivery). That figure is the 12 week minimum hire — 84 days at the daily rate, not a booking fee — and it covers installation, the free EWR lodgement, and collection at the end of your build. Most builds run longer than 12 weeks, and hire past the minimum is billed in arrears at the same daily rate, which works out to about $50 a week excluding GST.

Three-phase poles and poles requiring traffic control (busy roads, state-controlled roads) are priced higher due to the additional equipment and logistics involved.

2. Network, Retailer and Metering Charges Vary

Energex advises that many standard new connections are free. If network work is chargeable, the amount and conditions will be set out in the Connection Offer. Retailer and metering-provider charges can also vary, so confirm them with your chosen retailer.

There is no reliable universal all-in cost. Your total can include Poles and Holes pole hire and delivery, any network charge in the Connection Offer, retailer or metering charges, and any required traffic control. Check our linked pricing guide for current pole-hire pricing and get site-specific quotes before budgeting.

Traffic Control: When Is It Needed?

If your temporary power pole needs to be installed on a road verge adjacent to a busy road, council or the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) may require a traffic management plan (TMP). This is common on main roads, collector streets, and state-controlled roads.

Traffic control adds cost and lead time: allow 6–8 weeks for the Energex connection instead of the usual 2–4. A basic TC setup for a quiet suburban street might add $300-600 to the job. A complex setup on a state-controlled road with TMR-approved traffic management can add $1,000-2,000+. We arrange traffic control as part of our service — you don't need to source it separately.

For most residential builds in suburban Brisbane, traffic control is not required. The pole goes on the property boundary or road verge of a quiet residential street, and no traffic management is needed.

Tips to Speed Up Your Connection

Start the process before you need power. Energex usually needs 2–4 weeks to connect, or 6–8 weeks with traffic control, and metering timing is separate. Book at least four weeks ahead, or eight for a busy-road site.

Open your retailer account early. The retailer has to create the account and send the service orders, and it can only book Energex and the meter once it has the EWR number we email you. Opening the account the day you book removes the most common delay.

Confirm your site is accessible. If we arrive and can't access the site (locked gates, blocked verge, demolition in progress), the install gets postponed. Make sure we have clear access to the pole location on delivery day.

Check if you need traffic control early. If your site is on a main road, let us know when ordering. TC requires advance booking with a traffic management provider, and last-minute TC arrangements can cause delays and higher costs.

New estates: check Energex network availability. In brand-new estates where the overhead network hasn't been fully built yet, Energex may not be able to connect until their infrastructure is complete. If you're building in a new estate, it's worth confirming with Energex (or asking us to check) whether temporary supply is available before ordering.

What Happens at the End of Your Build?

When your build is complete, call your retailer to close the temporary account, or ask them for a Supply Abolishment if the wires aren't moving to a permanent supply. We can't remove the pole while it's still wired. Once it's disconnected, contact us to book collection. Collection is included in your hire cost — there's no additional charge.

Most temporary power poles stay on site for 6-12 months, depending on the build timeline. There's no maximum hire period and no penalty for a long build — past the 12 week minimum, hire simply continues at the same daily rate and is billed in arrears, so a six month build works out at around $1,300 excluding GST in pole hire.

Ready to Get Connected?

Order your temporary power pole online and we'll install the pole, lodge the Energex paperwork, and email you the EWR number to pass to your electricity retailer. Learn more about our temporary power pole hire service, or call us on (07) 3367 2237 if you have questions about your specific site.