Temporary power for a construction site or event in Alberta has to be permitted, built to the Canadian Electrical Code and inspected, the same as permanent wiring. The two rules that matter most on a site are these: a temporary construction service needs an electrical permit pulled by a master electrician (homeowners cannot pull one), and every 15 and 20 amp receptacle on the temporary system needs Class A GFCI protection. Beyond that, settle three things before you order: how much power the heaters and tools need, whether you want an EPCOR temporary service or a generator, and how fast you need it energized.
What the code calls temporary wiring
Section 76 of the Canadian Electrical Code covers temporary wiring for construction and demolition. Alberta enforces the 2024 edition (CSA C22.1-24), in force since 1 April 2025 under the Safety Codes Act; the Government of Alberta codes page confirms the edition. The Section 76 rules a superintendent should know:
- Rule 76-004: grounding and bonding follow Section 10, the same as a permanent installation.
- Rule 76-006: enclosures must be weatherproof and lockable, or Type 3R rated.
- Rule 76-012: branch circuits are run and protected like permanent circuits.
- Rule 76-016: 5-15R and 5-20R receptacles (the ordinary 15 and 20 amp outlets your tools plug into) must have Class A GFCI protection.
Two related points trip people up. Permanent receptacles in a building that are energized during construction do not fall under 76-016, but outdoor ones within 2.5 metres of grade still need GFCI under Rule 26-704. And events are not Section 76 at all: carnivals, film sets, home shows, festival stages and live theatre fall under Section 66, and the 2024 edition added GFCI protection for cords that feed receptacles in temporary outdoor setups such as tents. Alberta Municipal Affairs has also issued a STANDATA bulletin on Section 76 (24-ECB-076); ask your electrician whether any Alberta variance applies to your site.
Permits: who pulls them and what the City expects
A temporary construction service is an electrical installation, so it needs a permit and inspection. In Alberta the homeowner permit path does not extend to temporary construction services, which means a master electrician pulls the permit even on a residential build. In Edmonton the City issues the permit, inspections are requested through SelfServe or 311, and the permit creates the site identifier EPCOR and your retailer use to set up the account.
The one exception the City of Edmonton publishes is narrow: plugging a single 30 amp temporary heater into a receptacle in a new home after permanent power has been energized does not need a permit or inspection. A temporary pole, a site panel or a generator tied into building wiring all do.
EPCOR temporary service or a generator?
In Edmonton, EPCOR’s temporary construction service is available for up to one year, and the contact is EDTI Customer Engineering Services at 780-412-3128. The EPCOR service connections FAQ describes the process. EPCOR publishes no fee specifically for temporary service; costs come in the estimate from your EPCOR representative.
A utility temporary service suits a site that will run for months, needs steady power for heaters and drying equipment through a winter, or sits where fuel delivery and generator noise would bother the neighbours. A generator suits a site that needs power in hours rather than weeks, has no nearby distribution to tap, or will be short. Many sites use both: a generator to start, then the utility service once it is energized.
If a generator will feed any building wiring, it connects through an approved transfer switch so it cannot backfeed the utility lines. Health Canada says to run generators at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings with exhaust pointed away from windows and doors, and never indoors or in a garage. Our post on generators and transfer switches covers backfeeding in detail.
Sizing: heaters first, then tools
In an Edmonton winter the heaters, not the tools, set the size of a temporary service. A single construction heater can draw 30 amps on its own, and a mid-size house under construction may run several, plus dehumidifiers and drying fans if it is a restoration job. Add the tools (compressors and tile saws have high starting currents), lighting, and whatever the trades will plug in without asking. Then add room for the next stage, because the service you order in October is the one you live with in February.
Give your electrician a plain list: heaters and their nameplate ratings, large tools, trailers and offices, how long the site will run, and whether a welder or EV will be on site. That list becomes the load calculation EPCOR uses to size the service and the inspector expects with the permit.
Event and festival power
Events live under Section 66 and are their own discipline: properly grounded stage and audio power, vendor rows with many GFCI-protected receptacles, lighting towers, and cable runs across public walkways that need protection and ramps. The 2024 code’s GFCI requirement for cords feeding receptacles in tents applies directly to vendor and beer tents. An outdoor stage in Alberta can see rain, wind and a hard frost in one weekend, so enclosures and connectors are specified for it. Book early, hand over the site plan and vendor list, and expect an inspection.
OHS: the rules beside the code
Electrical installation on an Alberta site is governed by the Canadian Electrical Code under the Safety Codes Act, but the Alberta OHS Code sets the worker-safety expectations around it. Part 17 covers overhead power lines and the safe limit of approach (sections 225 to 227), which matters any time a boom, a crane or a scaffold goes up near a line; Part 15 covers hazardous energy control, which is lock-out when anyone works on the temporary system. The temporary power plan should show where the overhead lines are.
How fast can it happen, and when to call an electrician
Call as early as you can. EPCOR’s process has stages (quote and design, the City permit, inspection, energization) that each take time; for permanent power it asks applicants to apply at least four months ahead. Temporary services move faster but still need a permit, an inspection and an EPCOR crew. A generator set-up with a site panel and GFCI-protected distribution can be mobilized far more quickly, and for a restoration job or a site that has lost power, MNR’s 24 hour emergency line is the place to start.
Call a licensed electrician before you rent anything, when a site panel is open, damaged or unlocked, when breakers or GFCIs trip repeatedly, when a generator will touch building wiring, or when work will happen near overhead lines. For a scheduled build or event, see our temporary power service page and request an estimate. Restoration contractors and adjusters can read how we handle fire and flood restoration electrical work, and Edmonton businesses planning an outdoor event can start with our small business electrician page.
Quick answers
Do I need a permit for temporary power on a construction site in Alberta?
Yes. A temporary construction service is an electrical installation under the Safety Codes Act and needs a permit and inspection. Homeowner permits do not cover temporary construction services, so a master electrician pulls the permit.
Does every outlet on a job site need GFCI protection?
Under Rule 76-016 of the Canadian Electrical Code, every 5-15R and 5-20R receptacle on the temporary system needs Class A GFCI protection. Outdoor permanent receptacles within 2.5 metres of grade also need it under Rule 26-704.
How long can an EPCOR temporary construction service stay in place?
EPCOR states that temporary construction service is available for up to one year. Contact EDTI Customer Engineering Services at 780-412-3128 to arrange it.
Is event power covered by the same rules as construction power?
No. Construction and demolition sites fall under Section 76; events such as festivals, film sets and home shows fall under Section 66. The 2024 code added GFCI protection for cords feeding receptacles in temporary outdoor setups like tents.
How far from a building should a job-site generator run?
Health Canada advises at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings, exhaust pointed away from doors and windows, and never inside a garage or enclosed space. Any connection to building wiring goes through an approved transfer switch.
