Before the first crew arrives on your plot, you need power: for the concrete mixer, power tools, lighting and — increasingly — a site cabin. Below is the whole journey from the application to the network operator to the handover of the house, in the order it actually happens. The guide describes the process in Poland.
1. Temporary supply from the network operator
The distribution network operator (depending on the region: PGE Dystrybucja, Stoen Operator, Tauron, Enea, Energa) issues the connection conditions. For a new house you file a connection application marked as a supply for the building site (a temporary connection), or straight away for the permanent connection that you then use during construction. The second option is usually cheaper and simpler, because nothing has to be rebuilt later — it’s worth asking about.
What you need to prepare:
- legal title to the plot (notarial deed or a land register extract),
- a site plan or map with the plot marked,
- the expected connection capacity — for the construction period 7–11 kW is usually enough (a 3 × 16–20 A main fuse),
- details for the contract (once the connection is built, you sign a comprehensive contract with an energy supplier).
Operator lead times are counted in weeks or months, so it’s worth applying as soon as you buy the plot, before the building permit.
2. Cable connection box and meter
The operator builds the connection up to the cable connection box (a box in the fence or on a pole) and installs the meter in it. Everything beyond the box is your responsibility — and this is where the site board comes in.
3. Construction site distribution board
A construction site distribution board (site board) is a portable box with:
- a main switch,
- an RCD (residual current device — protects people against electric shock; mandatory on a building site),
- MCBs (miniature circuit breakers),
- 230 V and 400 V (three-phase) sockets for tools and machines.
It must be connected to the cable connection box by a qualified electrician, and tests are carried out before it is put into use (protective conductor continuity, effectiveness of protection, RCD test). Keep the test report with the building site documents.
You have three options:
- Buy a site board — classified ads start at around PLN 2,300 gross for a version with a meter (as of 10.2026); after the build it ends up in the garage.
- Rent by the day — daily rates make sense for a few days of work, not for a year-long build.
- Rent by the month — you pay a fixed monthly fee, get a site board with a test report, and return it after the build. This is how Svalcon Rent works: a fixed monthly fee (current price on the rental page), minimum 3 months, delivery and connection by a qualified electrician, and half of the rent you’ve paid comes back as a discount on a consumer unit for the house (up to PLN 500).
If several crews on site settle electricity separately, choose a site board with a sub-meter — readings from the handover and return reports put an end to disputes about the bill.
4. Safety on the building site
- Only use site-grade extension leads (rubber, IP44), fully unwound from the reel.
- Don’t bypass the RCD “because it keeps tripping” — if it trips, something is damaged.
- The site board stands on stable ground with the door closed, and the supply cable is kept out of machine traffic routes.
- In winter, check that the box isn’t standing in water and the seals are intact.
5. House finished — what next with power
Once the installation in the house is complete, the electrician fits the consumer unit and carries out the acceptance tests. The site board goes back to the rental company (or to the garage). If the connection was temporary, you ask the operator to change it to a permanent one; with a permanent connection, you only update the capacity in the contract if the house needs more (heat pump, EV charger).
It’s worth planning the consumer unit during construction — how many circuits, whether there will be solar PV with a battery, an EV charger, a heat pump. In the Svalcon Home configurator you see the price and the number of modules straight away, and if you rented a site board from Svalcon Rent, the rent discount is applied when you order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect the site board myself? No. The connection to the cable connection box and the tests must be done by a qualified electrician (Polish SEP “E” licence). With turnkey rental, we do it for you.
How much electricity does a building site use? It depends on the stage; a shell build typically uses from a few dozen to a few hundred kWh per month. The biggest loads are the concrete mixer, the hoist and heating the site cabin in winter.
What about the deposit when renting? The deposit secures against damage to, or non-return of, the site board. When a working board is returned, it is refunded in full after the return report.