Carry temporary power as its own line item, priced from a written load list, a stated duration and shift pattern, and a short list of assumptions about who disconnects the utility and who pays for fuel. Anything the bid does not spell out tends to become a dispute later, usually when the schedule stretches or the utility drop is not where the drawings said it would be. The goal is a line that an owner or general contractor can read, accept and hold you to without a phone call.
The starting assumption is the utility status of the structure. OSHA’s demolition rule, 29 CFR 1926.850, requires an engineering survey by a competent person before demolition starts, and it requires electric and other service lines to be shut off, capped or otherwise controlled outside the building line before work begins. Once the building is dead, your crew still needs power for tools, lighting, water handling and dust control, and that is the load this line item covers. Confirm how the rule applies to your jurisdiction and contract with your safety lead or counsel.
This article is organized around bid lines and assumptions rather than the sequence of a job. For the on-site timeline of a teardown, see demolition site generator rental and teardown power. For the items to confirm before the first shift, see this pre-demolition power checklist.
Start with the utility disconnect assumption
Write down whether the utility has been disconnected, who confirmed it, and whether the building will have any live service during the work. A site that keeps a live service for a few weeks is priced differently from one that is dead on day one. If you do not know, say so in the bid and name the date by which the owner must confirm.
The disconnect assumption also decides whether a generator is the primary source or a backup. When temporary utility service is promised but not yet installed, a generator often covers the gap, and the bid should say that it covers the gap and not the whole job.
Build the line from a load list
Size from a written list of what will run, not from a rule of thumb. The construction site generator sizing guide walks through building that list, including starting loads for motors and pumps. Demolition tends to have a mix of tools, lighting, dewatering or dust-suppression pumps, and a site office or decon trailer, and the mix changes between phases. For a job inside a standing building, generator planning for interior selective demolition explains how loads, placement and hours differ from a full teardown.
The table below shows how to turn that mix into bid inputs. Each row is a load category an estimator can price separately, with the question that has to be answered before the number goes in. None of the entries assume a particular wattage, because those depend on the equipment you bring.
| Load category | Question to answer before pricing | Where it lands in the bid |
|---|---|---|
| Hand tools and saws | Which phases run them, and at the same time as what? | Peak load, sized once |
| Lighting | Day work only, or extended hours? | Peak load and shift pattern |
| Pumps and dust suppression | Do motors start together or staggered? | Starting load margin |
| Site office or trailer | Is it yours, or does the owner supply it? | Include or exclude |
| Heavy cutting or processing gear | Does it run on site power or its own engine? | Peak load or exclusion |
The fleet runs from 20 kW to 2000 kW, so a bid can name a unit class without forcing a guess at the top end. Distribution matters as much as the generator, and the power distribution page covers the cables and panels that carry the load across a spread-out site.
Duration and shift pattern
Billing for generator rental follows single, double or triple shift, so the shift pattern in your bid should match the way your crew will work. A single-shift job and a triple-shift job with the same load are different line items, and stating the pattern removes the guesswork. The rental pricing guide explains what drives rental cost, so you can see which inputs move your number.
State the duration as a window with a start trigger, for example from mobilization to a defined completion event, and not as a calendar guess. If the start depends on a permit or a utility disconnect, tie the clock to that event in writing.
Fuel and its place in the bid
This fleet is diesel, so fuel is a separate decision from the rental itself. Decide whether the bid includes fuel, who orders it, and who is responsible when a tank runs dry on a weekend. The fuel consumption chart gives a starting point for estimating burn at different load levels, and your own load profile will move the result.
What to include, what to exclude, and what to state
The list below is a working checklist for the bid language. It follows a paragraph of its own because the items interact: an exclusion without a matching assumption invites an argument, and an assumption without a trigger is hard to enforce. Treat each item as a sentence to confirm with your contract and counsel.
- Include: the generator class, the shift pattern used for pricing, and the duration window with its start trigger.
- Include: distribution from the generator to the work area, if you are supplying it.
- Exclude: permanent electrical work, utility fees and repair of utility damage unless the contract assigns them to you.
- State as an assumption: the building is disconnected and capped before you mobilize, and who confirms that.
- State as an assumption: fuel responsibility, refueling access and who supplies the fuel.
- State as an assumption: that the load list governs, and a changed load list changes the price.
Carry a contingency for schedule extension
Schedules in demolition move for reasons outside the crew’s control, such as hidden conditions, weather and delays in disconnects. Rather than inflating the base rate, add a separate contingency line or an extension rate that applies per additional period. Whether the contingency is a number you hold internally or a rate you show the owner depends on the contract and on how the client reads bids.
Naming the extension mechanism up front also protects the owner relationship. The conversation changes from “why is this more expensive” to “the extension rate applied, as stated.”
Putting the line in front of the owner
Stag Power Rentals supplies diesel generators from its Dickinson, TX yard across a 20 kW to 2000 kW fleet, with billing by single, double or triple shift. If you want to see how Stag serves other trades, the construction industry overview is the place to start. When your load list and shift plan are drafted, send them through the quote form so the number in your bid comes from a current rental price and not a placeholder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should temporary power be a separate line in a demolition bid?
Yes, in most cases. A separate line makes the assumptions visible and lets you adjust it if the load list or schedule changes. Confirm how your contract wants costs itemized.
What should a bid assume about the utility disconnect?
State that the building is disconnected and capped before mobilization, and name who confirms it. OSHA 1926.850 requires service lines to be shut off, capped or otherwise controlled outside the building line before demolition starts. Check how it applies to your site with your safety lead or counsel.
How do I size the generator for a bid?
Build a load list of the tools, lights, pumps and trailers that will run, and account for motor starting loads. The sizing guide linked above covers the method. The result depends on your equipment and phasing.
How does shift pattern affect the rental line?
Stag bills by single, double or triple shift, so a bid should price the shift pattern the crew will work. If the pattern changes, the line should change with it.
Who should pay for diesel fuel?
That depends on the contract. Decide it before bid day, write it as an assumption, and use the fuel consumption chart to estimate burn at your expected load.