Transmission Line Cost

[jktwn]

I'm needing a good rough estimate of the cost per mile to build a 50 mile 138KV, 1272 ACSR transmission line in the central US excluding land acqusition cost? Route is straight, land is flat, mostly open range and sparsly populated. Considering wooden H-frame or concrete structures. Sorry, I know there are lots of variables.

thanks

JTW

 

[cranky108]

concrete structures? Very few utilities, if any, in the central US use concrete. Most use wood, some use steel.

The land cost is the largest cost, and also legal fights because of NIMBY. Also often farmers don't want to move irrigation systems, for right aways.

The cost to install depends to access to roads, and if structures need to be assembled, and installed by helicopter.

Also there are different climents and soils in the central US, so different construction, wood types, foundations etc.

Any cost you recieve will have a + or - % depending on how much you can limit the variables.

 

[FPelec]

jktwn,
I think that 250,000 to 350,000 $/km can be consideredas as a (very) preliminary cost estimate.
In my opinion, in addition to land costs and authorization issues, some design criteria (e.g. number of suspension towers versus number of anchoring towers, wind and snow loads, etc..) can have a substantial impact on the cost and therefore these issues shall be decided in order to have a realistic cost estimate.
Best reagards,
fpelec

Si duri puer ingeni videtur,
preconem facias vel architectum.

 

[jktwn]

thanks FPelec. Will be designed for NESC Hheavy.

 

[resqcapt19]

They are doing a 138kV project in north central Illinois right now and as I recall the costs are about $1,000,000/per mile. It took them at least 3 years to get the required approval from the Commerce Commission. They are using steel poles on the project.

 

[rcw retired EE]

Million $/mile is the very rough figure we use in discussion with independent power plant developers who are doing preliminary evaluations of site locations. That figure could be -50%/+ 300% depending on terrain, voltage, right-of-way, number of dead ends, etc.

 

[larrym]

In California, excluding the permitting, etc. issues, I have seen estimates of $1M to $1.5M depending on tower construction and number of circuits
Larry

 

[resqcapt19]

The cost estimate that was been filled with the Commerce Commission was for 20 miles of 138 kV line and three 138 kV breakers at the amount of $21,357,530. This is the Ameren LaSalle/Wedron line. A second, 8 mile line with one 138 kV breaker has an estimated cost of $8,963,967. The first project is under construction at this time and the second one will start next year. This second line is the Ameren Ottawa/Wedron line.

 

[JG2828]

This document provides some good estimates. See page 8 for transmission line estimates. Not exactly what you are looking for but read the notes section also.

 

[FPelec]

These costs seems significantly higher compared to european ones:
herebelow you can find a document with cost comparisons between different ENTSO-E countries; for example a 150 kV line (lattice steel towers, single 31.5 mm ACSR curlew-like conductor) in a flat rural area would cost about 270 k€/km, i.e. about 600k$ per mile.




Si duri puer ingeni videtur,
preconem facias vel architectum.