Power line costs

[Doug Wegener]

Edison used to give cost to extend power lines but no longer do.

Im looking for cost per linear foot to extend power lines to bring power in to a vacant lot from overhead lines. Do you have a local utility that has given you a cost any time recently?

I wouldnt think the cost to install poles and extend lines would vary much from locale to locale.

Send me an e-mail if you dont want to respond here.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Tom Barclay]

My suggestion would be to contact a local electrician. Most work on private property is contracted not through the power company, but a local subcontractor.

 

[CANative]

Too many variables.

A simple power drop might only run three or four thousand dollars. If they have to start installing poles and transformers and using aerial cable the cost could skyrocket.

The last estimate I got from PG&E (about two years ago) to bring a line from the street, through an adjacent property and onto the subject property (about 150 feet) was $10,000±

 

[Mr Rex]

Boyd is right. Our local utility will run a certain distance for free, based on estimated usage and rate of return. After that it gets expensive fast. Depending on distance, they may have to run primary lines and then secondary, or they may be able to simply run secondary from the existing line. Very big difference in cost.

 

[Doug Wegener]

They do approx. $2000 work for free. I wont know what has to be done until friday. It may involved installing multiple poles to the property and 500 feet or more of line. Im just not sure.

They wont estimate cost until a site plan and application has been made. There must be a way to estimate these costs somehow.

None of the lots on that block have been developed and Im suspecting this is the reason why.

 

[David Massey]

Duke Power in NC charged me about $4,500 to run an underground line and add a transformer box for a new house I built on my farm. The house is 1,600 feet from the main power line. They ran 100 feet for "free." So that comes out to $30 a foot. But, gee there are so many varibles... hope this helps.

 

[PropertyEconomics]

I would call an electrical contractor ... ones that do subdivisions and public works ... they can give you a pretty good idea what it costs and what the codes are for your area.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Most work on private property is contracted not through the power company, but a local subcontractor.

Our Elec coop still installs most of theirs and charges the cost of materials as a deposit.

Try Wiki answers or ask your local rural co-op.

 

[Doug Wegener]

Good idea

I would call an electrical contractor ... ones that do subdivisions and public works ... they can give you a pretty good idea what it costs and what the codes are for your area.

If I can get them to talk.

 

[Tom Barclay]

Jeeez

If I can get them to talk.

I don't see this as any significant problem. If you can't get any information from the seller of the services(utility), you do your best to contact the buyers of their services(contractors). They (buyers/contractors) are the one's that sign the electrical permits, and determine the location of the service entrance. They are the one who bill for the electrical connection as a part of their contract. In my experience, you will get more information than you ever hoped for. Cost per pole, cost per linear foot, cost per foot of elevation, cost per foot of 2/0/,30,4/0 wire, transformers, undergrounds vs. overheads, etc..
IMHO, if you won't try to contact the buyers of the services you are tying to estimate, and the seller won't give you an estimate, you should withdraw from the assignment because you don't have squat. You won't get any defensible information from a nationwide poll of appraiser's experience.