Construction Costs for Canada’s Electric Utility Distribution Systems, 2014 vs. 2013
Construction costs for the electric utility distribution systems increased 0.1% in 2014 compared with the 2013 Electric Utility Construction Price Index. Higher costs for construction indirects (+4.9%), which include engineering (+5.0%), and administration and overheads (+4.8%), were tempered by lower costs for labour (-2.3%) and construction equipment (-0.9%).
In 2014, construction costs for transmission line systems increased by 2.7%. The transmission lines component rose 1.1%, largely as a result of higher equipment costs (+7.6%). The substations component increased by 3.5%, led by higher costs for power transformers as well as for circuit breakers, circuit reclosers (both up 7.1%).