All costs are $x1,000
Notes/Comments:
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2025 Final VEA Generator Interconnection Unit Cost Guide 138 kV
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Revised as of: 2-19-2025
Costs for 230kV and 500 kV facilities are provided in GLW's
Equipment Categories Units PU Cost Guide.
New Substation Equipment
Complete 3-CB ring bus Substation, equipped with one line position to $14,300 The station typically is designed with the capability to be
terminate a single gen-tie with as many as (2) outgoing lines. expanded to a multi-bay Breaker and a Half station.
Transformer cost is not included.
New Substation Equipment
Transformer Banks:
230/138 kV lump sum See GLW's PU Cost Guide
(Add additional options)
Line Positions to terminate gen-ties and Transformer Bank positions Position cost estimate includes cost
Single Breaker (add third breaker to breaker and a half) per unit $2,000 of any related disconnect switches
Breaker and a half (2CB) per unit 5,000 and protection equipment located within
Breaker and a half (3CB) per unit 6,230 the position
Sectionalizing Breaker per unit
Shunt Capacitors per unit If required these items will be estimated as a lump sum
Miscellaneous Equipment (see comments) If required these items will be estimated as a lump sum.
Bus Tie (1CB) lump sum
Shunt Reactors lump sum
Phase Shifter lump sum
Ground Bank lump sum
Series Capacitors lump sum
Static VAR Compensator (SVC) lump sum
Tertiary Reactors (1 reactor, 1 bay) lump sum
Gas Insulated Substation (in lieu of open air construction) lump sum Not typical, would be estimated as a Lump sum, if GIS
required.
Replacement Substation Equipment
Line drops (Tie Downs)- 3 phases lump sum Not typical to the VEA system.
Circuit Breakers (including replacement of foundation) per unit N/A Not typical to the VEA system.
Circuit Breakers (without TRV caps) lump sum Not typical to the VEA system.
Transient recovery voltage capacitors (set of 3, separate from CBs) lump sum
Disconnect switches (incl. steel structures and foundations) per unit 350
Line protection relays (other end of line) per set 340
Wave Trap - 1 phase only lump sum Not typical to the VEA system.
Wave Trap removal lump sum
New Protection Equipment
New RAS lump sum Will be estimated as needed.
RAS Relays lump sum
Additional set of bushing current transformers (3) at existing CBs lump sum
Information Technology (IT) Equipment
IT interface equipment - Control Rooms
Communication rack placed in existing B station MEER bldg per set Will be estimated as needed.
Comm. Rack with own environmental enclosure per set
Full Comm. package for AA or A stations per set
Prefab communications building per unit
48V DC power supply for comm. equipment per set
100' self-supporting comm. tower (3 legs) per unit
120' self-supporting comm. tower (4 legs) per unit
IT interface equipment - miscellaneous equipment
Light wave terminal per unit
Microwave terminal and dish antennas per set
Dehydrator for microwave antennas per unit
Channel bank per unit
Digital Access Cross Connect (DACS) per unit
Network synchronization equipment (BITS clock) per unit
Large router for network access to work bases per unit
Small router for equipment monitoring, "data beyond SCADA" per unit
T1 cross connect per unit
Fiber to Telco connection (high voltage protected) per unit
Satellite Terminal for "RTU only" locations per unit
IT interface equipment - T/L
Fiber optic cable on existing poles per mile
Fiber optic cable on new poles per mile
New HV Transmission Line
Double Circuit, Strung on both sides, Tubular Steel Pole per mile 3,500 Assumes no environmental, permitting or ROW acquisition.
Single Circuit, Tubular Steel Pole per mile 2,200
SubTransmission Line (Overhead Facilities) SubTransmission not typical to the VEA system.
SubTransmission Line (Underground Facilities)
Removal of HV Transmission Line (complete tear down)
Double Circuit per mile 800 Assumes removal of old poles.
Single Circuit per mile 500
Reconductor/Upgrade Transmission Line
Double Circuit, Strung on both sides, Tubular Steel Pole per mile 2,595 Assumes removal of existing conductor and installation of
Single Circuit, Tubular Steel Pole per mile 1,480 new.
Metering
Upgrade of existing RTUs lump sum
Lump Sum costs below are in addition to per-unit or lump-sum costs listed above:
Engineering costs lump sum Will be estimated as needed.
Capitalized Licensing and Permitting Costs, including lump sum
mitigation measures, FAA permits, etc.
Civil work: Site Preparation including site grading, ground grid,
and walls/fencing/containment lump sum
General Facilities: station light & power, backup generator, lump sum
station utilities (water, gas, etc. if manned substation)
Substation Control (MEER) Buildings lump sum
Incremental cost for transmission line crossings (roads, lump sum
streams, rail, highway, other T\L)
Land cost for substations and T/L ROW lump sum
Incremental cost of soil/geotechnical mitigation measures lump sum
Incremental environmental monitoring and mitigations lump sum
Corporate Overheads (A&G, P&B, and AFUDC) lump sum
Income Tax Component of Contribution (ITCC) lump sum
Bulk Transmission (138 kV) Factors for use in developing cost estimates in Phase I Generator Interconnection Studies
As of 2-19-2025
Simplified example on how to apply factors:
$ millions Apply Factor Delta
Hypothetical baseline cost per mile for Double Circuit 220 kV line (strung one side) using Lattice Towers: 2.00
Known characteristics of proposed transmission line ROW at Phase I study:
Will be constructed in mountainous terrain 2.00 2.0 x 2.0 =4 2.0
No population density issues
High wind-prone area (but not icy) 1.35 2.0 x 1.35 =2.7 0.7
Total Delta (summation of applied factor) 2.7
Estimated cost per mile 2.0
Estimated cost per mile including applied factors ($ million/ mile) 4.7
Factor Types: Low Impact factors: Medium Impact factors: High Impact factors:
Terrain flat hilly mountain forest
Population density rural desert suburban urban/metro
Weather study (increase in 1/2" ice, or 20# wind 1" ice, 6# wind > 2" ice, 6# wind
structural steel amount and foundation volume)
Factor Amounts: Low Impact factors: Medium Impact factors: High Impact factors:
Terrain 1.0X to 1.25X 1.35X to 1.50X 2.0X to 3.0X
Population density 1.00X to 1.10X 1.33X 1.67X
Weather study 1.35X 1.45X 1.60X
Factor Type Explanation of Factor issues and Factor multipliers
Terrain Going from flat to mountainous terrain increases the cost of a transmission line. Terrain influences where structures are located, how many structures will be required and
which type (strength) of structures will be required. As terrain becomes more rugged, access to the site and construction also gets more complex.
Population density Population and land use effect the cost of a transmission line. Structure quantities may be increased and/or made taller in more populated areas for aesthetic purposes, EMF
mitigation efforts or due to crossings. Construction activities may also be impacted by physical constraints and work hour restrictions.
Weather study Transmission line costs increase as weather loading conditions increase. Wind and ice increase the loading on transmission structures which may require stronger structure
types or an increased number of structures to reduce the span lengths.
ESCALATION OVERVIEW :
Current VEA Unit Cost Guide as posted on the CAISO website is in 2025 Constant Dollars.
VEA’s cost estimating is done in 2025 constant dollars and then escalated over the years during which the project will be
constructed, arriving at project costs in 2025 Constant Dollars Escalated to OD Year.
DEFINITIONS :
Project Cost in 2025 Constant Dollars represents the cost of the Project if all costs were paid for in 2025.
Project Cost Escalated to OD Year represents the cost of the Project if all costs were paid for in the OD Year.
Mathematical formula: Constant Dollars Escalated to OD Year = Cost in Constant Dollars + Escalation to OD Y
= Cost in Constant Dollars x Escalation Factor
Proposed Escalation Rate - Effective 2-19-2025
Mnemonic 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033
Escalation Rate (Percent Change) 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Escalation Factors (Inflation Index) 1.000 1.030 1.061 1.093 1.126 1.159 1.194 1.230 1.267
= Cost in Constant Dollars + Escalation to OD Year
= Cost in Constant Dollars x Escalation Factor
alation Rate - Effective 2-19-2025
2034 2035
3.00% 3.00%
1.305 1.344
