Build cost for a new service in rural area

F

fastline

Senior Member
Location
midwest usa
Occupation
Engineer
I am assisting someone in getting 3 phase power on their farm. They have several grain systems and require 150kva. Decision has not been made whether 480v or 208v will be most economical. However, I was a little surprised of the $50k estimate for 208v, simply set one pole, and go 130ft underground to a pad mount transformer. That cost is not even turnkey, requiring "others" to provide the trenching, conduits, and transformer pad.

I guess a couple questions. Does this seem inline for a rural electric provider, given that 3P is already present? It was my understanding that the electric company is basically 'not for profit', and obtains equipment at their wholesale prices. The price alone for the transformer was $20,000, which I think is near retail? Or maybe the price is the price?

Due to the high cost, the farmer is wondering about just doing all overhead rather than pad mount, but I don't know if that saves much to go with pole pigs?

This electric provider gives no credit or assistance in any service. But if served by the larger municipal provider, I have had a much bigger service done FOR FREE. I want to say I have talked to my state before, which was pointless.
 
Not surprised being rural.

My quote for a 200 A residential service in Lewis co WA PUD 3 years ago was $8k, more than double that now. plus me providing trenching, 2" sch 40 conduit, etc and transportation of the vault and pad. 12 years ago in Kent WA urban 200 A service was $179 from PSE.
 
Nonprofit POCOs are dependent on where you live. NE is one of them. Even so, prices have been jumping.
We did a lot of AG work and never considered anything less than 480 if it was available. Those farms grow.
Let the POCO decide on transformer size. It will most likely be considerably less than what you have calculated.
Grain systems can be high demand but typically only for a few weeks in the fall when grain is being conditioned for storage.
 
I mean, what sort of calculation do they use for transformer sizing? I've seen some insanely small sizes for residential but at least in this case, there is 400kva of loads that will run together and run near continuous for 1-2mo. The size was somewhat from the POCO, but unless those transformers can eat 260% overload for weeks, this will get interesting because the loads are exactly a guess.

Are 480v transformers any cheaper than 208v? I'm not seeing it. Also was not sure if pole pigs were any cheaper? This POCO is a serious PITA. Took them 8 weeks just to return a quote. Put the wrong voltage on it, did not compare to overhead as requested, and provide a vague quote.
 
what sort of calculation do they use for transformer sizing

lol, it is not enginering, it is ROI.
poco here puts a single 24 kVA xfmr for 4 homes with 200A services which have all electric kitchens but with gas heat and HWH.

poco eng told me 250% overload for days is OK, if one burns up, simply replace it with 37.5 kVA
 
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