Electric utility construction price indexes

Construction costs for the distribution systems series increased by 1.0% in first half of 2010 compared with the 2009 annual index. Higher costs for labour (+4.4%) and overhead conductors (+7.2%) were the major contributors to the advance.

Construction costs for the transmission line system series rose 0.9% during the first half of 2010, while the transmission line component increased 2.0%, largely as a result of installation labour (+4.4%). The substation component edged up 0.2% in the first half of 2010, led by an 8.1% increase in the power cables and buswork component.

Compared with 2008 final data, the revised 2009 data show increases for both the distribution systems (+0.5%) and the transmission line system series (+0.6%). The transmission line component declined by 0.7%, while the substation component increased by 1.4%.

Note: This release presents data that are not seasonally adjusted and the indexes published are subject to a two-year revision period after dissemination of a given year's data.

Available on CANSIM: table 327-0011.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2316.

The second quarter 2010 issue of Capital Expenditure Price Statistics (62-007-X, free) will be available in October.

The electric utility construction price indexes annual 2010 data will be released on April 7, 2011.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the Client Services (toll-free 1-888-951-4550; 613-951-4550; fax: 613-951-3117; ppd-info-dpp@statcan.gc.ca), Producer Prices Division.