Cost To Run Power 500 Feet (Detailed Guide With Several AMP Examples)

You can run power lines around 500 feet overhead and underground. But the cost will be different. The underground power lines are better than the overhead lines as they have many benefits. Today, we shall discuss the cost of the power lines running 500 feet.

Running the power lines for 500 feet can cost about $4,500-$20,000. Underground lines cost around $10,000 to $30,000. On the contrary, overhead line installation costs between $5,000 and $10,000. The cost may vary depending on terrain difficulty and the cable and conduit used for the same.

The cost may vary depending on various factors like the location, weather conditions, time taken for installation, labor cost per hour, etc. Sometimes, you may receive a discount from the utility company. This guide will give you detailed information about the cost of running power lines 500 feet.

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Underground vs. overhead power lines

The house owners run power lines either overhead or underground.

Both procedures have their advantages and disadvantages.

Some prefer underground power lines, and some have overhead power lines.

Benefits of underground power lines

Underground power lines are better than overhead power lines because:

These lines cannot bend downwards due to the trees or debris. Since it is underground, it will remain in its place.

These lines do not get affected by any rains or thunderstorms.
Underground power lines lose much less power than overhead power lines, and thus, they last longer.
The underground lines remain secure, and no one can tamper with them.

Despite these benefits, underground power lines are not used in some places because they are more costly than overhead power lines.

But since it has so many benefits, the cost is worth it.

Benefits of overhead power lines

The overhead power lines can benefit you in the following ways:

Overhead power lines are cheaper than underground lines.
Underground lines might get affected while digging the ground. You won’t face such issues with overhead lines.
The overhead power lines are not affected by floods like the underground lines.

The problems in the overhead power lines can be easily identified and fixed. It is quite tough for the underground lines.

Also read: Who Is Responsible For Power Line From Pole To House?

What is the cost to run power 500 feet?

You can run the power lines for 500 feet overhead and underground.

The cost will vary as the overhead power lines are cheaper than the underground ones.

For installing underground power lines 500 feet away, the price range would be between $10,000 and $30,000, including the labor charges.

It will also change depending on your living area.

The price range for installing power lines overhead will be nearly $5,000. It may increase or decrease depending on location.

In some places, the labor cost and the work challenges can change the average cost of power line installation.

So, there is no exact cost to share with you.

These are the average costs, which may change based on different factors.

Sometimes, the charges will be less as some utility companies will give you discounts or offers for contacting them or on special occasions.

You can also decrease the charges by doing some work yourself without anyone’s help. But that is risky, and you may delay the work.

So, it is always better to consult contractors.

Also read: How Much Does It Cost To Run Power Lines Underground?

Contact the utility company for a discount.

You will have to contact the power company, no matter how you want to complete this job.

Sometimes, you will see that the company’s contractors should be doing this job.

Sometimes, the companies give you a good discount and even work for free.

It is possible up to a certain distance.

You may have to give $4,000 for overhead wire installation or $12,000 for underground power line installation.

Some companies do this work for free up to a certain distance.

If your wire installation distance exceeds that, your contractor will charge for that extra distance.

For example, some companies work for free up to 100 feet.

So, you will have to pay for the remaining 400 feet.

In that way, you will be able to save money.

You will have to find out the options and then approach for working.

Labor costs

The labor costs are different according to installation methods and different areas.

You deliver a payment to the general contractors, and then it gets divided among the contractors, subcontractors, and electricians:

General contractors take 10-20% of the total project cost.
The excavator contractors take $400-$1,200
The licensed electrician will take $50-$100 per hour.

Trenching costs

It is necessary for underground power lines where you need to dig trenches to run the power lines through conduits.

You have to pay the contractors for trenching.

Here, you will require trenching equipment and laborers for the trenching job.

Hiring contractors for trenching would cost around $800 for every 100 linear feet.

So, if you want to run power lines for 500 feet, trenching costs will be around $4,000.

If you have the equipment and experience in trenching, you can save money by doing it yourself.

Before you do it, you need to know and gather the required materials for trenching according to the project size.

If you are experienced in trenching, you can rent only the excavator for $300 to $500 daily and trench yourself.

Ultimately, I suggest hiring an expert to do such work. You may know digging, but a contractor will do the job better and faster.

There are multiple lines underground. You might hurt them and end up spending more money than saving.

You can call dig-safe to mark out these locations where digging should not be done, and then you can opt for trench digging.

Wire cost for 500 feet

There are multiple wires to use for electrical purposes.

But the common ones are copper wires.

Copper wires are very expensive.

So, getting copper wires for 500 feet is quite expensive.

Another option is aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wires.

Copper wires can carry more current without overheating than aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.

Due to this confusion, you should ask your power company and negotiate with them to find the right wire type and get help with discounts.

The wire cost will also vary depending on the gauge number and the amp service.

For example, if you have a 200 amp service, you require a 2 AWG wire.

Here, copper wires would be a better choice because the distance is too much.

The aluminum wires are incapable of running 500 feet. They will get overheated easily.

A 2 AWG copper wire for 500 feet would cost around $800.

You can save money by using copper-clad aluminum wires.

These are not better than pure copper but better than pure aluminum.

It contains some copper fittings at the end that give some copper benefits.

However, experts still suggest using pure copper for such long distances.

Cost for electrical conduits

Conduits are needed to run the power lines underground.

Conduits protect the wires from physical damage and increase their lifespan.

It is mostly required for underground power line purposes.

The trench is dug to run the wires through the conduit underground.

To run the conduits, you must pay around $8 per foot, including the labor cost.

So, you will have to spend another $4,000 for 500 feet of underground power lines.

Other costs may also appear, like for the 200 amp service.

You might need to pay less if you power smaller services.

Cost for power line per pole

To run wires for power lines 500 feet away, you must have a pole installed inside your property.

You will again have to pay money to install the pole. The price for putting a pole will vary depending on your area.

Generally, the average cost of putting a pole in one’s property is around $1,200, including the labor and equipment.

The cost will also include the transformer and wire prices.

You will have to get in touch with the power company to confirm whether your project will require this pole or not.

Additional charges

You will have to pay additional charges of around $2 to $7 per 10 feet for the materials if the electrical firms do the conduit procedure.

If you need a new amp service, you will have to pay an extra $400 to $600.

It happens in some cases.

Another circumstance where you will have to pay extra is for the enhancement of the panel.

That would cost you $100-$200.

The power line upgrade can sometimes cost nearly $1,500, depending on the location and electric company.

More charges will apply if there is any hindrance while trenching.

The cost of power lines depends on different amps.

There is no fixed or average cost depending on the different amps. It varies depending on the location.

Suppose I consider the maximum amp to be 300 amp, and the average cost to run power lines for 500 feet is $30,000.

In that case, the cost for the lower amps will be less than $30,000 but more than $10,000.

For a 50 amp, running power lines up to 500 feet may cost around $1,500 to $4,000, including the labor and materials.

On the contrary, the cost to run power lines for 200 amps could be more or less than $15,000, depending on the location and utility company’s demands.

The lower the amp, the lower the cost.

The underground power lines will charge more than the overhead lines.

Suppose you run power lines 500 feet in 50 amps; the overhead charges will be around $4,000. But for underground, it could nearly reach $10,000.

These are not the exact costs, but average and approximate, based on what I have experienced.

For the perfect cost, you have to consult the utility company.

Check for the local codes.

Before doing anything, you have to consider the NEC and local codes.

The contractors must abide by the rules and regulations mentioned in the NEC (National Electric Code).

However, you can ignore it if your local codes are different.

In that case, you have to work according to the local codes.

They are more important than NEC.

Some places will require fewer materials or other stipulations while doing the project.

If you run the power yourself, you must hire a licensed company to do the work, and they will have to pull a permit for that.

However, I do not suggest you do such a thing.

It is always best to hire electricians and contractors for doing such large projects and abide by the local codes.

Tips to save money

As you can see, installing the power lines for 500 feet is very costly, both overhead and underground, the latter being the most expensive.

So, I am going to share some tips to save money.

I have already shared two, like looking for discounts or trenching yourself.

But, sometimes, trenching yourself is not enough.

At one point, you will require experts.

Here are the tips to save money while installing power lines for 500 feet:

Select a good company

You will have to pay money to install these services.

So, try saving money by consulting good companies that can provide you with multiple offers and discounts.

Good companies will provide you with offers and get your installation done faster and correctly. It will save you from spending extra charges for costly mistakes.

Research the codes, rules, and permits before starting the work

You must research the local codes, the rules, and the permission required before you start this work.

It will save you a lot of tension and extra costs.

You will be able to make an approximate range to spend on this project and the loss you can face if you do not work according to the rules.

Starting a project and then getting it shut down while violating the local codes and rules is very sad and frustrating.

Use your experience

Suppose you have expertise in gathering the right materials or electrical trade.

In that case, you can save extra money behind it.

For example, if you have experience in trenching, you can do it yourself.

All you need is to get the right materials at rent.

You can only do this if you have proper experience and license for the work.

Otherwise, you have to consult the contractors for trenching.

Only pay for what you require.

Such a huge amount of money is worth it if you spend it on bigger projects.

If you opt to run the power lines for smaller appliances and do not require any power for your house, you can do that yourself.

Besides, you can save money using aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wires, provided the distances are shorter.

Final thoughts

The cost to run power 500 feet varies depending on various situations, like the location, condition of the weather, the work challenges, etc.

The cost includes the amp service, the wire gauge material and size, the conduits, the pole, and trenching.

But, to be approximate, the average cost to run power lines for 500 feet costs around $10,000 to $30,000.

That is the rate for underground lines.

For overhead, it is cheap, around $4,000-$5,000.

It could be more depending on the factors.

You will have to pay additional charges if you want to install a new amp service, upgrade a power line, or if there is any issue while trenching.

FAQs

How much does it cost to install a 50 amp service?

The cost for a 50 amp service will vary based on your living area.

However, you can expect an average range between $1,500 and $2,000, including the wire, service box, and circuit breaker box.

It is the average cost for smaller projects.

Can we have temporary power from the utility company?

Yes, sometimes you can receive temporary power from the utility company of your locality.

It is good if you have been building a home recently and require power for some work.

This temporary power will also help establish the connection with the power company.

You can get a quick response from them whenever you need them.

Data Source: National Electrical Code, NEC Wire Table, Electrical wiring, Home wiring.