February 14, 2012 – Just-released research shows utilities and coordinating groups in Canada the U.S. are reporting 65,420 miles of new and upgraded transmission lines over the next eight years to the tune of over $170 billion by 2020.

The C Three Group LLC published its “North American Transmission Line and Substation Market Forecast 2009 through 2020”. Built upon a project-by-project basis, the forecast predicts a benefit to “significant associated markets”, as almost every major transmission line project will require enhanced or new substations and transformers—a market that could, itself, easily exceed $40 billion, say the authors.

The top 30 owners report they could spend $115.4 billion on transmission line improvements, representing 58,921 miles of line in Canada the U.S. (not including the segment of supplementary substation work) by 2020.

C Three’s forecast also provides profiles of the Top 60 Largest Transmission Line Projects planned in North America, including transmission reinforcements in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Details include voltage, length in miles, cost, substations and endpoints, and maps are provided for each major project.

“The North American Transmission Line and Substation Market Forecast 2009 through 2020” is available now to subscribers of C Three’s North American Electric Transmission Project Database. The 86-page report can also be purchased by non-subscribers from www.cthree.net.