transmission line cost per km australia

Asking how much a transmission line costs per kilometre in Australia? Brace yourself: it swings wildly with voltage, terrain and whether you bury the thing.

As rough ballpark figures: 132 kV overhead about AUD 0.7–1.5 million/km; 220–330 kV overhead about AUD 1–3 million/km; 500 kV overhead about AUD 2–5 million/km; HVDC overhead roughly AUD 3–6+ million/km. Go underground and you’re looking at AUD 5–20+ million/km, and submarine cable can be even higher depending on depth and landing sites. Substations, easements, approvals and access can easily double the headline per‑km cost on tricky projects. Treat these as planning‑guide numbers, not quotes—your spreadsheet will thank you.