What drives the number
The big variables: distance from existing distribution, overhead versus underground preference (and requirement), terrain and vegetation along the route, easements if the route crosses others’ land, and the utility’s current construction pricing. Each parcel is its own quote; folklore numbers mislead in both directions.
Route legality matters as much as route length — power that must cross a neighbor needs recorded utility easements, connecting this guide to the access one.
Alternatives and strategy
Off-grid solar-plus-storage has matured into a genuine alternative for some builds, pricing against extension costs rather than against nothing — remote parcels increasingly pencil this way. Hybrid strategies (build off-grid now, extend later) also exist, with their own economics.
Strategically: get the utility’s real quote during feasibility, price the parcel accordingly, and treat sellers’ soft “power is close” assurances as invitations to verify. Close is a number, not an adjective.
Local rule of thumb: “Power at the road” is a fact; “power is close” is a negotiation tactic. Quote it.