After decades of neglect, our infrastructure is aging and lines are increasingly overloaded. Finally, utilities are beginning to realize that they must invest in the assets over which they ship power to customers. As utilities design and build lines for the next generation, they find they have more choice in materials with which to build these lines. Advances in conductor design enables utilities to run more power down existing rights of way. Steel, fiberglass and concrete poles are making inroads where wood once ruled. Polymer insulators now provide an alternative to ceramic.

This special supplement focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of both new and tried-and-true materials used to construct transmission and distribution lines. In an era where economics dominate, total owning cycle costs must be carefully considered for all construction materials. It is time to revisit the basic building blocks of T&D, as utilities review their asset mix. It is also time to carefully weigh the costs to purchase, install, maintain and operate the most valuable T&D assets.