Electric utilities face a dramatically different economic environment today than in the past. It is no longer adequate to base distribution conductor selection on simple engineering considerations such as ampacity and voltage drop. Such decisions have substantial economic consequences also. This paper presents a method for evaluating total conductor costs on the basis of economic parameters. Using this method, one compares the total life cycle carrying charges and cost of energy losses for each conductor for several variables, including load growth and wholesale power cost escalation. Graphical representations are developed to illustrate the economic interrelationships. >