There are many less tangible costs that will be discussed below, but the basic costs are already acceptable. In our case there was some savings as a result of fortunate timing and for us the costs were less than our stock value for a similar wood pole. The key requirement of which is strength. Fortunately this is easily measured, and the basic construction of steel poles has been confirmed to be quite appropriate. Steel, as a construction medium, has a lower weight to strength ratio than either wood or concrete.
Steel is a manufactured product and therefore has many benefits over wood.
Better quality assurance processes mean lower design overload factors are required. Both CSA and NESC recognize this in calling for reduced loading factors as both standards allow for 1.6 time less overload factor when manufacturing steel poles as compared to wood. Steel poles are uniform and consistent and are not subject to warping. They are also not subject to rot or insects and woodpeckers. They do not lose strength over time.