"Corrosion increases costs of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity. For instance, adequate corrosion control may require more expensive materials and designs, inspections of corroding components and corrosion rate monitoring, extensive maintenance and repairs, and replacement power to compensate for corrosion-related losses of power generation. The estimated cost of corrosion in the electric power industry in 1998 was $17 billion, representing about 7.9% of the cost of electricity to consumers in the United States. About 22% of the corrosion costs were considered avoidable."

Cost of Corrosion in the Electric Power Industry - EPRI, 2001