2017 Survey of Trade Show Electric Costs

In 2014 we conducted our first survey of electric fees charged at the larger trade show venues in the United States (see results of this survey here). Due to popular request, we decided to update this survey for 2017. Just as before, we looked at all venues with at least 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, which translated into 32 convention centers. Not surprisingly, the cost of both electrical power and labor increased from their 2014 levels among nearly every venue surveyed (see 2017 survey below). Floor power alone is now averaging $157 per show for the lowest tier (typically 500 watts) of service! And this figure does not include electric labor, which is now averaging just shy of $100 per hour extra!!! So if you're planning to add or move an outlet, run extension cables, or do anything other than plug-in your lights or other equipment in to a single outlet, you will again be abused by the show's electric contractor!

2017 SURVEY OF TRADE SHOW ELECTRIC COSTS

U.S. Trade Show Venues With Over 500,000 Square Feet of Exhibit Space

We would agree these numbers are ridiculously high. Fortunately, there is something that you can do about...and it's called battery powered lighting! Most exhibitors need power to run their lights and charge up a cell phone or tablet. This is why we created our Mobile Power Center, which is capable of both running our super-bright, ultra efficient LED arm lights and charging most of your typical mobile electronic devices...including of course nearly every cell phone, iPad or tablet on the market today. So stop wasting money on overpriced electric fees and invest in one of our battery powered lighting systems that actually pays for itself in only 2 or 3 shows!