Second is the . The electromagnetic physics engine behind CDEGS has been refined over four decades. Unlike mass-market software with millions of users to amortize development costs, SES serves a relatively small, global audience of high-value specialists. The company also provides world-class technical support directly from its engineers—a service that is factored into the license price.
Unlike consumer software with publicly listed prices on a website, obtaining the cost of a CDEGS license requires direct negotiation with SES. This opacity is the first indicator of its enterprise-level target market. Industry consensus, gathered from engineering forums, vendor discussions, and utility procurement documents, suggests that a standard commercial license for the full CDEGS package starts in the range of . However, this is merely an entry point. A fully configured, multi-module license capable of handling large-scale AC interference studies, high-frequency transients, and detailed soil modeling can quickly escalate to $50,000 or more per seat . Furthermore, the annual maintenance fee, which provides access to updates and technical support, typically adds an additional 15% to 20% of the license cost each year—meaning a $40,000 license carries an $8,000 yearly recurring fee. cdegs software price
Finally, the pricing model creates a . For large engineering consultancies and government utilities, the decision to purchase CDEGS is a long-term capital commitment. Once an organization trains its staff on the software and integrates it into workflows, switching to a competitor involves significant retraining and validation costs. This lock-in effect allows SES to maintain its high price point. Second is the
Of course, this pricing strategy has consequences. For small engineering firms, independent consultants, or academic researchers, the cost is often prohibitive. Many resort to rental options, which SES does offer, though these are still expensive (often thousands per month). Others turn to less capable but more affordable alternatives like open-source soil simulation tools, general-purpose FEM software (e.g., COMSOL), or more budget-oriented grounding packages (e.g., ETAP’s grounding module). However, for any project requiring rigorous certification or involving complex fault current distribution, the engineering adage remains true: you get what you pay for. For small engineering firms