the difference in total costs which results from selecting one alternative instead of another. the benefit forgone by selecting one alternative instead of another. a cost which may be saved by not adopting an alternative. a cost which may be shifted to the future with little or no effect on current operations.

Six years ago, an 80-kw diesel electric set cost $160,000. the cost index for this class of equipment six years ago was 187 and is now 194. the cost-capacity factor is 0.6. the plant engineering staff is considering a 120-kw unit of the same general design to power a small isolated plant. assume we want to add a precompressor, which (when isolated and estimated separately) currently costs $13291. determine the total cost of the 120-kw unit. (hint: skip $ and comma symbols)