APPA: Transformer shortage must be addressed
The president and CEO of the American Public Power Association says US electric utilities are experiencing a shortage of distribution transformers.
Image source: Brownfield
USA: The president and CEO of the American Public Power Association says US electric utilities are experiencing a shortage of distribution transformers, a critical component of the grid.
Joy Ditto says the shortages worsened by supply chain challenges are impacting all regions of the country.
“The distribution transformers are the boxes that convert the voltage and enable electricity to flow into homes and businesses and there is a shortage across the country and industry,” she says. “We’ve been doing our due diligence to try to make sure we can address this through refurbishment, sharing the transformers, and accessing our stockpiles over the year. We’re now at a point where typically we would be able to get replenishment of distribution transformers from manufacturers within about three months. Now we’re looking at lead times of well over a year and in some cases two years and it’s just not acceptable.”
Joy Ditto disclosed in the statement that action is needed, explaining that they have been trying to alert the federal government and the manufacturing community about the issue of a shortage of distribution transformers, and have been working with builders and contractors to address the problem. She stated that the lack of distribution transformers is hindering the ability to construct new buildings, homes, and EV chargers, and is causing problems for the growth and reliable functioning of the electric grid. According to Ditto, the manufacturers have indicated that labour is a primary concern, and the industry has requested Congress to allocate $1 B to address labour issues. She emphasized the need to increase efforts to quickly alleviate the strain on the supply chain.
The American Public Power Association expressed disappointment that the omnibus appropriations bill did not include funding to increase the production of transformers.
The APPA represents 2,000 publicly owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that provide affordable electricity to 49 million Americans in 49 states.
Source: Brownfield
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#American Public Power Association#distribution transformers#Joy Ditto#labour issues#supply shortage#USA