US power utility facing transformer shortage challenge
A shortage of electrical transformers is impacting utility companies in Maine and across the USA.
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USA, Maine, Augusta: A shortage of electrical transformers is impacting utility companies in Maine and across the USA.
That critical piece of infrastructure is in short supply right now. Transformer manufacturers have blamed staffing issues and material shortages for the backlog.
Central Maine Power Company (CMP) says it started feeling the impacts last summer.
“Everybody was experiencing this delay in both delivery and delay in getting new production spots for future deliveries,” CMP Vice President of Electric Operations Adam Desrosiers said. “We’re seeing lead times on ‘pad mount’ transformers out well over a year for delivery.”
Those “pad mount” transformers are critical in new housing developments where the utilities are buried underground. That high demand forced CMP to get creative and contracted a local shed builder to construct dozens of wooden enclosures to retrofit and install the transformers it already had on hand.
The other solution CMP says it’s found is refurbishing some of the older transformers. In recent months, crews have taken down hundreds of unused or underutilized transformers in the network and brought them to be repaired at a facility in Augusta so they can help fill in the gaps elsewhere.
“The US electric power industry is working with our government partners at the highest levels and with key manufacturers to identify short, medium, and long-term solutions to address the shortage of critical grid components,” Scott Aaronson with the Edison Electric Institute said. “While manufacturers work to secure more raw materials and to increase the size of their workforce, the electric power industry continues to coordinate closely to ensure we are ready to share materials with companies that may be impacted by severe weather events or other major incidents that impact the energy grid and our customers.”
Source: WGME
#Central Power Maine Company#power distribution#transformer shortage#USA