WASHINGTON, US - APPA has announced that the transformer crisis is urgent.

According to a recent survey of the American Public Power Association’s members, the average lead time for transformer delivery has risen to 12-18 months, from a three-month norm that had been the average for years. Furthermore, the Association said that some domestic transformer manufacturers are even sending out delivery bids as concerning as 3-5 years for a new transformer.

“Power utilities, and the rest of the industry, have been concerned about this for well over a year. We did our first informal member survey on the topic in November 2021, and the responses signaled serious concern – and not just for transformers. The survey identified supply chain constraints among components such as smart meters, bucket trucks, conduits, and bolts, and our industry faces still other constraints, such as in getting insulators for large transmission lines. APPA did another, more formal, survey in early 2022, to better understand the demand for distribution transformers. This second survey further underscored that this is a national problem affecting all of our members in some form or fashion. Transformers are so crucial, and the situation so alarming, that we have focused our advocacy efforts on addressing this constraint. We have established a platform that enables our members to share information about what their needs are more holistically, and that sharing has occurred beyond transformers.” Said Joy Ditto, President, and CEO American Public Power Association. “We need solutions – we are willing and able to roll up our sleeves and find them, working with our manufacturing colleagues. We need the federal government to enable that conversation and prioritize these fundamental electric components above other priorities, at least to get us through this crisis.”

Source: AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION