Posted on 08/22/2022 1:08:47 PM PDT by deport
As the peak time for U.S. hurricanes arrives, utilities along the nation’s coastlines are facing unprecedented delays in obtaining new power transformers, the critical grid equipment that moves electricity over wires. “There are shortages [of transformers] all over, in all four corners of the U.S.,” Marshall said. “We’re talking about a crisis we see, but a lot of the outside world doesn’t.”
An already tight supply line for transformers has become more constrained as an array of forces push supply and demand further apart, a Department of Energy investigation documented this year. U.S. utilities are heavily dependent on foreign transformer manufacturers, and that supply chain — like many others — has grown tighter because of disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Existing U.S.-based transformer builders report difficulties in finding the highly skilled workers required to ensure compliance with stiff quality standards.
(Excerpt) Read more at eenews.net ...
There are only 2 or 3 manufacturers in the US that makes the big Commercial/Industrial sized ones.
We’re in for a dark winter with supply chains and long lead times.
If a hurricane/tornado comes through we’re in for a world of hurt getting replacements.
I’m sure this particular shortage is just another coincidence.
Who needs inventory when we have JIT supply chains?
In New Jersey the old Westinghouse transformer plant stands empty, and hobbyists are flying model airplanes in the high bays.
When I was forced to implement JIT 30 years ago....I warned everyone.
There are transformers all over the place just hanging from poles....
I never saw so many planned coincidences in my life.
As far as I can tell Utilities are still well paid by State
Commissions to employ and follow the recommendations of same.
Save the electric grid, phase out EV’s
The dust is beginning to thin out, just in time for the peak of hurricane season.
*********
Yep. But when it comes to generation and distribution
stations it can be a totally different game.
Yeah, but you were prolly one of those stodgy dinosaurs that were holding back all those up-and-coming MBAs that were going to re-write how business was done.
I was.
I retired right after that at the end of 1994.
I was a chip-maker.
So was I.
I was one of those 50+ year olds that was a drag on the company’s progress so those MBAs made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Of curse it wouldn’t take effect for two years. By that time, the company had been sold, those MBAs were on the street and the new management was making very good offers to get us to stay for a few more years. If I could have, I would have stayed, but family obligations overruled.
At that time I was a Telco cable splicer.
If anybody has ever worked DAT (Damage Assessment TEAM) for power outages, you’ll realize that a few days without power and folks will start dying.
Multiply that all over the world and this is what is possibly coming our way.
I’m so thankful I have Jesus.
You ever read “One Second After”?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.