Saturday, August 16, 2025

US Faces Transformer Shortfall as Power Demand Surges

The U.S. is poised to see supply shortages of 30% and 10%, respectively, of power and distribution transformers this year, as surging electricity consumption drives demand for power infrastructure, Wood Mackenzie said on Thursday.

Posted by LampLighter at 10:32 AM | 22 COMMENTS | permalink

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The transformer shortage is one reason why we need to focus more attention on converting coal plants into solar plus battery facilities since they can take advantage of the electrical infrastructure already installed at them.

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-- Just Kevin (@kevinleecaster.bsky.social) Aug 2, 2025 at 8:42 AM

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More from the article ...

... Demand for certain kinds of transformers -- pieces of equipment that step up or down the voltage of electricity to transfer it from power plants to end users -- has more than doubled since 2019, as the industry grapples with a growing pipeline of clean energy projects and the need to replace old infrastructure, according to the energy research firm's report.

With domestic manufacturing capacity falling behind, utilities are turning to imports of electrical equipment to bring their power projects online.

"This market imbalance is escalating costs and lead times and is delaying our ability to bring generating plants online in pace with the surging energy demand," said Ben Boucher, senior analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The U.S. power sector has seen electricity consumption increase 7% in the last five years, after a decade of mild declines.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects commercial electricity demand to grow 3.1% in 2025 and 4.9% next year, primarily driven by demand from data centers.

Rising power demand, also driven by more frequent extreme weather, has left grid operators and utilities scrambling to get more power on to the system as quickly as they can. ...



#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 10:19 PM

@#1 ... utilities are turning to imports of electrical equipment to bring their power projects online. ...

Will Pres Trump be chastising those CEOs for trying to satisfy the needs of their customers?



#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 10:21 PM

More from the article ...

... Utilities have been stockpiling transformers to ensure they have adequate supply, but are seeing long lead times for some equipment, sometimes forced to place orders three or four years ahead of time, Boucher said. ...

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 10:49 PM

@#3

Whoa ...

A three or four year lead time on orders for new transformers?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 10:50 PM

#4 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER

Yeah thats what ... #3 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER posted.

You two should meet sometime, perhaps have a coffee.

#5 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-14 10:54 PM

A fun cover tune ...

At least, I hope it was done for fun ...

Dinosaur Jr. - Show Me The Way (1987)
www.youtube.com

imo, Dinosaur, Jr. is like the Onion of music...


#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 11:20 PM

@#3 ... Utilities have been stockpiling transformers to ensure they have adequate supply, but are seeing long lead times for some equipment, sometimes forced to place orders three or four years ahead of time, Boucher said. ...

What effect might this shortage of transformers have upon the cost of those transformers and, subsequently, the cost of the electricity delivered to our homes?

AI power needs seem to already having an effect upon residential electric prices.

AI data centers are using more power. Regular customers are footing the bill
www.sctimes.com

... Between 2024 and 2025, data center power usage accounted for $9 billion, or 174%, of increased power costs. ...

Why should residential customers fund the costs to provide power to the AI data centers?



#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 11:31 PM

Why should residential customers fund the costs to provide power to the AI data centers?

Lack of choice is a great motivator.

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-14 11:33 PM

@#8 ... Lack of choice is a great motivator. ...

Yup.

At least, here in CT, I can choose among various electric suppliers.
www.eversource.com

For now, that capability seems to be helping.

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-14 11:51 PM

At least, here in CT, I can choose among various electric suppliers.

I have no such option. I pay $45/month or they turn it off.

#10 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-14 11:59 PM

Yeah thats what ... #3 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER posted.

You two should meet sometime, perhaps have a coffee.

#5 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-14 10:54 PM | Reply | Flag

Sybil alert.

#11 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-15 02:24 PM

You don't have A personality, much less multiple.

#12 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-08-15 03:15 PM

Stop sending our riches overseas. We could build up our own infrastructure. But we'd rather terrorize and murder innocents.

#13 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-15 07:21 PM

You don't have A personality, much less multiple.

#12 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-08-15 03:15 PM | Reply | Flag:

You poor thing. The conservatives beat you up and took your lunch money, didn't they. Is that why you're so angry all the time.

Show the doctor where the bad republican touched you.

#14 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-15 07:26 PM

Stop sending our riches overseas. We could build up our own infrastructure. But we'd rather terrorize and murder innocents.

#13 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-15 07:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

Trump is working that issue right now.

drudge.com

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-15 07:27 PM

I'm surprised Trump hasn't said it's okay to use PCBs in transformers again.

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-16 10:53 AM

I heard PCBs were much more effective in treating COVID than that fake MNRA stuff with the micro chips developed by the deep state.

#17 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-16 11:10 AM

@#16 ... I'm surprised Trump hasn't said it's okay to use PCBs in transformers again. ...

Good point.

#18 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-16 08:47 PM

@#15 ... Trump is working that issue right now. ...

The apparent usual lame deflection attempt of your current alias.

What else it got?

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-16 09:06 PM

We're paying the price for having Biden's Auto-Pen run the country the last four years.

#20 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-08-17 11:20 AM

Maybe maga maroons should stop using them for target practice?

#21 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-17 11:35 AM

Wasn't Build Back Better by Biden supposed to fix this.

#22 | Posted by HanoverFist at 2025-08-17 06:11 PM

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