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 ... 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?

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

Whoa ...

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

A fun cover tune ...

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

@#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.

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

Yup.