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Texas-based public power utility, Austin Energy, revealed on May 17 its approach to managing supply chain disruptions, which prominently includes revising equipment specification standards and widening sourcing strategies.
Last year, the utility faced significant issues when the delivery of transformers plummeted by 90% in the third quarter compared to the first. To tackle such disruptions, Austin Energy has developed a focused approach involving four essential strategies:
Stuart Reilly, the interim general manager of Austin Energy, stated, “We foresee these global supply scarcities to persist for a while, and we’re exhaustively exploring all options to meet our customers’ requirements.”
In Q1 2023, transformer deliveries reached the highest mark in a single quarter over the past five years. The schedules for the next two quarters indicate even larger figures, with more than 2,500 transformers ordered in Austin Energy’s name.
The company is encouraging current suppliers to explore refurbished equipment and additional sources for new transformers. Furthermore, they’re implementing more repair-in-place activities for pad-mounted equipment to prolong its service life.
However, Austin Energy warns that nationwide supply chain disruptions might endure due to labor shortages and soaring demand for electrical steel, sheet aluminum, magnet wire, switches, fuses, and other components. This, in turn, could significantly extend the lead times for transformers.
As per the American Public Power Association, distribution transformer procurement times for public power utilities like Austin Energy have escalated from 2-3 months to over a year.
Photo: Austin Energy