hurricane season.Basic essentials to restore power, including transformers, are in short supply. Transformers typically take three to six months to import, but the delivery date is two to six years from now because of supply chain issues. "Transformers are a critical component for electric restoration and electric delivery.
Some manufacturers we're not even taking new orders for transformers because they have such a backlog already," said Amy Zubaly, the Executive Director for Florida Municipal Electric Association.
FMEA represents Florida's 33 public power communities. Utilities across the state have publicly shared concerns over transformer shortages.SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WORSENING, REPORT SAYS, PUSHING INFLATION HIGHER: HOW YOUR WALLET COULD BE IMPACTED"As we prepare for hurricane season, we build up a supply and a stock of our electric grade components that we need for hurricane restoration.
That's separate from our normal operating supplies of materials. That supply on both hands may not be up to the extent that it normally is," Zubaly said.FMEA is hopeful power companies could manage a light hurricane season, but warns power restoration may be a challenge if the region is slammed with multiple storms. HURRICANE LAURA LEAVES NEARLY 700K WITHOUT POWER, OFFICIALS WARN RECOVERY COULD TAKE WEEKS"We were predicted to have an above average number of storms.