Tillis Co

Jun 23, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis recently co-introduced the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, legislation to repeal the Department of Energy’s authority to propose, finalize, implement, administer, or enforce any energy efficiency standard for distribution transformers for the next five years.

“The Biden Administration’s war on American energy continues to make it harder to produce affordable energy for Americans while raising costs for families across the country,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to co-introduce this legislation to stop President Biden from implementing any new anti-American rules on distribution transformers ensuring we don’t face supply chain shortages.”

In December, the Department of Energy proposed new energy efficiency standards for low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers, liquid-immersed distribution transformers, and medium-voltage, dry-type distribution transformers. If finalized as proposed, the standards will yield minor energy savings and further disrupt the nation’s supply chain by causing lead times to procure transformers to increase from months to years.

This proposed rule would require all distribution transformers to shift from the industry standard grain oriented electrical steel (GOES) cores to amorphous steel cores—which accounts for 95% of the domestic distribution transformer market.

Several coalitions have sounded the alarm on this proposed rule, including Edison Electric Institute, American Public Power Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and National Association of Homebuilders.

To read the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, click here.

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