Washington D.C., December 20, 2022 – Statement from American Public Power Association President & CEO Joy Ditto
APPA is beyond disappointed that funding to ramp up production of distribution transformers through the Defense Production Act has not been included in the Dec. 19, omnibus appropriations bill. This is a critical issue that several industries have raised, and on which the President has called for action. Despite our collective pleas over the past year to address this issue, supplies continue to dwindle, demand far outpaces production, and if action is not taken in the near term, the U.S. will face electric reliability concerns.
Electricity is vital and underpins all aspects of our modern society. Without the reliability ensured by a steady supply of distribution transformers, we can’t accomplish any of our energy goals—including transitioning to cleaner energy sources or growing a strong economy.
APPA will continue to work with our electric utility brethren and government partners to address this situation. We will also continue outreach to transformer manufacturers to seek their input on ways to step up to the challenge of adequately meeting the demand for these critical grid components.