Given that the cost of transformers has almost doubled in the past five years and the lead time to have one delivered is now more than 120 weeks, it is important that Washington State’s Grant PUD has a proactive plan to begin scheduling replacement of transformers at a rate of two a year, Kasey Grant, Manager of Asset Management Strategy and Planning at the PUD, recently said.
The Grant PUD official made her remarks at a recent Grant PUD Commissioners meeting.
Commissioners were told that Grant PUD’s Asset Management Department is tracking 97 high voltage transformers in the utility’s power delivery system from 18 different manufacturers. The oldest transformer on the system is almost 80 years old.
Each transformer has about a 50-year life span in Grant County. There are seven transformers on the system that are older than 50 years, and another 14 that are more than 40 years old.
By purchasing two a year, the utility will sustainably maintain the health of the transformers in its fleet and avoid having to make emergency purchases if a transformer fails, it noted.
“This proactive approach will help ensure long term low rates and reliable service for our customers,” Grant PUD said.
