The US Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers. Almost all transformers produced under the new standard would feature amorphous steel cores that are, according to the DOE, significantly more energy efficient than those made of traditional, grain-oriented electrical steel. //

Portland General Electric has two critical points in its response to the delusional DOE.

First, Mandating a complete overhaul of transformer production during a severe shortage is basically insane. //

Second, the amorphous core transformers are significantly larger, leading to a host of technical issues that would jack up energy costs even more. //

An example for size comparison is that a 25KVA pole mounted amorphous core transformer is roughly the size of a 50KVA steel core transformer. This illustrates how much larger the new amorphous core transformers would need to be.

…This triggers a host of related issues that utilities would need to address. //

There is only one Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) core maker in the United States (Butler Works, owned by Cleveland-Cliffs). That plant says that the rule is placing its operation in jeopardy.