The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently finalized Congressionally-mandated energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers to increase the resiliency and efficiency of America’s power grid, support good-paying, high-quality manufacturing jobs, and accelerate the deployment of affordable, reliable, and clean electricity around the nation. These updated standards—which includes a longer compliance timeline of five years—will save American utilities and commercial and industrial entities $824 million per year in electricity costs, and result in more demand for core materials like grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES).
Following a proposed rule issued last year, DOE adjusted these final standards based on extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure continued growth opportunities for domestic steel production and provide a longer compliance timeframe of five years.