A massive power transformer shortage is wreaking havoc in the US

Across the US, new houses sit unfinished – construction can’t be completed until they are connected to the electricity grid. Utility companies worry about how quickly they can restore power after damage caused by hurricanes and other natural disasters. And nationwide efforts to modernise ageing electrical grids face delays of months or even years.

All this is happening because of a national shortage of electrical distribution transformers. These devices convert the high-voltage electricity from power lines into lower voltages suitable for homes and businesses, …