Communiqué

New Regulation Will Impact Users of Dry-Type Transformers

Ottawa, October 19, 2004 - Design engineers, plant managers and others who specify, install or work with dry-type transformers can expect to see some changes in the equipment available on the Canadian market in the near future, with the coming into force of a new regulation establishing minimum energy efficiency levels for this product.

Effective January 1, 2005, Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations will require that dry-type transformers, manufactured on or after this date, meet a prescribed minimum energy performance standard in order to be imported or shipped interprovincially for sale or lease in Canada, effectively eliminating some current models from the market. The new regulation will apply to single- and three-phase, 60 Hz, dry-type transformers with a primary voltage of 35 kV and below and a secondary voltage of 600 volts and below (rated 15 to 833 kVA for single-phase and 15 to 7500 kVA for three-phase units).

Products excluded from the regulation include autotransformers, drive (isolation) transformers, instrument transformers, rectifier and converter transformers, sealed transformers, testing transformers, transformers with tap ranges greater than 10 percent (including furnace transformers), and welding transformers. As well, rewound or rebuilt transformers are not currently covered by the regulation.

Although compliance with the new requirements is the responsibility of dealers (manufacturers, importers and retailers), the regulation could have implications for both the operation and design of mechanical plants in new and retrofitted buildings. For example, equipment that complies with the regulated standard tends to have a slightly larger footprint than existing dry-type transformers, so additional space may be required in plant rooms. The introduction of more energy-efficient equipment may also result in operational changes that enable companies to reduce their operating costs and strengthen their competitiveness.

Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations are administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under the authority of the Energy Efficiency Act. Their goal is to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, by helping to transform the economy toward increased energy efficiency.

The Regulations, which were introduced in 1995 and now cover more than 30 products that consume 80 percent of the energy used in the residential sector in Canada and 50 percent of the energy used in the commercial/institutional sector. Analysis has shown that significant energy savings can be achieved by regulating minimum efficiency levels for dry-type transformers, with associated economic benefits to Canada.

Stakeholders were consulted extensively in preparation for the dry-type transformer regulation amendment. This amendment was approved and published in the Canada Gazette in April 2003 giving stakeholders almost two years to prepare for the new requirements. Many manufacturers are phasing out old equipment and are building energy-efficient models that comply with the regulation. It should be noted that prior to this amendment many manufacturers participated and complied with very similar voluntary standards such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) TP 1-1996, Guide for Determining Energy Efficiency for Distribution Transformers and associated document TP 2-1998, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Distribution Transformers, and the
ENERGY STAR Program.

The Regulations reference CAN/CSA-C802.2-00, Minimum Efficiency Values for Dry-Type Transformers, as the test procedure for verifying the energy performance of transformers. The energy efficiency standards for dry-type transformers are also set out in Table 1 of CSA-C802.2- 00. Models that meet the regulated levels will bear a verification mark from a certification organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and recognized by Natural Resources Canada or a verification label issued by a province (providing the province regulates dry-type transformers and the energy efficiency level is equivalent to or exceeds the federal requirements).

For more information on the regulation for dry-type transformers, visit http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations. The full legal text for the amendment can be found in the Canada Gazette, Part II, April 23, 2003 (http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030423/html/sor136-e.html).