To: Distribution Transformers Docket, EE-RM/STD-00-550, RIN 1904-AB08

From: Michael Scholand, Navigant Consulting

Date: November 1, 2006

Re: Record of phone conversation with ERMCO

This memo serves to record that Barclay Gibbs and Michael Scholand both of Navigant

Consulting contacted Alan Wilks, Vice President of Engineering at ERMCO Distribution

Transformers. The purpose for this call was to ask for clarification on their comment to

DOE dated October 11, 2006, submitted by Mr. Wilks. Mr. Gibbs had contacted the

Department of Energy and secured approval for this phone call from DOE General

Counsel.

In their October 11th comment, ERMCO raised concern over the design voltages that

were used by the DOE in the engineering analysis. ERMCO wrote that they "made a

startling discovery." They found that "[m]any of the voltage combinations that are

commonly manufactured cannot meet the TSL4 level." ERMCO went on in their letter to

indicate that while the voltage ratings used in the engineering analysis were indeed

typical, the physical requirements of other voltage combinations may not be able to

achieve the TSL4 efficiency level. ERMCO expressed concern that if the DOE adopted

TSL4 as some stakeholders had suggested, certain voltage combinations that are being

purchased today could no longer be manufactured.

NCI asked ERMCO to provide guidance concerning voltage combinations and/or

winding configurations for the five liquid-immersed representative units analyzed

(50kVA, 25kVA, 500 kVA, 150kVA and 1500kVA) that ERMCO believes would have

difficulty achieving TSL4. NCI asked that ERMCO provide that information in a

supplemental written comment submitted to DOE as part of the docket. NCI indicated

that although the comment period had closed, DOE was interested in receiving this

clarification on their comment and would work to take this new information into

consideration.

 EE-RM/STD-00-550 COMMENT 148

To: 

From: 

Date: 

Re: 

Distribution Transformers Docket, EE-RM/STD-00-550, RIN 1904-AB08 

Michael Scholand, Navigant Consulting 

November 1,2006 

Record of phone conversation with ERMCO 

#148 

This memo serves to record that Barclay Gibbs and Michael Scholand both ofNavigant 

Consulting contacted Alan Wilks, Vice President of Engineering at ERMCO Distribution 

Transformers. The purpose for this call was to ask for clarification on their comment to 

DOE dated October 11,2006, submitted by Mr. Wilks. Mr. Gibbs had contacted the 

Department of Energy and secured approval for this phone call from DOE General 

Counsel. 

In their October 11 th comment, ERMCO raised concern over the design voltages that 

were used by the DOE in the engineering analysis. ERMCO wrote that they "made a 

startling discovery." They found that "[m]any of the voltage combinations that are 

commonly manufactured cannot meet the TSL41evel." ERMCO went on in their letter to 

indicate that while the voltage ratings used in the engineering analysis were indeed 

typical, the physical requirements of other voltage combinations may not be able to 

achieve the TSL4 efficiency level. ERMCO expressed concern that if the DOE adopted 

TSL4 as some stakeholders had suggested, certain voltage combinations that are being 

purchased today could no longer be manufactured. 

NCI asked ERMCO to provide guidance concerning voltage combinations and/or 

winding configurations for the five liquid-immersed representative units analyzed 

(50kVA, 25kVA, 500 kVA, 150kVA and 1500kVA) that ERMCO believes would have 

difficulty achieving TSL4. NCI asked that ERMCO provide that information in a 

supplemental written comment submitted to DOE as part of the docket. NCI indicated 

that although the comment period had closed, DOE was interested in receiving this 

clarification on their comment and would work to take this new information into 

consideration.