In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted populations across the globe, as governments struggled to manage the epidemic and its effects on public health, business, and society. Supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic were widespread. Companies were confronted with a multi-month transient period of extreme labor shortages, raw material, and supply shortages, and delays in transportation and manufacturing. Although some shortages in this transient period were finite, others resulted in lasting effects that are still present in business today. Economists predict that supply chain challenges will persist for the foreseeable future, necessitating a “great supply chain reset” in order for businesses to manage their products effectively. This paper describes supply chain challenges for the high-voltage power grid, including substation, transmission, and distribution networks, that persist in a post-pandemic era, and potential mitigation strategies for power companies.
Authors Konsavage, C., Willis, E.