Why squirrels trigger so many energy outages
Editor’s be aware: This story was initially revealed in September 2022.
You may assume that in some unspecified time in the future of their evolutionary course of squirrels would have discovered to not mess with energy strains or electrical services.
Sadly for each the squirrels and those that depend on energy utilities, that’s not the case.
Falling timber or branches are the primary reason for energy outages in Maine however squirrels are a detailed second. Over the previous two weeks, energy outages brought on by squirrels in Brewer and Bangor left hundreds with out electrical energy.
Squirrel-related energy disruptions will not be uncommon this time of 12 months, and there are probably extra to come back.
“It’s fall and the squirrels are stocking up on meals for winter and out and about,” stated Marissa Minor, a spokesperson for Versant Energy. “Squirrels are widespread issues for utilities, and squirrels have actually been a prevalent difficulty for us this 12 months.”
Simply why squirrels assume it’s a good suggestion to mess with high-voltage electrical wires or gear will not be absolutely understood. Squirrels do wish to chew and a wire might simply be mistaken for a tree limb, particularly if these wires are operating close to precise timber.
Squirrels additionally like enclosed areas and a protected nook or cranny at an influence substation might seem like a really perfect nesting place.
No matter how the animals get into {the electrical} infrastructure, they’ll carry down components of the grid one in all two methods, based on Minor.
“If the squirrel comes into contact with two areas of voltage it creates a fault and that blows fuses,” she stated. “The second manner is when a grounded object — on this case the squirrel — turns into {an electrical} conductor, type of like sticking your finger into a lightweight socket.”
Versant energy crews consider it was the latter that brought on the two-hour outage in Bangor on Sunday, Minor stated.
“It actually is a nuisance,” she stated. “They will get into all types of kit.”
To assist defend towards squirrel assaults, Minor stated Versant has put in particular “squirrel guards” in susceptible areas at their substations. She stated crews will proceed to put in such gadgets when new areas are recognized as potential squirrel targets.
“Because the squirrels gear up for winter, we might see extra squirrel-related energy outages,” Minor stated. “We are able to’t predict them and hopefully the animal safety guards will work.”
Within the meantime, Minor did say it could possibly be worse. Squirrels could also be the issue within the north, however within the south energy disruptions are sometimes brought on by snakes slithering into substation areas.
