Animal Attraction
BY MEGAN MCKOY-NOE NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
W
Electric co-ops take steps to reduce animal-related outages Costly Critters
hen we notice birds perched atop an electric pole or squirrels scurrying across a power line almost daily. Believe it or not, even the smallest of animals can put hundreds of homes in the dark. Studies show animals trigger 11 percent of power outages across the nation.
“Our members sometimes shake their heads in disbelief when they hear that a squirrel or snake is responsible for their power outage,” said Jim Malone, director of engineering and operations for Choctaw Electric Cooperative. “We spend a great deal of our time every year on animal management and removal.”
To ensure safe, reliable power delivery— and healthy wildlife—electric co-ops across Oklahoma go to great lengths to keep animals away from electricity.
We know that electricity seeks the fastest route to the ground. Utility pole insulators keep power flowing safely in your rural area, but unwitting squirrels offer high-voltage electricity a way around insulators. If a squirrel doesn’t jump far enough, a powerful electric current—up to 15,000 volts—makes the squirrel a conduit to the ground. The result? Fried squirrel—and possible service problems.
If a squirrel’s body falls to the ground, the power blinks but stays on. If it falls into equipment such as a transformer, safety measures kick in that shut off the flow of electricity. Then Choctaw Electric sends a lineworker to remove the animal and restore power.
Squirrels are the main culprit of electric utility outages, but they’re not alone. Raccoons, snakes, birds, and other animals trigger outages, too.
Causes of Co-op Power Interruptions
Power outages may be caused by car accidents that damage poles or other unknown factors. But bad weather remains the primary cause. 31%
14% 12% 11%
Snakes are to blame for most of the larger power outages last year in CEC service territory. Drawn to bird nests tucked into the steel beams of substations, snakes coil themselves around highly charged equipment and cause outages. Animal attraction to power infrastructure hurts wildlife and leaves frustrated co-op members in the dark. Tyco Electronics, a utility equipment firm, estimates clean up, recovery and repairs due to animal outages costs utilities between $15 and $18 million a year.
Grid Guardians
No one wants to hurt wildlife. Eighty percent of electric co-ops, public power districts, and public utility districts install animal guards to protect equipment and wayward animals.
7% 7% 5% 5%
3M’s Electrostatic Animal Guard resembles a tarantula. A dozen metal rods arch like bent legs around an insulator, forming an electrostatic barrier. Errant wildlife receives a mild shock if they get too close; the guard acts as an electrified fence.
8 | february 2014
Weather Equipment Maintenance Animals Planned Other Power Supply Public
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160