JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — Consumers Energy is moving forward on efforts to keep the power on by preventing squirrels, raccoons and other animals from getting into its electrical substations in Michigan, the utility said Monday.
Power outages caused last year by squirrels, raccoons and other animals getting into its substations dropped, the unit of Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp. said. In 2013, there were 26 substation outages caused by animals, down from 47 a year earlier.
The company has been installing animal control equipment for years, but said it has put more stringent standards in place to “take a more proactive approach” since late 2012.
Consumers Energy owns and operates more than 1,200 substations, which are fenced facilities where electric voltage is decreased for distribution to homes and businesses.
The electrical wires leading to and from a substation, along with the warmth and vibration given off by the substation’s equipment, are often attractive to wildlife. Since January 2013, 40 percent of the wildlife-related substation outages were caused by squirrels, 30 percent by raccoons and 25 percent by birds.
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