Reliability Roadmap Protects Critters with Animal
Mitigation Solutions
JACKSON,
Mich., Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy joins the nation in celebrating National Squirrel
Day by highlighting our ongoing efforts to protect
wildlife while ensuring we keep the lights on in your neighborhood.
Though squirrels may be small, their big curiosity can lead to
trouble when they explore our substations and equipment, leading to
unexpected outages. Annually, about 8% of power
outages are caused by wildlife, including squirrels,
raccoons, and other animals.
To address this issue, we're working to upgrade our
infrastructure to deter wildlife and strengthen the grid as
part of our Reliability Roadmap. Since 2012, we've done nearly
600 animal mitigation projects so that today, more than
90% of our substations are fully protected
against furry intruders. These enhancements include:
- Gate Foundations: Creating barriers that prevent animals
from burrowing under or sneaking through entry points.
- Polycarbonate Barriers: Durable and transparent shields
that block access to critical equipment without harming
wildlife.
- Bushing Guards: A cage-like structure designed to
protect breaker and transformer bushings so that animals can't
disrupt the equipment.
- Pole Wraps: Specialized coverings installed on utility
poles to prevent climbing and reduce the risk of accidental
contact.
"Our goal is to create a win-win for both wildlife and our
customers," said Chris Laird,
Consumers Energy's vice president of electric distribution. "By
proactively installing these mitigation measures, we're preventing
outages and ensuring that squirrels, raccoons, and other animals
stay safe and away from harm."
Our efforts to adapt with nature and build a smarter and more
resilient grid are paying off. We reduced customers' average time
without power by over 20 minutes last year. Other tactics in the
Reliability Roadmap include infrared cameras, more durable iron
poles and even a robotic dog.
Consumers Energy is Michigan's
largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity
to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to
keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering
reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers
24/7.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
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SOURCE Consumers Energy