Duke Energy: Animals cause thousands of power outages each year
Power grid blackouts can happen at the worst times, leaving people in the dark. Duke Energy says thousands of those outages are caused by animals each year.
A Fuquay-Varina company is focused on keeping the power on and saving wildlife at the same time.
Driving down the road, you may notice new devices on electrical power lines and poles. It's part of a mission to prevent "flash-overs," which are often caused by animals.
"This is not just a North America or United States issues. It's a global issue," says Luis Puigcerver, senior product manager with TE Connectivity, located in Fuquay-Varina.
Puigcerver says large birds and small animals are active on power lines and electrical equipment. It causes serious issues. Puigcerver says," The wildlife gets electrocuted, can fall down on the ground and cause a bush fire."
TE Connectivity makes products to serve as safe barriers between wildlife and the dangers of more than 5-thousand volts of electricity.
A large isolating disc is placed on the insulators. Another strategy is a simple plastic cage-like device which is wrapped around electrified elements so that birds and small animals might be spared.
Another large device is placed over power lines to protect large birds like hawks and eagles. Puigcerver explained the danger without the devices. He said, "The large wing span can touch two conductors here, cause a short circuit and electrocute the beautiful bird."
Another strategy is designed to prevent small animals from coming into contact with exposed voltage lines.
Puigcerver explained the benefits of devices covered with long series of spike-like plastic covers on powerlines. "A squirrel really finds it difficult to navigate its way down the line because of the instability of these guys right here," said Puigcerver, pointing to the covers designed to deter small animals.
Large Substations are also vulnerable, and the cost of not shielding the system is expensive. "This is millions of dollars in play here, so one outage by itself can be very disruptive," said Puigcerver.
That disruption, he says, impacts energy customers who periodically find themselves suddenly living in the dark.
"TE Connectivity" is not only motivated to keep power on for their customers, but The Endagered Species Act compels them by Federal Law to protect endangered species like the Bald Eagle.
