Squirrel knocks out power to about 1,400 DTE Energy customers in Ann Arbor
A squirrel was responsible for a power outage that affected about 1,400 DTE Energy customers in Ann Arbor. At least one resident of the area reported witnessing several explosions about the time the power went out.
DTE spokesman Scott Simons said crews found a broken pole that had been burned as a result of a squirrel coming in contact with electrical equipment. Workers also found the remains of the squirrel.
Power went out at 1:38 a.m. today for about 1,400 customers and was restored about 5 a.m. for all but 280 customers. Simons said. The rest got power back about 10:40 this morning, he said.
Gabriel Richards, who lives in the Briarcrest condominiums off South Main Street, said he saw at least three "really bright white flashes in the sky toward Briarwood Mall about 1:30 this morning." He said the power went on and off a few times before going out completely.
The area affected stretched from I-94 on the west to east of South State Street and from Briarwood Mall on the south to Northbrook Drive on the north. DTE said 1,460 customers were without power.
The area without power is shown in yellow.
Comments
jns131
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
These are the songs that Dr Dimento and Weird Al Yancovich make. Like the squirrel that got loose in the church song and so forth. I am not surprised to be reading this one. A squirrel took out our phone line a few years back. When I asked what happened they said a squirrel was trying to tap into our phone lines. We were down for a day. I was told it is the warmth that electricity produces is why they do what they do. Go figure.
4Bells
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:34 a.m.
May Mr. Squirrel rest in pieces . . .
treetowncartel
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.
The squirrel may have been hanging with Emmett Otter and his jug band. They are known to cavort and cajole into the wee hours of the night.
gladys
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Just make sure you never try to scare a squirrel off a power line- those nasty little rats with furry tails must be on the "protected species" list in Ann Arbor. Probably results in a huge fine and no electricity for a month.
yaah
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6:08 p.m.
Good thing it wasn't a swan. Then everything related to repair would have to stop until we make sure the swan is alright.
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6:27 p.m.
It was as likely to be a swan as a squirrel. Neither is possible.
free
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
So Boris and Natasha were right all along. Time to get rid of moose and squirrel.
Mark Salke
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
The power flickered several times, but stayed on. RIP, Rocket J. Squirrel!
Lionel Hutz
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
What, no mug shot of the squirrel?
godsbreath64
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
To be fair to the squirrel, he does now become the most viable running mate for the 2012 Rick Perry presidential campaign.
godsbreath64
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
I know I personally would rather gnaw through 100,000 watts of live electricity than to even listen to Rick Perry for 30 seconds. But thats me. The squirrel is his own -well- squirrel. So we will have to leave it up to him/her.
free
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 5:54 p.m.
I would hope the squirrel has higher standards than that, and turns it down.
lugemachine
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
There were explosions and a pole was cracked in half and burned and 1400 customers (each customer is a household or a business, not just an individual) in a medium-sized, modern American city were rendered without electrical power. Who knew you could wreak such havoc with a squirrel? Sort of makes this seem perfectly reasonable: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DopGxUAoAY" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DopGxUAoAY</a>.
racerx
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
Man! That's nuts!
DaLast word
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
I think the AA city council should pass a resolution supporting the squirle's right to chew on our power lines.
godsbreath64
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
So the squirrels are gerrymandering, too? When will it ever end.
RTFM
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:02 p.m.
I suspect the squirrel was attempting to steal power for its newly electrified nest.
xmo
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4 p.m.
A noble squirrel gave his/her life to save Ann Arbor and the Planet from Global Warming! "A squirrel was responsible for a power outage that affected about 1,400 DTE Energy customers in Ann Arbor. Let's have a moment of silence and no electricity to celebrate !
stevek
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
How squirrelly...
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
Before DTE uses excuse number 343: a squirrel caused the outage........... Someone should tell them that native Michigan squirrels are not nocturnal. In other words they aren't running around chewing lines at 1AM.
jrm.jr
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
Just checked wiki and mature flying squirrels are nocturnal unless lactating.
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6 p.m.
Jam2, I'm guessing they will say that the squirrel first drank a can of 5 Hour Energy Drink and couldn't sleep. Oye!
JAM2
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.
you really cracked this one wide open...DTE ran thru to the last page of its Corporate Book of Excuses (apparently this book is about 343 pages long?) and came up with a squirrel attacl...I really feel for the poor bastard who had to toast a squirrel at home bf planting it at the site...Cash...you are genius!
hut hut
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
Among other reasons, this is why many advanced nations locate their electrical grid underground. But here in the USA, we're too cheap and asking the utility companies to spend money on improving their infrastructure would cut into their massive profits.
MWH
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
I don't know, I see underground power lines as a potential problem- squirrels, after all, do bury their nuts underground...
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
JAM2, Yes, yes it would cost money for DTE to do improvements. Newsflash: It costs ALL companies money to do improvements! DTE is still in 1960s...in a holding pattern relying on deteriorating infrastructure. I hear it from the linemen....almost daily. I see it in the continuous power outages in good weather and bad. Strong companies DO spend money on constant improvement.
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Walking Joe, MAIN power grids do not run through yards. They have now and always will run the line to the HOUSE through the property...unless you know how to send the power wirelessly.
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
No, Cash. They would run it through that little island/easement between the sidewalk and the street. Big difference. Thanks for playing.
JAM2
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
hut hut...you've demonstrated a common lack of knowledge of how utilities operate...making the upgrades you suggested would be tens of billions of dollars and would disrupt every major roadway, but would NOT cut into DTE's profits...it would be paid for by ratepayers like you and i. btw, i'm not clear on what massive profits you are referring to...i think most would agree that the regulated return that our public service commission allows for DTE (about 10-11%) is quite modest for any business sector...and thats if they actually attain.
hut hut
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
Not blaming the squirrel for anything except being a squirrel. The issue remains that in many advanced nations, the electrical grid is located underground in piping, accessible from above. Not prone to lines getting blown down in storms, getting hit by cars, safer, and less prone to terrorist attack.
hut hut
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
And the lines are in underground piping, not laying in the dirt
WalkingJoe
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:16 p.m.
Cash, tell that to the person digging in his front yard in our neighborhood who did not call Miss DIG and hit a gas line and narrowly miss the electric line under ground a few years back. Firemen said he was lucky as he could have killed himself. Maybe it wasn't a main line but it still had juice to it.
Dave
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.
You're trying to make a story about a squirrel causing a power outage into an issue of corporate greed?
Cash
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
alarictoo, They don't run the main electric grid through people's yards.
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:46 p.m.
Yeah. Then all we'd have to worry about are weekend diy-ers with backhoes who don't call MissDIG.
djacks24
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 3:03 p.m.
We were out until about 10:40am or so. Its back on now. We are just North of Eisenhower on the West side of state street