Sunday, August 23, 2009

10,000 lose power to errant squirrel

I copy this here because I loved the comments people added; keep in mind the Union Leader newspaper is anti-Obama, anti gay marriage, basically a conservative local rag.

10,000 lose power to errant squirrel

By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009

LONDONDERRY – Power was zapped to more than 10,000 households this morning from Fremont to Derry, caused by a scampering squirrel that was stopped dead in its tracks.
Martin Murray, spokesman for Public Service Co. of New Hampshire, said the squirrel apparently stretched between a live line and grounded structural steel, becoming a conduit for electricity and taking out the Scobie Substation in Londonderry. The squirrel's electrocution put the lights out initially for 4,500 PSNH customers.
But that incident tripped a circuit at a substation in Chester, putting the lights out for another 5,000 PSNH customers. In addition, at least 1,400 other customers of the New Hampshire Electric Co-op found themselves in the dark.
Murray said the Chester substation was back on line about 20 minutes later while power was restored to everyone in just under two hours.
It is the third time in as many months that a squirrel has caused a power outage. On July 18, the Scobie Pond station went down when another trespassing squirrel was zapped and on May 18, 1,800 households lost power when another furry rodent was electrocuted after it chewed on a piece of equipment in a box near the intersection of Tsienneto Road and Bypass 28.
PSNH already has squirrel guards in place along its lines but Murray said the company will be taking a hard look at the Scobie Pond substation to see what else can be done to prevent it from happening again.
Towns affected by the outage include Derry, Londonderry, Auburn, Chester, Deerfield, Raymond, Northwood, Nottingham and Fremont.

YOUR COMMENTS

Hey Bill....how about they DONT fix it at all? Let's see how long you can live without power? If you think PSNH can control when a rodent runs through a substation you're nuts.
- Deb, Hooksett

LEAVE THE SQUIRREL ALONE!!!!... I saw the accident, a cat chased the squirrel.
Cats owners are the problem. Now there is someone to sue.
- J, Loudon

It just show a squirrel had all the power and the people had none. But it was just to much for the squirrel. HINT.?!
- mo, plymouth

Why do I get the feeling that all of PSNH circuts are run in series..........if one light goes out they all go out.......
- Jim, Londonderry

Poor squirrel... I wonder what the last thing that went through his mind was?... Oh, I know! About 50,000 volts.
- Paul D., Londonderry, NH

I bet the squirrel was placed there on purpose as the electric company probably was expecting a power outage due to too many people running their air conditioners and wanted to declare unforeseen activities instead of negligence. That is really close and stupid to have a live wire so close to a ground....hmmmm.....V=IR?
- Tesla, Manchester, NH

I suppose it's better way to go than being run over by a car, or eaten by a Londonderry resident...
- Timm Fives, Bedford

I wonder how much they will charge us to fix this?
- Bill, andover

Ahh, Nuts! It was ACORNS fault. The Squirrel was trying to register to vote and was given bad directions.
- Goldie, Bedford

I bet he was texting....
- John, Weare

..another reason to catch up with other countries and actually bury power lines underground. Our country is so far ahead in some areas, yet so far behind in others.
- Chris, Laconia

eric beat me to it......... So i'll just say they taste great fried with gravy.
- bob, auburn

Now Bullwinkle has no one to talk to.
- Ron, Manchester

When will PETA roll into town stating that all powerlines and substations be taken down to protect the squirrels.
- Steve, Derry

Furry Squirrel..... Died August 20th 2009
You will be missed.
- CJ Turner, Deerfield

Its Obamas fault.... If he wasnt trying to disarm all of America all the people out of work could shoot the squirrells for food ... :-)
- Rob, Milford

Lily, never mind trying to sue the squirrel's family. I'd be more worried about the squirrel's family trying to sue for emotional pain and suffering and loss of companionship. I'm sure someone from the ACLU will get right on it.
- Laurie, Londonderry, NH

Did he leave a note?
- Jeff, Manchester

Nice to see that folks are actually blaming the culprit (the squirrel) instead of George Bush!
- Jeff, Manchester

I like the term "furry rodent" which was used in the story. Squirrels are a nuisance. If one gets into your attic, they can create a lot of problems including chewing the insulation off the wiring. Several years ago a home in my neighborhood was heavily damaged when the wiring sparked and set the home afire. I trap the squirrels in my yard and killthem.
- Gordon, Laconia

This is equal parts sad and hysterical
- Kelly, Bristol

I was inconvenienced - how do I go about suing the squirrel's family, PSNH, the DPW for not putting up "no squirrel" signs, and the town of Derry for not having squirrel ordinances?
- Lily, Windham

They always blame the poor squirrels.
- JB, Derry

I bet it was a squirrel from Massachusetts.
- Eric, Manchester, NH



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