We’re Entering the Season of Costly Animal Antic - Squirrels, Birds & Power Lines

Ah, autumn. As the leaves turn golden, nature's little critters scurry about, prepping for winter. While squirrels stash their acorns and raccoons hoard their finds, businesses often reel from unexpected electrical woes caused by furry missteps.  Just one wayward animal can trigger a cascade of electrical failures, zapping sensitive equipment on production lines at pharmaceutical plants, or in a plastics extrusion line.  And most of the time, the technicians looking for the problem at the plant will never know the source.  It happens more often than you think.

I've uncovered some amusing but costly culprits at the heart of power supply disasters within the electricity system.  When examining the broad arena of power quality, voltage sags stand out, accounting for a whopping 92% of power quality events.  And you'd be surprised by the orchestrators of these power dips. It's not always the gusty winds, misdirected construction drills, or flashy lightning.

As winter approaches, animals get industrious. Picture this: a squirrel running a tightrope on a power line, a bird with an expansive wingspan bridging two electrical lines, or a raccoon taking an ill-fated exploratory dig. The result? Voltage imbalances, outages, and, yes, even those pesky sags. For businesses, especially those relying on continuous processes, these disturbances can spell disaster. A simple voltage sag can trip machinery, leading to hours of downtime, increased operational costs, and significant revenue loss.

Fortunately, there's a remedy. With products like the Automatic Voltage Conditioner (AVC), we can mitigate these power disruptions. By strategically placing equipment between the utility and the load, we can restore the necessary voltage components, ensuring a steady power supply.  We mathematically calculate the missing component of voltage and inject it into the system. Investing in the solution is always worth the return when disruption is avoided.

So, as the 2023 Fall season unfolds, remember: the right preparations can keep your business running smoothly. Always ensure you have the right tools and experts; after all, the squirrels don’t know any better… but we do.