Substation Maintenance: Protecting Against Critters

Substation maintenance is crucial to any utility company. Inspections should include troubleshooting equipment, testing substation relays to ensure they are operating properly, and making sure devices are cleaned thoroughly and properly.

Ensuring the wiring and outside equipment isn't damaged is equally as important. If the substation has electrical damage the equipment is subject to failure and could lead to power outages. Squirrels and other rodents can cause just such damage. Inspecting for signs they are causing problems should be one of your first lines of defense. Use Critter Guard’s Line Guard and Pole Guard systems to help prevent animal damage to substations.

Signs of Wildlife

If you suspect there are squirrels, mice, rats, raccoons, or other wildlife gaining access to your substation area, look for these signs:

• Check wires and poles for damage such as chewing or bite marks, wire that has been chewed through, etc.
• Squirrels will often leave food remnants around that can be an indication of an infestation in your substation area.
• Another more obvious sign is finding dead bodies of animals such as squirrels who have died as a result of contact with electrical equipment.

Substation Maintenance & Protection

Power outages due to animal related damage are one of the most common causes of power outages and millions of dollars in damages occur annually from critters gaining access to substations and other electrical equipment. Critter Guard specializes in protecting substations, transformers, electrical power lines and more, both for homeowners and commercial properties. Our Line Guard and Pole Guard products are humane and developed for the specific purpose of preventing squirrels and other wildlife from gaining access to utility poles and power lines and wreaking havoc.

For more information on our products, or to help prevent substation damage and power outages in your area, contact us today.