Understanding the Recent Outages

Over the past few weeks, our community has experienced several outages, each with a different cause:

• July 31: A transformer failed on Cottage Street, which also led to a fire. While a single transformer issue typically affects a small area, this one caused a broader outage. We are currently investigating why this happened to prevent it from recurring.
• August 2: A large tree fell on a power line on Bedford Street, requiring us to replace three utility poles. This caused an outage for approximately 450 customers until the new poles were safely installed, and the line was repaired.
• August 5: A squirrel came into contact with equipment in West Concord, causing an outage for 330 customers. These types of incidents, while frustrating, are a common challenge for electrical systems everywhere.
• August 10: A squirrel came in contact with equipment on Thoreau St, causing an outage for 750 customers. The squirrel created a fault that was isolated by a recloser. After clearing the fault and inspecting the system, operators restored power.

 The American Public Power Association reports that squirrels caused over 7,000 outages among public power entities reporting in 2023, which exceeds the number caused by storms by more than 30%. Squirrels and chipmunks can climb poles, access equipment from nearby tree limbs, and even access underground areas by chewing through conduit seals.

Our Approach to Preventing Outages

 We know that a reliable power supply is essential. Our strategy for improving reliability is focused on a few key areas: 

• Investing in Infrastructure: We are continually upgrading our equipment, including poles, transformers, and power lines. While this comes with a cost, it's a critical investment in a more resilient system. We are also exploring the gradual process of undergrounding power lines, which protects them from weather and animal contact, though this is a complex and long-term project.
• Vegetation Management: We have a regular tree-trimming program to keep branches away from power lines, which helps prevent many weather-related outages. However, we are considering a more aggressive approach to trimming. We know this can sometimes be a sensitive topic, but it's one of the most effective ways to reduce outages caused by falling trees and branches.
• Improving Our Technology: We are in the process of rolling out a new SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). This technology, along with new “smart” relays, will give us real-time data about the electrical grid. This helps us pinpoint problems faster, isolate issues to smaller areas, and restore power more quickly. It will also help us better understand complex issues like the one on Cottage Street.
• Limiting the Scope of Outages: We are evaluating the installation of more power protection devices, like reclosers. These devices are designed to isolate a problem to a smaller area. While they can sometimes trip unexpectedly, they are a powerful tool for preventing a minor issue from becoming a widespread outage.

 We understand the frustration that comes with power outages, and we are committed to making these improvements to serve you better. We appreciate your patience as we work to build a more resilient and reliable electrical grid for our community.