Squirrel protection for electrical sub stations has arrived but hasen’t been installed yet, said Grand Marais Electrical Superintendent Mike Taylor to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at its Wednesday, July 23 meeting.
A determined squirrel broke into the sub station about two months ago in his/ her final inquisitive act and tripped the oil circuit recloser (OCR). The OCR opens to stop the fault and quickly closes if the animal (or disturbance) falls away from the line. If the line is not cleared, the OCR will trip two more times and then remain open, causing an outage and shutting the power off around town, which happened in this case.
This incident followed one that took place about one year ago when another determined squirrel died after investigating a sub station. Following the most recent incident Taylor told the board that it might be time to purchase a squirrel guard to keep out unwanted guests.
Nationwide animals (snakes, birds, raccoons, squirrels etc.) cause 12 percent of all electrical outages, but in rural areas animals and birds can account for up to 60 percent of the outages. These outages often come unexpectedly and can cause homeowners and businesses to have problems with computers, digital clocks, digital stoves and programmable electrical entertainment equipment, not to mention the time it takes to reset and reprogram these devises.
Of all of the critters though, squirrels are the worst. Their teeth grow 6 to 10 inches per year and they have to gnaw and chew incessantly, and because they use power lines as their own personal highways they often end up chewing on conductors and aluminum connectors located on transformers.
“Hopefully these squirrel guards will take care of the problem,” Taylor said.
In other matters Taylor said his crews have been busy installing new electrical services to businesses, homes and cabins.
Tom Nelson, Grand Marais water/ wastewater superintendent presented quotes to repair a worn shaft for the Orbital Aerator system, which is located on the extended aeration oxidation ditch. Quotes for parts total $11,767; a quote from Magney Construction, a commercial and industrial contractor from Chanhassen, Minnesota for the removal and replacement of old parts was $11,293.70; crane rental from a local contractor was $150 an hour with an estimate of 8 hours to bring the total to $24,260.70. The board unanimously agreed to accept the quotes and Nelson would begin the process of having the work done.
Nelson said the new flow meter at the water plant (that replaced the 20-year-old flow meter) is working well and is more accurate than the old one. His crew has been busy repairing several water leaks, he said, and is now using the new department pickup truck that was delivered from Sonju Motors of Two Harbors and it is a nice, reliable upgrade from the truck it replaced.
The lift station located behind City Hall has been replaced and repaired and the concrete apron will be in place soon, said Nelson. The newly installed check valve has cut down the running time dramatically at the lift station, said Nelson.
PUC Secretary Jan Smith told the board that a customer had found a leak that caused 38,000 gallons of water to drain under his cabin. The leak is fixed, said Smith, and the board agreed to credit the customer’s account for $340.10 toward his sewer bill.
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