New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) are taking major steps to improve energy reliability for about 1.3 million electric customers by installing thousands of animal guards across their service areas. The $13.8 million initiative aims to prevent wildlife from contacting energized electrical equipment, a common cause of power outages.
“Keeping the power on for customers is one of our top priorities,” said Josh Shail, director of programs and logistics for NYSEG and RG&E. “Wild animals are one of the leading causes of outages in the state. Animal guards are a cost-effective way to strengthen our grid while also protecting the lives of animals following their natural instincts.”
Although utility infrastructure can provide temporary shelter for wildlife—like a squirrel climbing a pole or a bird building a nest—it can be deadly if animals venture too close to energized equipment. In 2020, animal contacts caused 1,421 outages, affecting roughly 82,000 customers and accounting for 8.6% of total outages.
The animal guard program, launched in 2020, targets circuits most at risk. Guards are installed on energized equipment, including distribution transformer bushings, arresters, and other infrastructure. Since the program began, outages caused by wildlife have decreased by approximately 50%, with animal contact accounting for just 3.87% of outages last year.
The companies plan to install over 18,000 animal guards by the end of 2025, aiming to further reduce interruptions and keep the electric grid safe and reliable for customers.
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