TransGard Systems Patented Panels Provide Solutions To Repel Snakes

TransGard Systems, manufacturer of a patented fencing system that prevents animal incursions at electrical substations, is has developed a unique solution to the growing problem of costly service outages specifically caused by snakes. 

According to The Journal of Wildlife Management, snakes enter electrical substations in search of the eggs and young of the birds that frequently nest in electrical substations.  Combine this with a shrinking natural habitat for snakes, and the circumstances are perfect for an increase in snake incursions – and subsequent outages.

According to Bill Reichard, TransGard’s general manager, a growing number of these snake-caused outages have been reported during 2011, especially in the southern U.S., and utility managers have searched for ways to combat these costly interruptions in service. 

Reichard adds that the increasing number of snake-caused outages have resulted in requests from many of TransGard’s recent installations to include the company’s specially designed snake panels, which prevent incursion from snakes as small as ¼” in diameter. 

Squirrels, raccoons, snakes, other climbing animals cause substation outages in urban, suburban and remote locations across North America.  A single outage can cost tens of thousands of dollars in equipment and man-hours, not to mention frustrated customers.  In fact, the cost of animal-related outages in the entire United States totaled just under$15 billion for 2009.

TransGard has installed more than 2,000 fences in New York, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma and several other states – and many more utilities, cooperatives and other substation operators are making plans for future installations to repel snakes and other unwanted visitors that have the potential to disrupt service.
 

TransGard article featured in Utility Products

In November of 2011, national trade publication Utility Products ran an article on the increasing problem of animal-caused outages at electrical substations. Read the full article here.

TransGard Systems installs 2,000th substation fence

TransGard Systems helps prevent snake damage at WFEC substations, and more news from TransGard

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Marmot-caused outage shuts down mining operation; causes massive fire damage in Steamboat Springs

Officials reported an animal, possibly a marmot, climbed onto a transformer, causing a power outage that shut down mining operations and caused $500,000 in fire damages at Twentymile Coal Company on June 14. Fire crews had to wait for the electricity to be turned off to douse the flames.  Because the water pumps at the mine don’t work without power, the team had to use one of the mine's 10,000-gallon water wagons to fight the blaze. It was all avoidable; marmots are one of the many climbing animals repelled by TransGard fencing. Read the full story here. 

ESMO Recap, Case Study: Duke Energy, and more news from TransGard

Read TransGard's June enewsletter here.

Squirrel causes DC-area outage that snarls traffic, cuts power for thousands

It’s becoming an all-too-familiar story: a squirrel incursion at an unprotected substation causes a dangerous outage. On February 17, a squirrel scampered onto a transformer at a substation and interrupted the flow of electricity, causing about 2,700 customers to lose power.

Several stop lights were affected in the heart of Vienna, leading to traffic problems. Police even asked drivers to avoid the area. No word on whether the utility deployed animal deterrent equipment – TransGard fencing was not in place – or the cost of substation repairs. Read the full story here.

Squirrel damages substation; resulting outage causes gas leak, false alarms

An outage in Lancaster County, PA, caused major headaches for residents and emergency officials. Over 650 PPL customers were without power Saturday morning because, according to PPL officials, a squirrel climbed onto a substation. Investigators found a carcass at the site where the system failed. The outage resulted in a busy day for fire departments and police stations, who responded to various automatic fire and burglar alarms. Officials attributed the false alarms to the outage. Authorities also said it could also be responsible for a gas leak. Read the entire story here.

TransGard to Demonstrate at ESMO 2011 in Providence, RI

TransGard Systems will demonstrate its fencing during an outdoor how-to clinic at the ESMO conference in Providence, RI, on Tuesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 19. During the one-hour installation demonstration, TransGard President John Lynam and General Manager Bill Reichard will assemble several sections of TransGard fencing, install an entryway and connect the system’s master control.

Attendees will also learn the basics of removing modular panels, the advantages TransGard offers in deterring a wide range of animal incursions, and details on the system’s performance at more than 1,200 substations in North America.

“Our goal is to show substation personnel how simple the installation process is,” Lynam said. “TransGard fences were engineered for maximum effectiveness against animal incursions, but also to be installed easily and quickly ― in less than a day.”

ESMO 2011 is the premier event for electric utility industry professionals. For information on the conference and enrollment, visit the ESMO 2011 site.

TransGard Increases Production Capacity

TransGard Systems announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility by 20,000 square feet. The enhanced production area was necessary to accommodate current and future demand, according to Bill Reichard, General Manager of TransGard.

“With TransGard’s growth trajectory over the past two years, we recognized that we needed to have the resources to increase our production capability,” Reichard said. “With our expanded facility, we’ll be able to manage our growth in the U.S. and Canada during 2011 and beyond.”

The expansion will also enable TransGard to continue to develop new products in response to customer needs. Reichard also noted that increasing interest from other countries factored into TransGard’s expansion decision. TransGard’s location in southcentral Pennsylvania provides the company with an ideal distribution hub.

TransGard Announces Distribution Arrangement for Quebec, Canada

Teqal Inc. to provide TransGard fencing to stop “animaux grimpeurs” (climbing animals)

TransGard Systems announced it had reached an agreement with Teqal Inc. to provide exclusive distribution of TransGard fencing to substations in Quebec province. Teqal, a distributor of utility equipment based in La Prairie, Quebec, immediately began representing TransGard’s clôture de protection électrifié in that French-speaking market.

“TransGard’s longevity in cold-weather climates has driven interest from Canada’s substation engineers,” said John Lynam, TransGard President.“ We’re pleased to partner with Teqal so we can extend our reach into Quebec.”

For information or quotes in Quebec, Canada, contact Teqal Inc. at www.teqal.com.

TransGard Installs 200th Fence for Ameren; Result: Zero Outages

TransGard Systems announced today it had installed its 200th fence for Ameren, the largest electric utility in Missouri and the second largest in Illinois. The utility has now installed more TransGard fences than any other customer in the company’s history. Ameren has not experienced an animal-related outage at any substation, ever, with a working TransGard fence.

Ameren services approximately 2.4 million customers across two states and maintains 1,400 substations in Illinois. According to Steve Wolter, consulting engineer at Ameren, at least 50% of the company’s Illinois substations were at high risk for damage from squirrels, raccoons, opossums and snakes.

In 2003, Ameren turned to TransGard for help. Ameren recognized TransGard as the first of its kind in the field of animal deterrent systems, and selected the company to begin installation on a handful of substations. Over the next eight years, Ameren has installed TransGard Systems around at-risk substation sites – now more than 200 substations in all.

“It was most important for Ameren to provide uninterrupted service to its customers,” Wolter says. “TransGard has helped us make that happen.”

Installation on additional facilities and expansion on existing TransGard systems is ongoing.

(For details, see the full case study.)

Planning for 2011:  “What causes more outages? The lightning, or the squirrels?”

Lately, the squirrels appear to be winning. In fact, many TransGard customers have already begun developing animal substation deterrence plans for 2011. It makes sense, with reports of squirrel population growth in nearly every region of the U.S., and other animals – notably snakes, raccoons and, in Florida, Cuban tree frogs – posing a serious threat to substation reliability.

This article from USA Today offers some intriguing details for anyone responsible for a high-voltage substation:

• “Squirrels that fry themselves on power lines and transformers cause tens of thousands of blackouts every year.”
• “Some states have seen a massive jump in recent years in the number of such outages. In Georgia, squirrel-related outages more than tripled from 5,273 in 2005 to 16,750 in 2006.”
• “Georgia Power officials estimate the rodents cost them $2 million last year.”

Many utilities, rural electric cooperatives and others are already taking steps to protect sensitive substation equipment in 2011. To learn more about TransGard’s patented fencing system, or for a preliminary quote for your substation, use TransGard’s online request tool.

TransGard fence installed in Caracas, Venezuela

PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned energy company, recently imported a TransGard fence to protect a substation in Caracas, the capital. Visiting officials from PDVSA observed a working TransGard system during a visit to the U.S., and decided to install the animal-deterrent system at one if its own substations.

“We’re pleased that PDVSA made a concerted effort to import fencing manufactured in a country more than 2,000 miles away,” said John Lynam, President of Transgard. “This further validates TransGard fencing as the premier animal deterrent for substations, regardless of the country or the climate.”

TransGard fencing is widely used in the U.S. and Canada, with installations at more than 1,200 substations. The company is exploring international distribution of its system to several other countries.

Raccoon causes Memphis outage, loss of power to children’s hospital

Power was out for more than five hours in downtown Memphis after a raccoon touched and short-circuited a switch and caused a Memphis Light, Gas & Water substation to fail, officials said.

Affected areas, served by MLGW's substation 21, included the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. The outage also caused delays in production at The Commercial Appeal, the region’s largest daily newspaper. Click here to read the entire story.