This memo is to share information regarding the recent power outage on August 9 and 10, 2025.
1: What caused the power outage on Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10?
The approximate 18-hour outage was triggered by a squirrel entering the substation, being electrocuted, and triggering the transformer’s internal protections to fault, protecting the substation and shutting down power to the village.
2: Was the substation or transformer damaged?
No. At the time of the outage, it was unknown what damage (if any) had occurred to the transformer. Village electric staff and a technician from Utilities Instrumentation Service spent two days evaluating and inspecting the substation for damage. The transformer was opened on Tuesday afternoon, fully inspected, and found to be in working condition with no apparent damage from the outage. This is a best-case scenario for an outage of this kind.
3: What caused the outage on Monday, August 11?
A clogged fuel filter in one of the generators shut that one down. The second generator was not powerful enough to run power for the whole town, so it faulted and shut down as it is designed to do. The fuel filters in both generators were changed and power was restored in about an hour.
4: What caused the outage on Thursday, August 14?
This planned outage was to allow the Village staff to power down the generators, disconnect that equipment and reconnect our transformer and get the village back on full power from the transmission lines.
5: How much will all of the equipment and labor cost for the outage?
The total expense of this outage has not yet been calculated as invoices are just starting to arrive. The Village insurance company has been notified of the outage and a claim will be made with the hope that all expenses will be reimbursed. If that does not happen, the Village will use electric funds to cover the costs.
6: What happens now?
The Village is already working on several measures to increase substation protection from squirrels and other animals. Substation maintenance and upgrades will continue to help ensure the power stays on. Infrastructure improvements and preventative maintenance will continue to keep the entire system in reliable working order.
6: Did this happen because the Village did not maintain the transformer or infrastructure?
No. This outage occurred because the substation infrastructure worked like it is designed to do. There was a surge when the squirrel was electrocuted, and the substation and transformer faulted as they were supposed to and shut down. This same issue happened several years ago in Marquette. A local brewery named a new beer, “Electric Squirrel” after the incident.
7: Will customers see a reduction in their bill for the hours the power was out?
Yes. Customers should see a slight reduction in their electric usage charges. That charge is calculated by kilowatts used. If there is no power to the meter, the meter does not record usage. Therefore, during the timeframes that the power was out, there would be no charges accrued.
8: Will the Village reimburse customers for the cost of spoiled food, products and/or lost business during the outage?
No. The customers will not be reimbursed for costs incurred by customers due to the outage.
9: Who do I talk to if I have more questions?
Please contact Village Manager, Allison Watkins. Email is best: awatkins@newberrymi.gov or call 906-291-1622.
