Snake causes power outage in North Carolina
A black snake disrupted power to 10,000 Duke Energy customers in Durham, prompting questions about substation protections and grid resilience.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Durham, North Carolina: Around 10,000 Duke Energy customers in Durham, North Carolina, lost power late on May 5 after a black snake came into contact with equipment at a local electrical substation.
The outage started around 11 p.m. and power was fully restored by approximately 1:30 a.m., according to a Duke Energy spokesperson. While the substation is equipped with animal deterrent fencing, the utility is investigating how the snake managed to breach those defenses.
“Duke Energy has been working to strengthen its grid by enhancing both physical and cyber security at critical sites,” the spokesperson stated. “This includes upgrading systems to reduce risks posed by animals like snakes and squirrels, which are among the leading causes of power interruptions.”
Animal-related outages are a frequent issue across the U.S. According to data from The Nature Conservancy, about 13 million Americans are affected by such disruptions annually.
Duke Energy offers a real-time outage tracker on its website to help customers monitor local power disruptions and restoration efforts.
This incident adds to ongoing conversations about the vulnerability of power infrastructure to wildlife and the need for continued investment in grid reliability and protection.
Similar incidents have occurred across the U.S., including a raccoon-triggered outage in Rochester and a squirrel-induced blackout in Missoula.
Source: WBTV
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