News Summary
A power outage in Grand Rapids left over 3,000 customers without electricity on July 28, 2025, after a squirrel interfered with a local substation. The outage primarily impacted residents on the West Side and was restored within a few hours. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of wildlife causing disruptions to electrical services, with similar occurrences noted in other regions. Utility companies continue to explore solutions to prevent such animal-related outages.
Grand Rapids, Michigan experienced a significant power outage on Monday, July 28, 2025, as a squirrel interfered with electrical equipment at a local substation. The outage left over 3,000 customers without power, primarily affecting residents on the city’s West Side.
The power disruption was first reported around 8:30 a.m. when many customers noted their lights flickering or going out entirely. By 11 a.m., power had been restored to all affected areas, as confirmed by a spokeswoman from Consumers Energy. Thanks to the swift efforts of response crews, no outages were reported on Grand Rapids’ West Side by noon.
During the mid-morning hours, several neighborhoods were particularly affected. In southwest Grand Rapids, 1,385 customers lost power in the area east of the Grand River to Haynes Avenue, and north of Hall Street. Another group of customers, numbering 1,871, lost their electrical service in a different region, specifically south of Bridge Street and north of Wealthy Street, also west of the Grand River.
The cause of the outage was traced back to an incident at the Wealthy Street substation, where the squirrel made contact with crucial electrical infrastructure, resulting in widespread power loss. This incident is not an isolated case, as a similar outage occurred the previous Friday in Jackson, MI, caused by another squirrel. That particular event also affected over 3,000 individuals.
Squirrels, along with various other animals, have been noted by Consumers Energy as occasional culprits behind similar occurrences affecting the reliability of power supply. These animals often interfere with electrical infrastructure, leading to power outages that can disrupt the daily lives of residents.
While animal-related outages can’t always be fully prevented, utility companies like Consumers Energy are continually working on methods to mitigate these incidents. Steps may include implementing wildlife-proofing measures at electrical substations to minimize future risks. The squirrel involved in the Jackson incident did not survive, but it has been indicated that it will not lead to any further outages.
Power outages, regardless of their cause, can disrupt essential services and daily routines for large numbers of residents, especially in urban areas like Grand Rapids. Consumers Energy strives to respond quickly to outages and improve the reliability of electrical service throughout their coverage areas.
As reported, outages may occur more frequently in areas with a high population of squirrels and other wildlife. Public awareness of wildlife interactions with electrical infrastructure may contribute to community discussions on how to prevent these types of incidents in the future.
Overall, Consumers Energy’s quick restoration of power shows the company’s commitment to providing reliable electrical service, even in the face of unexpected challenges like animal interference.
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Additional Resources
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