Community Corner
Squirrel Biting Through Wires Caused Current Aberdeen Power Outage
Do you live in Aberdeen Twp. and your power is currently out? You can blame a squirrel that bit an electric line, said JCP&L. Yes, really.
ABERDEEN, NJ — Do you live in Aberdeen Township and your power is currently out?
You can blame a squirrel that bit an electric line outside a substation.
Yes, really, said Jersey Central Power & Light spokesman Chris Hoenig on Friday. On Friday morning, approximately 1,943 people were currently without power in Aberdeen Township, mostly centered in the area around Lloyd Road and Church Street, according to JCP&L/First Energy's outage map.
Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"About 1,100 out in Aberdeen, 300 in Matawan," said Hoenig. "Animal contact right outside of our substation appears to be the cause. Squirrel. Appears from the notes that it tried to chew the line exiting the substation in this case. If they try to take a bite of a high-voltage line going into a substation or one of the distribution lines right as it comes out, it’ll trip out an entire circuit."
The animal typically does not survive contact with a live electric line.
Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
As of 12:40 p.m., the outage was restored.
Power is also out for some in Holmdel Friday due to a downed pole on Holmdel Road.
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