Potshots damage utility equipment

subscribe

Boone Electric Cooperative would like to remind people that its electric equipment is not meant for target practice.

There have been five instances in about six months of someone shooting different equipment, the utility reports, causing four outages and more than $35,000 in damage.

The latest instance was on May 21, when someone shot an electrical breaker off Route Z in eastern Boone County and 20 customers were without power, Boone Electric spokeswoman Christi Miller said. The other four shootings have been in the Harrisburg area.

Ryan Euliss, manager of engineering and technical services, said it is not uncommon for utility companies to experience problems like this, but it has been rare for Boone Electric. Euliss said he is not aware of many instances in the seven years he has worked for the cooperative.

"In the past decade, itÂ’s been very limited if none," Euliss said.

Miller said there have been instances of people damaging equipment while shooting fireworks. "This seems to be a little string in the last few months," she said. "We donÂ’t really have too much, but when it does something like this, it can be expensive."

The Boone County SheriffÂ’s Department is investigating the vandalism.

The first instance, which created the largest outage, was on Dec. 25, Miller said. Someone shot a regulator off Route E near Harrisburg that left 810 homes without power on Christmas Day.

Two instances occurred within days of each other in March along Benedict Road. On March 12, crews doing repairs found a breaker that had been shot but did not cause an outage, Miller said. Six days later, a transformer on Benedict Road failed after being shot.

The fourth shooting occurred April 8 along Dripping Springs Road when a regulator was vandalized.

In total, the shootings have caused outages to 862 customers, Miller said. Besides causing outages and repairs for the utility, shooting electrical equipment can also be dangerous. The people shooting the equipment are in danger both from hot oil inside transformers and regulators and from the dangers of explosion, according to a news release from the cooperative.

Euliss said the vandalism should not adversely affect Boone ElectricÂ’s budget or lead to rate increases for customers. ItÂ’s hard to tell whether the vandalism is intentional.

"I think the purpose is probably unknown," Euliss said, "and we would hope itÂ’s someone just being foolish and not knowing the extent of damage theyÂ’re causing."

Related News

solar panel worker

Avista Commissions Largest Solar Array in Washington

SPOKANE - Official commissioning of the Adams Nielson solar array located in Lind, WA occurred today. The 28 Megawatt DC array is comprised of 81,700 panels that span 200 acres and generates enough electricity to supply the equivalent of approximately 4,000 homes annually.

“Avista’s interest in the development of Solar Select, a voluntary commercial solar program, is consistent with the Company’s ongoing commitment to provide customers with renewable energy choices at reasonable cost,” said Dennis Vermillion, president, Avista Corporation. “In recent years, an increasing number of Avista customers have expressed their expectations and challenges in acquiring renewable energy. Avista is pleased…

READ MORE

New Program Set to Fight for 'Electricity Future That Works for People and the Planet'

READ MORE

San Diego Gas & Electric

Utilities commission changes community choice exit fees; what happens now in San Diego?

READ MORE

lower Ontario electricity rates

Ontario tables legislation to lower electricity rates

READ MORE

pennsylvania power rates

Pennsylvania residents could see electricity prices rise as much as 50 percent this winter

READ MORE