Karmactive Team
Power has been fully restored to more than 3,000 Grand Rapids residents after a squirrel caused an outage at the Wealthy Street Substation during Monday morning’s developing heat wave .
The furry intruder triggered the outage around 9:30 a.m. on July 28, 2025, cutting electricity to approximately 3,256 Consumers Energy customers across two main areas of the city’s west side. Crews restored service to all affected customers by 11 a.m., just as temperatures began climbing toward dangerous levels.
Where Power Was Lost
The outage affected two distinct zones:
- 1,385 customers east of the Grand River to Haynes Avenue and north of Hall Street in Southwest Grand Rapids
- 1,871 customers south of Bridge Street and north of Wealthy Street on the West Side
Wildlife and the Power Grid: A Recurring Challenge
This incident represents part of a persistent pattern. According to Consumers Energy data, wildlife causes approximately 8 percent of all power outages statewide, with squirrels, raccoons, and birds being the primary culprits.
The utility has implemented extensive protective measures as part of its Reliability Roadmap initiative . About 90 percent of low-voltage-distribution substations now feature animal deterrents including polycarbonate shields, bushing guards, and pole wraps designed to prevent wildlife-related disruptions. These protective measures, along with other improvements in the Reliability Roadmap program, have contributed to reducing average outage durations by 21 minutes as per last year, according to Consumers Energy reports .
Related: South Australia power outage and wildlife mitigation measures
Heat Advisory Concerns
The timing of Monday’s outage raised particular concerns as the National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for Grand Rapids beginning at noon and continuing until 9 p.m. Weather data showed heat index values climbing to 101 °F with humidity near 70 percent—conditions that can cause heat‑related illnesses without access to air conditioning.
Staying Safe During Summer Outages
Health officials recommend several precautions during power outages during extreme heat:
- Stay hydrated with plenty of water
- Limit outdoor exposure between noon and 6 p.m.
- Visit designated cooling centers if needed (locations available on the City of Grand Rapids website)
- Check on elderly neighbors and those with health conditions
- Residents who rely on electrically powered medical equipment should contact Consumers Energy’s priority service at 800‑477‑5050
Monitoring Outages
Consumers Energy maintains a real‑time outage map at ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter where customers can monitor restoration progress during any service interruption.The Grand Rapids outage serves as a reminder of the ongoing balance utilities must maintain between protecting infrastructure and wildlife. While animal‑caused outages remain a regular occurrence in Michigan’s power distribution system, protective measures continue to minimize their frequency and duration.
