Feb 5, 2009 5:16 pm US/Pacific
Small Animal To Blame For Wheatland Power Surge
WHEATLAND (CBS13) ―
A town was jolted by electricity. Everything from TV's and computers to washing machines were fried. The culprit: an animal. CBS13 went to Wheatland to find out how much the culprit will cost the town.
It was enough voltage to light up Yankee Stadium.
"It was all colors, like nothing I have ever seen," says Wheatland resident Ray Nantes.
Neighbors for blocks around gathered on Monday night on the streets for a fireworks display that made Groundhog Day look like Independence Day!
Nearly the entire town of Wheatland lost power when the culprit, a small animal that was believed to be either a cat or raccoon, touched electrical equipment inside a Wheatland substation.
"Nothing's left of it," says Mick Shatswell, Wheatland High School's Technology Director.
Unfortunately, when PG&E turned the power back on, the power surged.
"No surge protector can handle that," explained Shatswell.
It was no small surge. Shatswell says $100,000 of damage was caused to a school. Computers, TV's, DVD players, and overhead projectors are now less useful than a slide-rule.
"You name it; if it was plugged in, it got hit," says Shatswell.
All across town, it was the same story.
"All the lights in the house went on," say Nantes.
As for the kids at Wheatland High who did their projects in those computers, if the old dog ate my homework excuse falls flat, maybe now at least, they can say that the cat fried it.
PG&E is expected to make phone calls to the 1,500 affected clients, and say they will send out claim forms on Monday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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