Squirrel Triggers Power Outage, Impacting 7 Houses: City

GENEVA, IL — A four-legged furry creature was the cause of one of two power outages that struck Geneva Sunday.

Around 9:02 a.m., a squirrel triggered a disruption on Third Avenue and Bennett Street, causing the power to go out for seven customers. The city's Electric Division was able to restore the service at 10:02 a.m., officials said in a Wednesday update.

Squirrels induce power outages more often than one might think. According to reports from Slate, rodents account for about 10-20 percent of power outages.

In a separate, unrelated incident, a broken electric pole cutout resulted in outages for 16 customers who live near Water, Bennett, Howard, and Jefferson streets. The cutout was replaced and the line reenergized at 3:52 p.m.

Officials said the city's online request system and social media channels aren't monitored 24 hours, so residents should call the Geneva Police Department's non-emergency number, 630-232-4736, to report power outages that happen after-hours, on weekends and on holidays.