NLR backs anti-critter fencing for electric site

Fencing around a North Little Rock Electric substation is coming to keep squirrels, raccoons and other critters from getting inside and causing power failures.

The North Little Rock City Council agreed to waive formal bidding for the fencing and its installation at its Westgate substation, which mainly serves the downtown area, approving two ordinances Monday evening, each by an 8-0 vote.

North Little Rock Electric is to pay $60,333.88, plus applicable taxes, for fencing provided by Vanquish Fencing Inc., and $58,000 to A-Dependable Fencing for the installation, or half of both costs, according to the ordinances. Entergy Arkansas is to pay the remaining costs.

There are two Westgate substations, both on one secured site south of Riverfront Drive, just east of the Pike Avenue roundabout. One is North Little Rock Electric’s and the other is Entergy’s. Both have had recent failures caused by animals getting inside, said Scott Springer, North Little Rock Electric’s general manager.

Entergy has a contract with Vanquish Fencing for the animal deterrent fence system and has had the fencing installed at other substation sites. A-Dependable Fencing is Vanquish’s preferred installer for the specialized work, according to the legislation.

“Entergy has had no animal issues at all since they started to install these fences,” Springer told the council.

The fence is to be 7 feet high with a foot of barbed wire and an “animal deterrent swing gate,” according to a description of the fencing supplementing the legislation.

The city’s Westgate substation serves downtown North Little Rock, including City Hall, Verizon Arena, Dickey-Stephens Park and the Wyndham Riverfront hotel. The last failure caused by a raccoon, Springer said, knocked out power for more than 6,300 North Little Rock Electric customers.

Entergy reported 3,378 critter-caused power failures last year, according to Entergy statistics. More than 2,800 of those were caused by squirrels. Most other failures were caused by birds, raccoons or snakes.