Electrified Squirrels

By JOHN SMITH | Highlands Today
Published: February 16, 2008

Progress Energy, please stop killing our squirrels. I know you are aware of the fact that you have a problem with either the wiring or the transformer at the top of the telephone pole in the 900 block of Shamrock Drive. The reason I know that you know there is a problem is because when a squirrel walks the line where the defect is, he or she sets off a chain of events as follows:

1. The sound of a cannon being fired.

2. The squirrel being electrocuted.

3. The loss of electricity in homes.

4. Progress Energy is called to restore electricity in homes.

5. One hour later Progress Energy arrives

6. Progress Energy, with a long pole, resets the breaker at the transformer, then leaves.

I know the procedure well, because I am one of the home owners effected by this curable problem that has killed three of our squirrels in the previous two months.

In my opinion Progress Energy would benefit by correcting the problem as follows:

1. Saving money on service calls.

2. Preventing the inconvenience of their paying customers.

3. Protection of our wildlife.

Please Progress Energy, don't put a Band-Aid on your defect, fix it!

John Smith
Sebring