Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is planning to install bird diverter devices known as “flappers” next week in a Sandy Point neighborhood to protect birds from electrical lines.
PSE Senior Local Government Affairs Representative Lynn Murphy said in an email sent to local government officials that electric crews from PSE and Potelco will be installing “flappers” to overhead electrical lines on the south end of Sucia Drive (see graphic). The work is scheduled to be done Wednesday, July 5th, and Thursday, July 6th, between 8am and 4pm.
A planned power outage will be scheduled as part of the project according to information from PSE. Once the outage details are confirmed, all impacted customers will be forewarned by the crew.
According to PSE, flappers are special devices which are installed on overhead utility lines to discourage birds from getting too near the electrical system. This is done for the safety of the birds as well as maintaining the reliability of the electric system.
This is part of PSE’s Avian Protection Program that addresses avian issues and concerns company-wide, including electrocutions and collisions and bird nests on electrical equipment. PSE reports they have installed more than 7,000 bird flight diverter devices since 2003.