Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) reported over 7,500 customers lost power around midnight, mainly in Crossville and Cumberland County.

Many of you had questions of what happened since no accidents were reported at the time and the weather was fine except for light rainfall.

VEC Communications and Public Relations Coordinator Julie Jones said it took place after a squirrel got on a main transformer in the Crossville substation off of Highway 70 East causing a malfunction. Power was restored in about an hour.

A squirrel can disrupt a power system if its body becomes a current path between electrical conductors. Squirrels damage electrical substations by tunneling, by chewing through electrical insulation, or by simultaneously coming into contact with two conductors at different electrical potentials.

Various electric companies say this is a common problem, especially in the fall when squirrels are gathering nuts and other food.