Squirrel causes power outage for 12,000 in N.J.

A squirrel got into an Atlantic City Electric substation and caused a power outage for 12,000 customers in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties on Monday, the utility's spokesman said.

The substation in Washington Township suffered equipment failure at 11:18 a.m., said spokesman Arthur Garcia. By 2 p.m., the number of customers experiencing the outage had dropped from 12,000 to about 2,100. By 4:40 p.m., the total had fallen to 38. The squirrel was electrocuted. - Robert Moran