Santee Cooper restored service within 90 minutes after equipment fault at Market Common substation
Myrtle Beach, SC — A power outage in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, was caused by a squirrel entering an electrical substation in the Market Common area, according to Santee Cooper. The animal made contact with energized equipment shortly after 9:00 a.m., triggering a fault that cut electricity to more than 3,200 customers.
The outage affected nearby neighborhoods and commercial areas before crews isolated the damaged components and rerouted power. Santee Cooper said service was fully restored by 10:30 a.m., and repairs did not require any additional outages.
Utility officials reported that the squirrel made contact with energized components inside the Market Common substation, creating an immediate equipment fault that shut down part of the system. Wildlife‑related incidents are a recurring issue for utilities across the region, particularly during warmer months when animal activity increases.
Crews responded quickly, removed the damaged components, and restored power within roughly 90 minutes. Santee Cooper said no injuries were reported and confirmed that the squirrel did not survive the electrical contact.
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