More from NY 1 about the stray electrical current that killed Barkus, a Park Slope dog, on Third Street in the Gowanus.

Con Edison now says the underground "hot spot" that killed a dog in
Brooklyn Wednesday was slated to be turned off seven years ago, but
never was.

Danny Kapilian’s dog Barkus was electrocuted on the sidewalk in
front of a Con Ed substation in Park Slope yesterday. The dog collapsed
while walking along Third Street.

On Thursday, the power company said it was notified by the
Department of Transportation in 1999 to turn off power to a street lamp
that was being removed at that location. However, the power was never
cut, even after the light was removed.

Con Ed says the location was inspected less than a month ago, but workers did not find any stray voltage.

The utility believes melting snow and salt from last weekend’s
storm helped electrify the concrete on that portion of the sidewalk.

Kapilian says he has been contacted by a Con Ed claims person who
offered to pay for the veterinary bills. He also tells NY1 he has been
talking to lawyers about suing the utility, and indicated he would take
legal action out of concern for public safety.

Meanwhile, a fraud investigator with the city’s Human Resources
Administration says she was shocked Monday when she stepped onto a
storm grate on Allerton Avenue and White Plains Road. She credits her
rubber boots with saving her life.

Con Ed says a preliminary test showed the grate was electrified,
but when an electrical crew was called in, tests found no stray
voltage.

Con Ed has been under pressure to fix these so called stray-voltage
problems since the death of Jodie Lane in 2003, who was electrocuted
while walking her dogs in the East Village.