Electric Company To Inspect Transmission Wires By Helicopter

Atlantic City Electric is using helicopters to inspect more than 1,100 miles of transmission lines in South Jersey this summer, the electric company announced. The aerial inspections are part of the company’s efforts to deliver safe and reliable energy for its customers, and its preventive maintenance work to proactively review its system and address potential problems before they occur.

“Through these proactive inspections, we are able to better identify potential issues related to our transmission lines which are the backbone of our energy grid,” Atlantic City Electric Region President Gary Stockbridge said. “The aerial helicopter inspections are helping to enhance reliability, safety and efficiency across our energy system.”

The helicopters will fly low to complete comprehensive visual inspections of transmission lines and guy wire grounding, which is used to support utility poles and protect against potential issues. Atlantic City Electric will then make any necessary repairs and replacements.

The flight inspections will occur in portions of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties.

Atlantic City Electric has also been looking at the way it inspects the local energy grid to maintain reliable service for customers. The rapid growth of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, presents a host of opportunities to incorporate this advanced technology into daily operations.

Atlantic City Electric will continue to use this innovative approach to assess the condition of the energy grid, in conjunction with traditional physical human inspections from the ground or by helicopter.

The electric company also follows a targeted annual plan to further enhance overall system reliability and safety for customers. This plan includes inspecting existing infrastructure, installing new, more modern equipment, and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable, and trimming trees, which cause about 40 percent of power outages for customers each year.

The company also uses innovative technologies to improve system reliability, such as specialized equipment that can automatically restore service more quickly or isolate damage. This work is essential in helping prevent those outages that can be prevented.

Atlantic City Electric customers are benefiting from the enhancements that are being made to the local energy grid. Over the past five years, the company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in South Jersey modernizing the energy grid.

As a result, the number of electric outages has decreased by more than 40 percent and outage length has been reduced by 18 percent, according to the electric company. Last year, customers experienced the lowest average number of electric outages in the company’s history, as well as the fastest restoration times ever.

To learn more, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online news room. Find additional information about Atlantic City Electric by visiting www.atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acelecconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.

The attached image was provided by Atlantic City Electric