Over the coming months, aerial inspections will commence of Essential Energy’s power poles and powerlines to minimise bushfire risk and increase reliability for electricity customers.
The inspections will be carried out by specially trained pilots flying fixed-wing aircraft, using a high-definition camera.
Operations Manager Macquarie, Jamie Warren said, “These patrols are a crucial part of Essential Energy’s Bushfire Risk Management Plan.”
Specialist teams will inspect the condition of 101,317 power poles across a total of 14,897 kilometres of network, identifying damaged or deteriorating electricity network assets, as well as vegetation growing too close to powerlines.
“This year’s significant rainfall has encouraged intense vegetation growth throughout many parts of NSW, with the impact of flooding still hampering some of our electricity maintenance efforts. Using aerial patrols helps us inspect the network assets more efficiently,” Jamie continued.
Customers will receive an advance notification via an SMS approximately four days ahead of an aerial inspection starting in their area.
People can learn more about aerial inspections by visiting essentialenergy.com.au/aerial.