ITC Conducts Aerial Patrols in Spring and Autumn
Regularly scheduled inspections and testing of transmission lines, structures and substation equipment identifies equipment in need of additional maintenance or replacement to ensure reliability.
- Regular aerial and ground patrols of transmission lines identify damaged or worn equipment, such as cracked insulators or frayed wires.
- Real-time monitoring using advanced technology to identify substation transformer issues.
- Transmission circuits with repeated outages are investigated so action can be taken to improve reliability.
This results in less reactive maintenance because preventive maintenance addresses and resolves potential issues before they cause problems.
In spring and autumn, ITC conducts its aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission towers and lines. The helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system. They include inspections of steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment. Crews check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards.
These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirement for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and are in line with the company's model for operational excellence.