"This annual inspection is an important part of the company’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable energy to customers," Eversource said in a statement. "The work involves the use of a helicopter flying low over transmission lines to detect any potential equipment issues before system reliability is impacted."
Weather-permitting, the aerial inspections will continue through Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will include the following Fairfield County cities and towns, with many more across the state:
- Bethel
- Danbury
- Darien
- Greenwich
- Monroe
- Newtown
- Norwalk
- Redding
- Ridgefield
- Shelton
- Stamford
- Westport
- Wilton
The aircraft used will be a blue and silver helicopter, with tail # N1431W, and a blue and white helicopter, with tail # N411DD.
“The helicopter inspections of our transmission lines are a crucial and effective part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages,” said Steve Gilkey, Vice President of Electric Field Operations at Eversource in Connecticut. “Over a million customers in Connecticut depend on us for their electric service and that’s why we’re always working proactively to keep the system operating safely and reliably.”
The region’s transmission system is the backbone of the electric grid, Eversource said. Overhead inspections of transmission lines and equipment – often located upward of 100 feet in the air – help transmission planners detect potential problems in advance, allowing the company to schedule necessary maintenance before reliability issues arise.
Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns and provides natural gas to 226,000 customers in 72 communities in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.eversource.com.
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