PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA, US -- With the help of this equipment combination issues can be detected at a very early-stage.

Penn Power and West Penn Power, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy, have announced, that they recently completed their proactive aerial inspections along nearly 1,000 miles of 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines in the greater Pittsburgh area using a new infrared and ultraviolet (IR/UV) technology.

According to the company these IR/UV patrols take place every four years and are crucial in helping to prevent power outages. With the help of this equipment issues within transmission substations and high-voltage power lines can be detected at a very early-stage when they are often still invisible to the naked eye or on equipment that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections.

With the help of a low-flying helicopter with an infrared and ultraviolet camera mounted on the bottom and an onboard thermographer the electrical equipment can be inspected through infrared and ultraviolet spectrums to identify any sources of overheated components or voltage issues. The infrared technology shows heat on a color scale, with brighter colors or "hot spots" indicating areas in possible need of repairs. The combination of the two technologies is beneficial because it allows for a wider range of detection and potential issues identified during the inspections can be addressed swiftly and efficiently to prevent service disruptions and costly repairs at a later time.

"Maintaining our transmission system is the first line of defense in preventing power outages," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations. "Helicopters provide us with a view of our electrical equipment that we can't get from the ground, allowing us to inspect miles of power lines in a single day," Wyman continued. "However, on-the-ground inspections are still necessary and underway to ensure our neighborhood power lines and equipment are ready to meet the high demand for electricity when customers crank up their heaters to stay comfortable this winter," he finished.

These Visual aerial inspections are estimated to be completed by the end of the year with approximately 500 more miles of high-voltage lines left to go.

Source: Power Grid International