Eversource helicopter transmission line inspection 02-22-17

Eversource Helicopter Over Darien for Inspections Sometime From Monday, Aug 6 to to Aug 17

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Eversource is conducting aerial inspections of high-voltage electrical equipment in Connecticut towns, including Darien. Weather-permitting, these aerial inspections will start Monday, August 6 and continue through August 17. They will take place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Using heat-sensing imaging equipment, the inspections are meant to identify potential problems with electric lines and equipment to target for repairs. — Here’s How Often Eversource Helicopters Fly Over Darien — and Why (March 23, 2017)

For identification purposes, the helicopter being used for Eversource’s transmission line inspections is a blue and silver Bell, with a registration number N1431W. “With more than 800 miles of transmission rights of way in Connecticut, these helicopter inspections are a crucial and effective part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages,” said President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom.

Eversource helicopter N1431W 02-22-17

Here’s How Often Eversource Helicopters Fly Over Darien — and Why

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Eversource schedules its helicopters to fly over major electricity transmission lines and equipment four times a year (most recently in late December, late February and late this month — starting about now or sometime soon). We asked a utility spokesman why that happens so often, and here’s what we found out:

Frank Poirot, a spokesman for Eversource, said the electric utility conducts two different types of regular inspections over major equipment, including transmission lines, each twice a year. Heat-Sensing Flights
Two trips each year are done with infrared, heat-sensing equipment to see whether lines are especially hot — a sign that the equipment is breaking down. The choppers will fly over the equipment once in the winter and once in the summer. “In the winter, we’ll see the greatest temperature differential, so that hot spot will show up right away,” Poirot said.

Eversource helicopter N1431W 02-22-17

Eversource Helicopter Coming to Darien — Again

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If it seems like announcements have been pretty frequent about the Eversource inspections helicopter coming by — it they have. It was coming in December, the utility announced. And again in February. And now its coming in late March. It could be here any time between March 23  through 24 or March 27 through March 31, the company said in a notification received by First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, who passed it on to local news organizations.

Eversource helicopter

Eversource Helicopter Inspecting High-Voltage Lines in Darien, Elsewhere

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Eversource is conducting aerial inspections of its high-voltage electric equipment and lines in Connecticut.  This annual inspection is an important part of the company’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable energy to customers.  The work involves the use of a helicopter flying low over transmission lines to detect any potential equipment issues before system reliability is impacted. __________

— an announcement from Eversource

__________

“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.”

Weather-permitting, the aerial inspections will continue through Dec.