By SARA FURLONG

s.furlong@bradfordera.com

Though significantly less nightmarish than the giant aerial chainsaw suspended from a helicopter that crews used to trim forest power lines last year, low-flying choppers could still be cause for concern throughout the region this spring and summer.

FirstEnergy Corp. — Penelec locally — will conduct aerial inspections of nearly 5,000 miles of high-voltage power lines throughout its six-state service area using helicopters and infrared and ultraviolet (IR/UV) technology. Crews have about 2,220 miles of lines to inspect in Pennsylvania, with about 50% of them completed.

An IR/UV inspection is performed at low-flying patrol speeds between 25 and 35 mph, using an infrared and ultraviolet camera mounted on the

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Low-flying helicopters will use infrared technology to inspect Penelec’s high-voltage wires during the coming months.

Penelec bottom of the helicopter. The onboard thermographer uses the camera to view the electrical equipment through IR/ UV spectrums to identify any sources of overheated components or voltage issues.

The infrared technology shows heat on a color scale where brighter colors, or “hot spots,” indicate areas that could need repairs. The thermal images can identify equipment issues such as loose connections, corrosion and load imbalances, while ultraviolet technology detects electrical discharge along a power line caused by issues like rusted hardware and cracked insulators.

“The combination of both technologies is beneficial because it provides a wider range of detection,” Penelec representatives said in a press release. “Any issues identified during the inspections are addressed to prevent service disruptions and costly repairs down the road.”

The patrols are undertaken every four years to help prevent future outages by detecting early- stage and often invisible equipment issues with lines and transmission substations — problems that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections.

Mark Mroczynski, president of FirstEnergy Transmission, said, “Helicopters provide a view of electrical equipment that we can’t get from the ground, allowing inspection of miles of power lines in a single day.”

He said that on-theground 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 air conditioning units to stay cool and comfortable this summer.”

The enhanced inspections complement annual aerial surveillance for visible concerns such as overgrown trees, damaged equipment or birds nesting on electrical equipment.

“The transmission system is the first line of defense in preventing power outages because it supplies the electricity that flows into substations and along power lines to every single one of our customers,” Mroczynski said. “This work supports the vast investments we’re making to strengthen our power system to meet the country’s growing energy needs.”

More specifically, the work supports Energize365, a multiyear grid evolution program focused on transmission and distribution investments that will deliver the power FirstEnergy’s customers depend on today while also meeting the challenges of tomorrow. With planned investments of $28 billion between 2025 and 2029, the program is creating a smarter, more secure grid that will meet and exceed reliability targets and accommodate electric vehicles, the electrification of homes and businesses, and clean energy sources.

Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp. com.