In addition to the aerial tree-trimming by way of helicopter we reported recently from Indiana Michigan Power Company, now comes word of aerial patrols by low-flying choppers under contract to ITC later this month. Our area in Michigan’s Great Southwest will likely see those low-flying inspections between May 20th and May 25th according to company officials.
ITC, the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company, reports this morning that they will begin conducting aerial patrols of the high-voltage transmission towers and lines in Michigan from approximately May 17th to June 17th, weather permitting.
The helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities, ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC).
The aerial inspections will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula, including all or part of the following counties:
- May 17-19: Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne
- May 20-25: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, St. Joseph, and Van Buren
- May 28 – June 4: Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola
- June 7-10: Clinton, Gratiot, Isabella, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa
- June 11-17: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford
The 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. They include inspections of steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment. Crews check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards.
The inspection flights are often conducted at low altitudes to allow accurate visual inspection of equipment for lightning damage, wear or other potential problems. This is normal procedure, so there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines.
ITC Holdings Corp., based in Novi, Michigan, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITCTransmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For further information you can visit http://www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry.
