Every day, AEP Ohio’s drone teams are out in the field inspecting poles, wires and other critical equipment across our service territory. So far this year, they have flown more than 5,000 miles of the distribution system looking for damage and issues that could signal problems, like shifting poles and changes in equipment temperature. These proactive inspections play a key role in reducing outages and improving reliability for our customers.
Working together, our Center for Customer Reliability (CCR) and operations teams have used drone inspections to identify 383 potential equipment issues in 2025, enabling crews to complete proactive repairs before outages occur.
Smart tech meets smart operations
Drone routes are planned and flown using smart grid data, which helps our teams identify and address emerging reliability issues. One recent case highlights the importance of early detection to avoid power disruption and mitigate safety hazards.
A few weeks ago, the CCR team noticed brief “blips” or momentary interruptions on several closely linked circuits in southwest Columbus. While customers experienced only minor flickers or dimming lights, our teams knew something more was going on and they were determined to get to the bottom of it. The team used a drone to fly the area and capture detailed images with high-resolution cameras to help crews pinpoint the issue.
“Something just didn’t look right as we flew over a primary metering underground cabinet,” said Technician Principal and drone pilot Ryan Coon. “When I took a closer look through the drone, I noticed the left cabinet door ajar, but the lock was still in place.”
Due to scratch marks on the cabinet, the team initially suspected an animal had forced its way in to stay warm. But then the team noticed the hinges were warped, indicating a larger issue that required a closer look on the ground.
“Safety is a top priority at AEP Ohio,” said Distribution System Supervisor Mike Miller. “Because we didn’t know what was inside, we used a 10-foot fiberglass stick to open the door safely. Right away, we saw burn marks on the cables and connections. It wasn’t enough damage to cause an outage, but we knew the equipment needed to be replaced right away.”
The analysis didn’t stop there. Thermal imaging revealed signs of overheating, prompting further investigation into what caused the damage.
“We’re continuing to review the data to determine the root cause and prevent future issues,” said Miller.
Transforming reliability with drones
The integration of drone technology has transformed how AEP Ohio maintains the grid — increasing efficiency, improving safety and providing high-quality data that drives smarter maintenance and repair decisions.
“The fact that one of our drone pilots noticed something as small as a slightly open cabinet door shows how committed our employees are,” said Miller. “At AEP Ohio, our mindset is simple: see something, say something.”
This proactive strategy combined with advanced technology and real-time data to help AEP Ohio prevent and shorten outages, improve operational efficiency and keep our crews and communities safe.
Drones making headlines
This past summer, AEP Ohio installed its first permanent drone docking station, also known as a “drone in a box.” Our innovative use of this technology was featured on NBC4 and ABC6 in Columbus.
Learn more
See our drones in action and learn how AEP Ohio is using cutting-edge technology to deliver safe, reliable power to customers.
