AEP Ohio crews recently inspected an 85-mile circuit in Meigs County, focusing on proactively identifying issues with poles, wires and equipment that could lead to power outages. But this was not your ordinary boots-on-the-ground inspection. This inspection happened from the sky.
AEP Ohio recently began using drones to inspect the circuits that bring electricity to homes and businesses across the AEP Ohio service territory. AEP Ohio plans to use drones to conduct 20% of scheduled inspections this year.
“Using drones helps capture more detailed imagery to see the condition of our equipment,” said Jake R., project manager principal at AEP Ohio. “Once a line is inspected, we can also use that data for future improvements without needing to do as many field visits. This allows us to be more efficient with our budgets and resources.”
The drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras and infrared imaging capabilities, allowing crews to pin-point potential issues — even in challenging terrains where normal crews can’t access.
“Drones help us be safer and more efficient with our line inspections, especially in the rugged and rural terrain we encounter in these parts of Ohio,” said Jake Q., technician principal at AEP Ohio and certified drone pilot. “We can inspect miles of lines within days, capturing different perspectives and vantage points of equipment that could not be seen from ground inspections.”
It took Jake Q. just a few days to inspect the 85-mile circuit, capturing high-resolution and infrared images of equipment to be documented and reviewed for future maintenance, including:
- Replacing two poles
- Replacing 10 crossarms
- Replacing overhead protection equipment
- Adjusting wire sag at select locations
Building on the success of this inspection, AEP Ohio plans to use drones along four additional circuits in Southeast Ohio this year, covering more than 170 miles by air. Using modern tools like drones in our maintenance efforts allows AEP Ohio to efficiently monitor the grid and repair issues before they lead to outages.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance electric reliability in your area.
