Earlier this year, Roughrider Electric Cooperative’s service area was hit by a damaging storm in the Beulah area. After a strong storm, one of our top priorities is determining the condition of our electrical system and identifying any damage that could affect reliability for our members.
For our transmission system, aerial patrols provide a fast and effective way to inspect large sections of line and identify problems that may not be easily seen from the ground.
Following the June storm, Roughrider Electric used a helicopter to patrol 144 miles of 69-kilovolt transmission line. This would have taken crews and contractors about a week to patrol by traditional means. By using a helicopter, the 144 miles of line was patrolled in four hours. This allowed for significant time savings, enabling our engineering and operations departments to quickly respond with a restoration plan.
During the aerial patrol, our lineworkers identified broken poles and floaters along the transmission line. Floaters can occur when equipment or line components are damaged or displaced. Finding these issues from the air allows crews to locate and address potential problems before they disrupt members' electric service.
Aerial patrols also provide an alternative perspective. From the air, inspectors can see long stretches of transmission line at once, making it easier to identify damaged structures, leaning or broken poles, conductor issues and other concerns.
After a major storm, time is critical. The sooner Roughrider Electric can inspect its system, the sooner a plan can be developed to identify needed repairs and begin restoration efforts. While aerial patrol is not a replacement for detailed ground inspections and ongoing maintenance, it provides a valuable overview of the system and helps crews assess damage more efficiently.
By combining aerial patrols with traditional inspection methods, Roughrider Electric can restore electric service safely, make informed decisions and get power back to members as quickly as possible.