Electricity North West takes to the sky to protect power supplies across Rochdale

Greenbooth Reservoir

The region’s network power operator, Electricity North West, has started a new project using helicopters to inspect the overhead electricity pylons across the North West.

Between July and October the helicopters will be surveying around 3,800 pylons from Cumbria to Greater Manchester checking for any potential damage or deterioration to ensure the power supplied to five million customers remains reliable.

Engineers from Electricity North West will be working alongside GB Helicopters to use state of the art sensors to capture vital condition reports to help prioritise work on the power network.

Ian Fenton, asset investment manager for Electricity North West, said: “Electricity is often taken for granted and it is something we all rely on for every aspect of our daily lives from charging our phones, to streaming our favourite box sets to charging our cars.

“That’s why we are delighted to be launching this scheme which will allow us to inspect miles and miles of overhead power lines and identify any necessary work before it impacts power supplies to our customers.

“Our vast overhead network which includes 1,169 miles of pylon power lines is often located in rural areas and is impacted by severe weather with wind and rain so this method of checking from the air is a great way keeping the network in good condition.”