Business & Tech

National Grid to Take Overhead Look at Power Lines

National Grid will be flying over the area to check power lines Friday, May 12, weather permitting.

 

National Grid will take to the skies in the coming days, weather permitting, to conduct annual patrols of some key overhead power lines in several Massachusetts communities, including Foxborough.

In addition to the annual flights, many of these lines were inspected in 2011 immediately following Tropical Storm Irene and the late October snowstorm.

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Inspections will be conducted in the following communities, in addition to Foxborough, on Friday May 18,  Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Franklin, Seekonk, Hopedale, Rehoboth, Mansfield, Uxbridge, Mendon, Wrentham and Norton.

The helicopter patrols help the company spot potential problems with equipment structures or lines so that they can be addressed before service interruptions occur. Many of the power lines, which are major supply circuits, traverse remote areas that are difficult to access with vehicles or on foot.

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The aerial view gained from a flyover also enables crews to spot potential problems with trees or tree limbs that may be too close to lines. Damage caused by falling trees of limbs can be a major cause of power outages.

Additionally, inspectors conduct visual and infra-red inspections for general infrastructure wear and tear. The infra-red camera detects heat and is helpful in pinpointing areas where equipment wear or loose connections literally create visible “hot spots.” Once problem areas are identified, crews are dispatched to make any required repairs.

“These flights are part of our on-going, proactive approach to maintaining overall system reliability,” said Kathy A. Lyford, vice president, Construction and Maintenance for National Grid in New England. “They are invaluable in helping us head off outages that could affect thousands of our customers.”

National Grid has notified police and fire departments as well as municipal officials in communities where the patrols will take place. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact National Grid’s toll-free customer service line at 1-800-322-3223.


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