National Grid to Conduct Helicopter Inspections of Overhead Lines and Equipment in Stoughton

National Grid will conduct helicopter inspections of overhead lines and equipment in Stoughton and other South Shore communities on Wednesday and Thursday (May 16-17) of this upcoming week.

The goal of these aerial inspections is to help identify potential problems before outages occur, according to National Grid. 

Stoughton recently went through mass power outages on and , where thousands across town lost power. 

National Grid serves about 12,000 customers in Stoughton.

A full press release from National Grid detailing the helicopter inspections is below: 

National Grid will take to the skies this upcoming week , weather permitting, to conduct annual patrols of some key overhead power lines in several Massachusetts communities. In addition to the annual flights, many of these lines were inspected in 2011 immediately following and the .

Inspections will be conducted in Stoughton, as well as the following communities on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 and Thursday, May 17, 2012: Abington; Avon; Bridgewater; Brockton; Cohasset; East Bridgewater; Easton; Halifax;  Hanover; Hanson; Holbrook; Norwell; Pembroke; Randolph; Rockland; Scituate; West Bridgewater; Weymouth; and Whitman.

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. 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 Gridin 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.