LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will be conducting low-level helicopter patrols next week to inspect electric distribution lines for maintenance in rural and remote areas in parts of Mendocino and Lake counties.
A helicopter will fly at approximately 500 feet, depending on the area and if livestock are present.
PG&E patrols remote power lines, which are often located in rural areas, by helicopter as part of its continuing effort to ensure safety and reliability of its electric system.
If issues are identified, it’s possible that they may need to inspect at a lower altitude.
PG&E will patrol by air from about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, May 23, weather permitting.
The general areas to be patrolled include Little River, Albion, Ukiah, Talmage, Calpella, Yorkville, Kelseyville, portions of Lower Lake and surrounding areas.
PG&E patrols and inspects all of its lines annually – nearly 134,000 miles of them – to ensure safety and reliability, and to identify equipment in need of repair. This allows PG&E to proactively schedule repairs that might otherwise result in power outages.
In rough country, remote areas or areas where there are fewer trees, the most efficient and sometimes only way to accomplish this is by helicopter.
PG&E uses a helicopter company to fly the PG&E inspectors.
PG&E to conduct helicopter patrols in Mendocino and Lake counties to ensure electric reliability
- Lake County News reports
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