Springfield, Mass. (September 3, 2015) – Beginning next week, Eversource will be conducting aerial inspections of high voltage electrical equipment on rights-of-way in Western Massachusetts. This semiannual inspection is an important part of the company’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable electric service. The work involves the use of a helicopter flying low over Eversource’s transmission line corridors to inspect the condition of the electrical equipment and check for any encroachment from trees or other vegetation.
“Well over a million customers in the Bay State depend on us for reliable electric service to power their day-to-day lives,” said Craig Hallstrom, president of Massachusetts Electric Operations at Eversource. “The helicopter inspections of our transmission lines are a crucial and effective part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages.”
Weather permitting the aerial inspections will take place Tuesday, September 8th, from 8am until 3pm in the following cities and towns:
Northfield, Erving, Wendell, Warwick, Montague, Greenfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham, Amherst, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, Springfield, Belchertown, Ludlow, Wibraham, Hampden, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Agawam, Westfield, Shelburne, Conway, Ashfield, Plainfield, Windsor, Puru, Hinsdale, Dalton, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Hancock, Pittsfield, Lenox, Lee, Otis, Becket, Blandford, Russell, Granville, and Southwick.
The helicopter is blue and silver with tail number #N1431W.
The region’s transmission system is the backbone of the electric grid. Overhead inspections of transmission lines and equipment – often located upwards of 100 feet in the air – help engineers detect potential problems in advance, allowing the company to schedule necessary maintenance and upgrades before reliability issues arise.
Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.7 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.4 million electric customers in 140 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of its more than 8,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of delivering reliable energy and superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website (www.eversource.com) and follow us on Twitter (@eversourceMA) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceMA)