Eversource Helicopter to Scan SouthCoast This Week

BOSTON — Beginning Tuesday, residents in Eastern Massachusetts may notice a white and blue helicopter hovering over high-voltage electric equipment across the region.

Throughout the week, Eversource will be conducting its semiannual aerial inspection of the equipment located on large, steel structures along rights-of-way from Wilmington to Cape Cod.

These inspections are an important part of the energy company’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable electric service. The helicopter is equipped with heat-sensing, infrared scanning technology which can detect potential equipment issues before they occur.

“We have several highly effective, year-round programs that focus on the inspection of our equipment across the commonwealth,” said Eversource Regional Electric Operations President Craig Hallstrom. “We’re always working to serve our customers better, and these annual helicopter inspections of regional electricity lines are crucial to maintaining reliable service for the hundreds-of-thousands of residents and businesses who depend on them every day.”

This week’s infrared inspection will begin north of Boston in the Wilmington/Woburn area, continuing south toward MetroWest, then over to the South Shore, Greater New Bedford and Cape Cod.

Weather-permitting, the inspection will take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The white, blue-striped Jet Ranger helicopter will have registration number N37WA.

The region’s high-voltage 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