When it comes to protecting power supplies for millions of customers, Northern Powergrid has been flying high.
As part of its winter-readiness, the electricity network operator has invested £1.1m this year on taking to the region’s skies to inspect the overhead power lines and equipment that helps light up 3.9 million homes and businesses.
Highly trained crews have used specialist onboard equipment, such as thermal cameras, as well as their experienced eagle-eyes, to scour the skies.
Flying more than 14,500 kilometres they have checked more than 141,500 network assets across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire this year.
Pete Wilstrop, Northern Powergrid’s Programme Manager, said: "Our power network is huge. As well as having to stand-up to the weather, some parts of it can be in isolated areas that are difficult to get to, so having expert eyes in the sky is a vital part of managing our network and identifying any work that needs to be done before it disrupts our customers.
“The helicopter crews have the most interesting ‘office window’ views you could imagine, and they get a totally unique perspective on our network and the communities we serve.
“Our ground-based teams do foot patrols but using helicopters helps us cover much larger distances more quickly so we can get the intelligence we need to inform our maintenance work and future network investment plans.”
Northern Powergrid’s helicopters fly at low levels at speeds of around 30 kilometres an hour. Whilst there is some engine noise, the crews work hard to keep it to a minimum and reduce any potential disruption to local communities while carrying out these essential checks throughout the spring, summer and autumn months. Wherever possible, they try to avoid areas where sensitive livestock is grazing.
In addition to preparing its network to be winter ready, Northern Powergrid remains focused on helping its customers to be prepared. The electricity network operator has been encouraging people to be ‘big coat ready’ this winter and sharing top tips on how to stay safe and be prepared if any severe weather damages its network and causes a power cut. It has been encouraging people to think about what they need to do and take action by considering:
- creating a grab bag at home containing torches and spare batteries, charged power banks for mobile phones, a wind up or battery powered radio, and hand warmers, blankets, thermal sock and gloves,
- saving Northern Powergrid’s online Power Cut Map to mobile phones as it’s the quickest way to report and track a power cut,
- adding 105 – the free number to report a power cut – to mobile phones, and
- encouraging anyone who may be more vulnerable, due to their medical or personal circumstances, to join its free Priority Services Membership.
Northern Powergrid wants to ensure people know what to do if their power supply is ever affected, whether it’s because of an unexpected fault on their local electricity network, severe weather damaging electrical equipment or a wider energy emergency.
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