United Utilties, which looks after Cumbria’s power network on behalf of Electricity North West, is trialling the use of helicopters to survey overhead lines.

Test flights along the coast, Millom, Broughton in Furness, Askham in Furness and between Ulverston and Kendal are due to be carried out this week.

It's been a number of years since helicopters were used to inspect Cumbria's 7,000km network of power lines as the method was abandoned in favour of walking patrols because of difficulties transferring inspection data onto computer.

Now, the development of new IT and better quality helicopter-mounted video cameras could mean they are on their way back.
Workington-based maintenance manager Steve Irlam said new equipment was being tested by United Utilities.

"We wanted to let local communities know because the helicopters will be flying quite low over the power lines and people might wonder what's going on. There's nothing to worry about. We are just checking our overhead lines," he said.

As well as checking the condition of wires, poles and equipment, engineers also make sure all the relevant safety signage is in place and identify where trees are encroaching on the line.

"While foot patrols have always done an excellent job, it is time-consuming work and, especially in Cumbria, often means working alone in some very remote locations. If these helicopter surveys prove effective. It could be a more cost effective way of doing it," added Steve.

Electricity North West invest approximately £100m every year maintaining their system to make sure supplies are safe and reliable for the people who use them. To work out how best to spend this money they need to check every inch of our network at least once every two and a half years."

Electricity North West is the North West's regional electricity distribution network and supplies power to 2.3 million customers, from Cumbria down to Manchester, through its 58,000km network of wires and cables. The day-to-day running and maintenance of the system is contracted to United Utilities.

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