Use of “drones” to inspect transmission lines is part of the company’s commitment to reliability towards customers

Demo B-roll link included

ATLANTA, 15 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power continues to focus on improving reliability and customer service by investing in the power grid and using advanced technologies to prevent or resolve power outages. The company is now using unmanned aerial systems, or drones, to inspect power lines, ensuring the safety and reliability of these main lines more efficiently and accurately than ever before. This innovative approach not only improves operational efficiency, but also reduces the time spent inspecting power lines by 40% on average, but also brings significant cost savings of 60% compared to traditional methods.

“Georgia Power owns and operates nearly 12,000 miles of transmission lines across the state that deliver power to millions of homes and businesses – inspecting and maintaining these lines is an essential part of what we do every day,” said Fran Forehand, senior vice president of transmission at Georgia Power. “We are always striving to improve grid stability and operational efficiency, which is why we introduced drone transmission line inspection to improve the efficiency and safety of our teams, provide better data, and reduce costs for our customers.”

In the past, Georgia Power has used special aerial platforms and helicopters to access and inspect power lines that average 80 to 100 miles long and 100 feet high, with some lines as high as 350 feet. By using drones, the company saves significant costs on fuel, maintenance and labor. On average, drone pilots can inspect 14 miles of power lines per day. Georgia Power plans to inspect more than 15,000 structures in the power corridors this year alone.

Georgia Power’s drone pilots work safely, quietly and quickly in the transmission corridors, capturing images of transmission lines and equipment. The inspection method is an even safer way to assess these high-voltage lines while capturing high-quality, detailed photos and videos. The images are so precise that line inspectors can walk up to the equipment and spot irregularities before they can become a problem.

Transmission structures are designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions. However, damage can occur from lightning strikes, which are actually the leading cause of transmission line damage. Drone pilots look for damage and also ensure that the connections on the structures are intact, minimizing the impact of lightning strikes on transmission equipment. Other anomalies on the inspection list for main power lines include damage from vegetation and debris, erosion from the elements, and bird droppings, which can be highly acidic.

All drone evaluations are conducted by licensed drone pilots and comply with all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations. Drone pilots are often line workers who have received specialized training.

“As a former lineman who spent countless hours in cherry pickers inspecting power lines, the use of drones is a game changer,” said Nick Howell, a certified drone pilot for Georgia Power. “I’m glad our company has invested in the technology and our people. Not only can I safely inspect power lines from the ground, but I can also collect more accurate data, share it with my team, who in some cases may be miles away, and ultimately make repairs faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

In addition to using modern technologies such as drones, Georgia Power’s efforts to improve reliability and grid stability in recent years have included rebuilding transmission lines and dozens of substations in Georgia providing safe and reliable electricity to residential areas; installing smart technology that reduces the number of power outages and in some cases eliminates outages altogether; upgrading or burying hundreds of kilometres of power lines where it will have the greatest impact; and improving tens of thousands of electricity pylons.

For more information about Georgia Power’s reliability work, visit GeorgiaPower.com/Reliability.

Editor’s note:
Media can download B-roll footage of drone inspections of Georgia Power’s power transmission lines. A regional manager for the company explains this work: https://bcove.video/3S6hLyu

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s leading energy company. Value, reliability, customer service and responsibility are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia Power has a diverse, innovative energy mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydro and wind. Georgia Power is focused on providing superior service to its customers every day, and the company is recognized by JD Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com. You can also connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower).Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

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