NOVI – ITC will be conducting its semi-annual aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission towers and lines in southeast Michigan from September 18-20, including Ingrahm, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. The patrols are done in the spring and fall.
The helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities, ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC.
These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation requirement for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and are in line with the company’s model for operational excellence. They include inspections of steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment. Crews check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards.
The inspection flights are often conducted at low altitudes to allow accurate visual inspection of equipment for lightning damage, wear or other potential problems. This is normal procedure, so there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines. The flights began in northern Michigan on September 11 and will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula, concluding in eastern Michigan approximately October 2.
ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITC Transmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
For further information visit www.itc-holdings.com.
