Edison Power Lines - Drone Inspection

Posted on 06/02/2025

Southern California Edison will be conducting aerial inspections of their electrical equipment. Over the next few days, you may notice an increase in aerial activity, including the use of drones.

https://energized.edison.com/stories/a-360-degree-view-of-safety

Southern California Edison (SCE) uses drones to inspect electrical equipment, including power lines and poles, in high-risk fire areas. These inspections help to identify potential hazards and prevent wildfires. SCE's drone program started in 2019 and has seen a significant reduction in wildfire risk.

Here's a more detailed look at SCE's drone inspection program:

Wildfire Prevention:

Drones are used to inspect electrical equipment that could ignite wildfires, such as damaged poles, wires, or encroaching vegetation.
Faster Inspections:

Drones can inspect more miles of power lines and poles in less time than traditional methods, allowing SCE to quickly identify and repair issues.
Cost-Effectiveness:

Drone inspections are becoming more cost-effective than traditional methods, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Improved Safety:

Drones can access areas that are dangerous or difficult for ground crews to reach, improving the safety of both employees and the public.
Data Collection:

Drones capture high-resolution images and video of electrical equipment, which are used by SCE inspectors and engineers to assess damage and plan repairs.
Post-Event Inspections:

Drones are also used to inspect electrical equipment after wildfires and other events to ensure that it is safe to restore power.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, drones can also:

Reduce downtime:

Drones can quickly identify and repair damage to electrical equipment, reducing the amount of time it takes to restore power after an outage.
Improve grid reliability:

By identifying and repairing potential hazards, drones help to improve the reliability of the electrical grid.
Support research and development:

Drones are being used to test new technologies and approaches to electrical grid management.