At CPI, our mission is to provide you with safe, reliable, and affordable power. Using drones does more than just inspect our electric systems from the sky, but helps keep our costs low.
Revolutionizing Inspections with Drone Technology
In the ever-evolving world of utility management, staying ahead of potential issues has been crucial for maintaining reliable and safe service. For the last several years, CPI has taken a significant leap forward by deploying drones to conduct routine inspections of utility rights-of-way, poles, and powerlines across our service territory. This cutting-edge technology has not only enhanced our ability to monitor hard-to-reach areas but also allowed us to proactively identify equipment issues before they escalate. By leveraging drone technology, CPI has been committed to reducing outages, improving safety, and saving costs for the cooperative and its members.
The use of drone technology offers several advantages:
Increased Efficiency: Drones can cover vast areas in a fraction of the time it takes traditional inspection methods. In regions with difficult access or rough terrain, drones can save an hour of hiking for every minute of flight time. This enables more frequent inspections and helps identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems.
Prioritizing Safety: Inspecting power lines and poles is hazardous work, often requiring workers to climb to great heights. Ground-based inspectors also face risks from rough terrain and poisonous plants. Drones eliminate these dangers, allowing workers to avoid potentially dangerous situations and reducing the risk of injury.
Cost-Effective Solutions: Traditional inspection methods often involve costly equipment and significant manpower. Drones help utilities cut down on labor, equipment, and transportation expenses.
Advanced Data Collection: Drones capture high-resolution images and videos, providing detailed information about the condition of power lines and poles. This data helps prioritize maintenance and repair efforts. Drones also offer a unique vantage point, revealing issues like rot on the tops of wooden cross arms that are not visible from the ground. Drones equipped with infrared cameras can detect imminent equipment failures before they occur, amplifying preventative maintenance efforts and enhancing electrical system reliability. Additionally, drones with Lidar (laser imaging, detection, and ranging) sensors allow CPI to precisely measure the distance between vegetation and power lines. This enables more effective use of tree trimming crews, helping to prevent storm damage, reducing wildfire risk, and further enhancing system reliability.
In recent years, drone technology has seen significant advancements, including the integration of AI-driven analytics and real-time reporting. These innovations allow for even more precise inspections and predictive maintenance, further enhancing the reliability of our electrical systems
If we have your contact information on file, you can expect to receive a phone call 48 hours before we will be flying in your area.