Liberty’s annual aerial transmission-line inspection to begin Aug. 12

JOPLIN, Missouri – Liberty’s annual aerial inspection of electric transmission lines and substations is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 12. The inspection is scheduled for 10 days and is dependent upon weather and wind conditions.

A low-flying helicopter is used to survey approximately 1,300 miles of transmission lines throughout Liberty’s local electric service territory.

The focus is on identifying potential problems with transmission structures, hardware, conductors, and vegetation.

Using an infrared camera, an observer examines lines, connections, and substations to identify potential areas of concern.

“It’s an efficient and effective way to assess our system for potential reliability issues,” says Jason Grossman, Liberty’s Manager of Vegetation Management. “The speed and comprehensive coverage we achieve with a helicopter allows us to thoroughly inspect our system so that we know where to make improvements to continue to provide high-quality service to our customers.”