08-05-2025
FirstEnergy helicopter crews inspecting thousands of miles of power lines
(WJET/WFXP)– You may notice more helicopters in the area flying relatively low in the coming months, as FirstEnergy begins its powerline inspections ahead of the summer.
FirstEnergy helicopter crews will be inspecting more than 5,000 miles of high-voltage power lines across Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to identify any issues in need of repairs and avoid potential outages.
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During these, chopper crews will be flying relatively close to powerlines at about 25-35 mph and using infrared and UV cameras on them to find 'hot spots' or overheated parts or voltage issues that need repairs, along with any other issues.
According to a release, these inspections are part of a four-year, $28 billion investment plan to keep up with energy demands, with inspections already underway in the following areas:
Ohio – 1,046 miles of power lines, with nearly 64% completed.
Pennsylvania – 2,220 miles of lines, with about 50% completed.
New Jersey – 630 miles of lines, with about 42% completed.
West Virginia & Maryland – 648 miles of lines, with about 20% completed.
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'The transmission system is the first line of defense in preventing power outages because it supplies the electricity that flows into substations and along power lines to every single one of our customers. This work supports the vast investments we're making to strengthen our power system to meet the country's growing energy needs,' said Mark Mroczynski, president of FirstEnergy Transmission.
The inspections are done every four years with all of FirstEnergy's subsidiary companies.
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