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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (April 30, 2019) – ITC will be conducting semi-annual aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures and lines throughout its service territory from approximately May 13-24, weather permitting. Helicopter patrols provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system owned and operated by ITC’s Iowa-based operating entity, ITC Midwest LLC.

EAST CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST IOWA – NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS – MISSOURI
The aerial inspections will cover the company’s lines in east central and southeast Iowa, as well as extreme northwestern Illinois and one county in Missouri.  The flights will be conducted in the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Dubuque, Fort Madison, Iowa City, Keokuk, Marengo, Marion, Palo and Vinton areas in Iowa as well as the Galena, Illinois and Wayland, Missouri areas. Iowa counties in the aerial patrol areas include Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Louisa, as well as Carroll, Jo Davies, Hancock, Rock Island and Whiteside counties in Illinois and Clark County in Missouri.

CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST IOWA
The aerial inspections will cover the company’s lines in central and southwest Iowa.  The flights will be conducted in the Ankeny, Ames, Boone, Dysart, Gladbrook, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Newton, Ottumwa and Perry areas. Counties in the aerial patrol areas include Adair, Appanoose, Boone, Cass, Dallas, Davis, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Lucas, Mahaska, Marshall, Monroe, Polk, Poweshiek, Story, Tama and Wapello.

NORTHERN IOWA – SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
The aerial inspections will cover the company’s lines in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.  The flights will be conducted in the Independence, Mason City and Lansing, Iowa areas as well as Adams, Fairmont, Harmony, Jackson, Luverne, Sherburn and Winnebago, Minnesota areas. Counties in the aerial patrol areas include Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Dickinson, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Howard, Kossuth, Mitchell, Osceola, Winnebago and Worth in Iowa as well as Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Nobles and Rock in Minnesota.

These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirement for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and align with the company’s model for operational excellence. They include inspections of steel structures, 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 during the time frame listed above.

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About ITC Midwest
ITC Midwest LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, and holds utility status in Wisconsin. ITC Midwest is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains regional operating facilities in Dubuque, Iowa City and Perry, Iowa; and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minnesota.  For further information visit WWW.ITC-HOLDINGS.COM. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit WWW.FORTISINC.COM.

Media Contact: Rod Pritchard (319-297-6840, RPRITCHARD@ITCTRANSCO.COM)