ITC Conducting Fall Aerial Patrols of Michigan Transmission Lines
September 19, 2019 | ITC Michigan
NOVI, Mich. (Sept. 19, 2019) – ITC will be conducting its semi-annual aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission towers and lines in Michigan from September 19 – October 18, weather permitting. The helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities, ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC).
Schedule (all weather permitting):
East Region – 09/19-09/27
The aerial inspections will cover all or parts of Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola Counties.
West Region – 09/19-09/27
The aerial inspections will cover all or parts of Clinton, Gratiot, Isabella, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa Counties.
Southwest Region – 09/30-10/04
The aerial inspections will cover all or parts of Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.
Southeast Region -10/14-10/18
The aerial inspections will cover all or parts of Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties.
These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirement for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and are in line with the company’s model for operational excellence. They include inspections of steel towers, 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. The flights began in northern Michigan earlier this month and will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula, concluding in southeast Michigan approximately Oct. 18.
About ITC Michigan
ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, Michigan, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITCTransmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. 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: Dan Horn (313-567-5008 HORN@FRANCO.COM)