ITC Midwest Conducting Fall Aerial Patrols of Transmission Lines in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri
September 27, 2019 | ITC Midwest
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 27, 2019) – ITC will be conducting semi-annual aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures and lines throughout its service territory from approximately September 30 – October 14, 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.
Regional patrols are as follows:
Northern Iowa and southern Minnesota
The flights will be conducted in the Independence, Mason City and Lansing, Iowa areas as well as the Adams, Fairmont, Harmony, Jackson, Luverne, Sherburn and Winnebago, Minnesota areas. Counties in the aerial patrol areas include Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, 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.
East/Central/Southeast Iowa and northwestern Illinois
The flights will be conducted in the Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marengo, Marion, Palo and Vinton areas in Iowa as well as the Galena, Illinois area. Iowa counties in the aerial patrol areas include Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Louisa, as well as Carroll, Jo Davies, Rock Island and Whiteside in Illinois.
Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri and northwestern Illinois
The flights will be conducted in the Ames, Ankeny, Boone, Burlington, Dysart, Fort Madison, Gladbrook, Iowa Falls, Keokuk, Marshalltown, Newton, Ottumwa, Perry and Williamsburg, Iowa areas as well as near Wayland, Missouri. Iowa counties in the aerial patrol areas include Adair, Appanoose, Benton, Boone, Cass, Dallas, Davis, Des Moines, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Mahaska, Marshall, Monroe, Polk, Poweshiek, Story, Tama and Wapello. In addition, aerial patrols will be conducted in Clark County, Missouri and Hancock County, Illinois.
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 6,800 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)