MENDOCINO Co., 2/28/17 — Tomorrow, Thursday, a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) helicopter will be making the rounds of the county, flying low over and near power-lines, to check for dead trees and other potential problems. The copter will be taking off from Ukiah around 8am.
So nothing to worry about, just the PG&E guys keeping the lights on.
The flights have apparently be doubled, from a yearly inspection, to a twice annual inspection, in response to the epidemic of dying trees California has suffered, and the resulting danger to power-lines.
One other interesting little fact in the press release is that PG&E maintains 134,000 miles of power-lines. That’s more than five times around the world, which adds up to a lot of helicopter rides.
The copters will be flying along the 1, the 271, Leggett, Laytonville, Cummings and Tan Oak Park.
PG&E Flying Low in Mendo County to Inspect for Dead Trees
Ukiah, Calif.—As part of its response to California’s tree mortality crisis, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will conduct aerial patrols in Mendocino County on Thursday, March 2 to identify dead trees that could pose a wildfire or other public safety risk.
“Even with the recent winter storms, five years of drought in California have caused millions of trees to die or become structurally compromised. That’s why we are taking extraordinary measures to help keep the communities we serve safe,” said Kamran Rasheed, manager, PG&E vegetation management.
Every year, PG&E patrols and inspects all 134,000 miles of its overhead electric lines. Since the tree mortality crisis began, the energy company has been inspecting trees along power lines in high fire-danger areas a second time, six months after its annual patrol because weakened trees can die quickly. Last year, PG&E conducted second patrols on 68,000 miles of power line, and in 2017, expects to patrol 73,000 miles of line a second time. The company will patrol 10,750 of those miles by helicopter.
Depending on clear weather conditions, the flights will occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The helicopter will fly along Highways 1 and 271 over the towns of Laytonville and Leggett and the communities of Cummings and Tan Oak Park.
PG&E is using a contract helicopter service to fly foresters over the area to inspect trees. Patrolling by air allows the company to cover many miles quickly and efficiently, and reduces impacts on the ground. Residents are advised that the helicopter will fly low – about 200 to 300 feet – along distribution power lines, and higher in areas where livestock are present.
If patrols identify dead trees, PG&E will send inspectors on foot to verify a tree is dead, and then contact the home or land owner to schedule removal.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ andwww.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
