14 July 2004 00:00 Central Networks takes to the air to check electricity lines

Looking after enough overhead cable to go half way round the world can be a headache for electricity distribution company Central Networks.

Which is why it is taking to the air to run helicopter checks on big sections of its overhead power network in the East Midlands. The patrols will both spot potential hazards and also highlight areas where work could be necessary.

While the patrols were already due to take place, staff on the helicopter will also be able to check for any damage to the network caused by last week’s freak summer storm.

Alan Raymant, Director of Infrastructure Services at Central Networks, said: “With so much overhead cabling – over 23,000km in the East Midlands alone – taking a helicopter up is the best way to check out a lot of our cables.

“And it’s vital that we do that because we could find problems with our poles or power lines or that there are trees growing into overhead lines. It’s even been known for the helicopter checks to discover that buildings have been built too close to our lines.

“In fact, in previous years, we found some runaway cows for local farmers, which wasn’t why we were up there but it did allow us to be a good neighbour.”

The patrol is weather dependent, but it plans to fly the lines in the Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield and Leicester areas next week, before moving across to Lincolnshire, Coventry, Warwickshire and finally Northamptonshire the week after.

Alan said: “Once the engineers have collected in the data and identified potential problems, the information is fed through and we can get the guys up the poles to sort out any potential problems.

“It’s all part of providing a first class service.”

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for East Midlands Electricity and Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jonathan Smith on 024 7642 5741
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer