23 January 2025
Starting this month, Essential Energy will be using drones to inspect powerlines as it looks to modernise its bushfire mitigation practices across 2025.
Moving away from traditional methods for its annual bushfire inspection program, the electricity distributor is embracing innovative ways to minimise impacts on customers, livestock and the environment.
Essential Energy’s Chief Operating Officer Luke Jenner says drones provide an efficient, low-impact and safe way of inspecting the vast number of assets across the diverse landscape of the Essential Energy network.
“Traditionally, we have used fixed-wing light aircraft to fly over our poles and wires. This year, thanks to technology and innovation, we’re using drones to inspect a larger part of our network with helicopters covering the areas where the drones can’t fly,” Luke explains.
Drones will be used to fly over at least 7,000 kilometres of powerlines, covering close to half of the overall program. While this isn’t the first year that Essential Energy has used drones as part of its inspection program, this year will see a large increase in the area that will be covered by them. The remaining 8,000 kilometres of lines earmarked for inspection will be covered by a combination of drones and helicopters.
Aerial inspection drone
“Inspecting Essential Energy’s network for potential risks, such as asset defects or encroaching vegetation, ahead of the next bushfire season, helps keep our communities safe and is part of an ongoing maintenance regime,” Luke says.
“Managing the risk of bushfires is an important part of keeping the network safe and reliable for Essential Energy’s customers and communities.”
Essential Energy’s bushfire inspection program will begin in late January and will run for several months. Following the inspections, asset maintenance and vegetation clearing may be required to prepare the network ahead of the next bushfire season.
Customers will be sent SMS and email notifications before inspections are scheduled to take place on their properties. To receive notifications from Essential Energy, customers are encouraged to keep their contact details, including mobile number and email address, up to date with their electricity retailer.
More information about Aerial Inspections and Bushfire Safety is on the Essential Energy website.