PEWAUKEE, Wis. – Helicopter crews began patrolling American Transmission Co. electric transmission lines this week to look for damage, right-of-way encroachments and vegetation issues.
ATC contracted the services of Chemair Helicopters of Jefferson, Wis., to patrol the transmission system, which covers portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. The patrols are expected to be completed by the end of April, weather permitting.
Crews will inspect the lines by flying approximately 10 feet above the wires, and they will avoid flying over livestock where possible. Schedules may vary due to weather, but crews are expected to be in the following areas this month:
- Early April: Southeast Wisconsin; Appleton and Green Bay areas
- Mid-April: Central Wisconsin, southwest Wisconsin and Dane County
- Late April: Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
ATC conducts helicopter patrols two or three times a year to detect potential problems that can be corrected to avoid unplanned power outages. Aerial inspections allow crews to reach secluded or difficult-to-reach lines and identify potential problems such as damaged lines or insulators, or tree limbs that could fall, damage equipment and cause power outages. Many of ATC’s 9,440 miles of transmission lines are located in relatively remote areas of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and it is difficult and time consuming for crews to reach these areas by vehicle or on foot.
Note to editors: A map showing the locations ATC’s transmission facilities is available at www.atcllc.com.
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ATC is a Wisconsin-based company that owns, operates, builds and maintains the high-voltage electric transmission system serving portions of the Upper Midwest. Formed in 2001 as the nation’s first multi-state transmission-only utility, ATC has invested $2.7 billion to improve the adequacy and reliability of its infrastructure. ATC now is a $3.1 billion company with 9,440 miles of transmission lines and 525 substations. The company is a member of the MISO regional transmission organization, and provides nondiscriminatory service to all customers, supporting effective competition in energy markets without favoring any market participant. For more information, visit our website a
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