ARARAT - Powercor's power pole safety inspections will continue across the Ararat region with pole top inspections taking place in areas such as Lake Bolac, Ararat and Willaura.
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Throughout the month of October, Powercor inspectors will actively check the condition of the pole tops.
This process is executed using small yet powerful cameras which are mounted on telescopic rods and raised above the cross arms that support overhead power lines.
The images captured by the cameras are then further relayed to the ground to help identify potentially faulty equipment, thus reducing the likelihood of pole fires and power outages.
The infrastructure being inspected over the coming weeks services close to 2000 customers throughout the region.
Apart from ground level and aerial camera inspections of pole tops, inspectors also dig and drill around power poles to check their condition below ground.
Regional asset manager Richard Scholten said the camera technology, which is now a routine part of Powercor's inspection program, provided Powercor with a vantage point in identifying equipment in need of repair.
"By gaining a bird's eye view of what is occurring at the top of the pole, any areas of deterioration can be easily identified," Mr Scholten said.
"Urgent repair works are carried out within 24 hours and less pressing jobs are completed within 18 weeks."
The inspection program of main electricity lines, known as feeders, is a vital component of Powercor's long term commitment to providing safe and reliable power supply to all its customers.