Business
Drones Boost Grid Reliability with Faster Inspection of 400 Miles of Power Lines
Consumers Energy has expanded its use of drone technology across the electric grid by doubling its fleet in the past 2 years reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable, safe and affordable service. By enhancing inspection speed and accessibility, drones enable the early detection and resolution of potential issues—particularly in areas where traditional inspections are difficult—helping to prevent service disruptions and improve customer experience.
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[{"type":"text","content":"JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy has expanded its use of drone technology across the electric grid by doubling its fleet in the past 2 years reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable, safe and affordable service. By enhancing inspection speed and accessibility, drones enable the early detection and resolution of potential issues—particularly in areas where traditional inspections are difficult—helping to prevent service disruptions and improve customer experience.","length":506,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Consumers Energy Logo (PRNewsFoto/Consumers Energy) (PRNewsfoto/Consumers Energy)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Consumers Energy Logo (PRNewsFoto/Consumers Energy) (PRNewsfoto/Consumers Energy)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":148,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/90369efc5ff5a81ea9d967391ca3b35a"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_mbwgEgJkawPpFSViSbSNw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTI2MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/90369efc5ff5a81ea9d967391ca3b35a","width":400,"height":148}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/461461/consumers_energy_logo_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":""Reliability is at the core of everything we do," said Greg Salisbury, SVP & president of electric distribution at Consumers Energy. "Drones allow us to spot and fix problems before they impact customers, and to respond faster and more safely when outages do occur."","length":295,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"What once required helicopters or crews to walk rugged terrain is now being done faster and more affordably, thanks to a growing fleet of 40 drones and 40 licensed pilots—as more teams across the company experience the benefits of drone technology. Power line inspections are the most common use. While the company's helicopter crews inspect approximately 4,000 miles of overhead electric lines each year, there are around 400 miles of lines that are inaccessible due to thick brush, protected airspace or challenging geography in urban areas. This is where drones come in.","length":582,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging, drones ...