Press release from PG&E:
September 19, 2016
REDDING, Calif. —Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will be conducting a pre-winter helicopter patrol of electric distribution power lines and poles in remote areas of eastern Shasta County on Wednesday, September 21.
The flight will occur from about 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., weather permitting, near Round Mountain, Big Bend and nearby areas along the Pit River. Residents in these remote areas may notice a helicopter flying low to survey power lines.
A helicopter will fly at approximately 250 to 300 feet. Helicopter patrols are usually done in rural areas where power lines are not close enough to roads to patrol by vehicle or on foot. PG&E patrols remote power lines by helicopter as part of its continuing effort to ensure safety and reliability of its electric system.
This patrol is in addition to other helicopter patrols PG&E is conducting to look for dead and dying trees in forested areas, in which foresters identify drought-impacted trees that could pose a threat to power lines. Weakened trees and branches can fall into power lines, leading to outages and even wildland fires. In the pre-storm patrols, linemen check on the condition of power lines and poles in need of repair.
Any issues identified from this patrol will be addressed to ensure system safety and reliability. Crews are patrolling ahead of winter to allow time for needed repairs.
Pit River Country 