Using a low flying helicopter to inspect parts of its rural network is the Powerco strategy to prevent power issues in Bay of Plenty this month.

The work is part of a pole top photography survey, says Powerco Head of Customer Delivery Mark Hermann "We are taking high resolution aerial photos of more than 36,000 power poles, lines and associated hardware on Powerco’s electricity network."

This allows Powerco to assess the condition of its assets, check for any potential issues such as trees growing into lines, and fix them before they cause power cuts.

The work in Bay of Plenty is planned for 14 – 22 November, however this timeframe may be extended in the event of bad weather.

This is the map of the areas to inspect by the Powerco helicopter during November.

Customers are being notified about the flight paths in advance through a range of online, print and social media advertising as well as direct communication with local stakeholder and community groups, says Mark.

“We work hard to minimise the potential disruption to customers, but we know that noise from low flying helicopters can unsettle some animals or affect planned events."

“We encourage any concerned customers to please contact us, so we can alter our flight plan timings if necessary,” says Mark.

The low flying helicopter will strictly follow Civil Aviation Authority regulations, only flying in open air space, above 1,000 feet in urban areas, and above 500 feet in rural areas, adds Mark.

For information about the flight areas, or to ask a question or log a concern, customers can visit www.powerco.co.nz/helicopter