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Consumers Energy Takes Flight With Drone Technology To Boost Grid Reliability
Consumers Energy has doubled its fleet of drones in the past two years, marking a significant step towards enhancing grid reliability. The company’s commitment to delivering reliable, safe, and affordable service to its customers is reinforced by this expansion. By leveraging drone technology, Consumers Energy aims to detect potential issues earlier, resolve them faster, and prevent service disruptions, ultimately improving customer experience.
Reliability is at the core of everything Consumers Energy does, according to Senior Vice President and President of Electric Distribution Greg Salisbury. “Drones allow us to spot and fix problems before they impact customers, and to respond faster and more safely when outages do occur,” he said. This approach enables the company to provide a stable and consistent energy supply, critical for the well-being and economic development of its customers.
Power line inspections are one of the most common applications of drone technology in the electric grid. Traditionally, these inspections required helicopters or crews to walk rugged terrain, but with drones, this process has become faster, more affordable, and safer. Consumers Energy’s helicopter crews inspect approximately 4,000 miles of overhead electric lines each year, but around 400 miles are inaccessible due to thick brush, protected airspace, or challenging geography in urban areas.
Drones have revolutionized the inspection process by providing high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging capabilities. They capture photos and video that help team members identify damage or deterioration, supporting regular maintenance while pinpointing areas that may need tree trimming to protect nearby lines.
Consumers Energy now has a fleet of 40 drones and 40 licensed pilots, enabling the company to inspect both overhead and underground lines, as well as substations and other critical infrastructure. This expanded coverage enables the company to detect issues earlier, respond faster, and reduce the risk of service disruptions.
Drones also play a critical part in storm recovery, particularly after severe weather events like the March ice storm in Northern Michigan. In these situations, drones provide critical visibility, enabling the company to speed up safe restoration of service by delivering real-time images of damaged infrastructure and confirming that power lines were clear of damage prior to being re-energized.
This rapid response capability is crucial in minimizing the impact of outages on customers. In Michigan, where Consumers Energy serves approximately 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents, the company understands the importance of keeping the lights on for its customers. The company has committed to delivering reliable, flexible, and affordable energy to its customers 24/7.
Consumers Energy’s use of drone technology is part of a broader effort to strengthen the grid, reduce outages, and prepare for the energy needs of the future. The company has outlined its Reliability Roadmap, which includes investments in innovative tools like drones, to achieve these goals. These efforts have already started to bear fruit, with customers experiencing an average reduction in time without power of over 20 minutes last year.
As the energy landscape continues to evolve, Consumers Energy recognizes the importance of investing in cutting-edge technologies like drones. The company’s commitment to innovation and reliability is reflected in its continued investment in drone technology, which will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping the future of the electric grid.
Beyond power line inspections and storm recovery, drones support traditional maintenance activities such as tree trimming, helping protect nearby lines from damage. They also provide a cost-effective alternative to helicopter-based inspections, reducing environmental impact and operating costs associated with these activities.
The growth of drone adoption in the electric grid is driven by increasing demand for reliable and efficient energy supply chains, as well as the need to reduce outages and improve customer experience. Innovative solutions like drones are critical to ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the grid, particularly in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Consumers Energy will likely continue to lead the way in innovative solutions for the electric grid, driving the adoption of drone technology across the industry. As the company continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies, it is well-positioned to shape the future of the electric grid and provide reliable, safe, and affordable service to its customers for generations to come.