TransGrid will conduct the aerial patrols as part of its annual inspection program.

TransGrid, the owner and operator of the NSW high voltage transmission system, will be using a specialist team, high-tech equipment and helicopters to fly adjacent to powerlines in order to conduct essential maintenance and inspection work.

“Maintaining over 12,000 kilometres of high voltage transmission line is a challenging task and one which requires careful planning and expertise", Wayne Glanville, the manager of TransGrid’s northern region, said.

A routine maintenance strategy, designed specifically for transmission structures is in place to ensure that all structures are regularly inspected. This strategy is fundamental in ensuring the reliability and security of the lines.

“The aerial patrols this week are especially important to identify potential faults, allowing maintenance work to be planned and reliability levels of over 99 per cent maintained."

The aerial patrols, which will be conducted in early November, will predominantly cover Munmorah and Mannering Park, as well as south of these areas down to the Hawkesbury River.

“TransGrid thanks the community for their patience and understanding while TransGrid conducts this essential maintenance work”, he said.

TransGrid is responsible for the high voltage electricity transmission network in NSW. Electricity is generated at

power stations, then transmitted by TransGrid to electricity distributors through a network of more than 12,000km of high-voltage transmission lines and substations.

Electricity is delivered to homes and businesses by distributors such as Country Energy, Energy Australia and Integral Energy.