Tampa Electric deploying helicopters to survey powerlines

People in the Tampa Bay region will need to be on the lookout for low-flying helicopters next week.

That’s because starting May 27, six days before the June 1 start of hurricane season, Tampa Electric Co. will send out the aircraft for an aerial survey of its high-voltage power lines in the area.

The company says crews will be flying during daylight hours until about June 2 (weather permitting). They will use traditional cameras and infrared technology to look at the entire 1,300-mile system of transmission lines.

The inspections, Tampa Electric says, are part of its ongoing maintenance of transmission equipment “to provide the highest level of reliability.” (It does not tie the timing of the inspections with the start of hurricane season.)

The helicopters will fly between 20 feet and 300 feet, sometimes in view of roads and neighborhoods, along the company’s urban and rural rights of way.

To avoid confusion — or panic — at the sight of low-flying aircraft near power lines, Tampa Electric will let local law enforcement know what it’s doing in advance.

Tampa Electric is owned by Emera Inc. out of Canada. According to Emera, the company covers about 800,000 customers in a 2,000 square mile area that includes Hillsborough and parts of Polk, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

The company has hired OneSpan Powerline Services from Birmingham, Alabama, to conduct the inspections.