RPU Used Police Drones to Find Storm-Damaged Power Lines
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Police Department drones assisted RPU as crews worked to restore power to thousands of Rochester homes and businesses in the aftermath of the powerful storm that hit the region in the early morning hours of September 2.
Police Drones Assist RPU After September 2 Storm
Rochester Public Utilities General Manager Tim McCollough, during his regular monthly appearance with Andy Brownell for RPU Unplugged during Rochester Today on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9 FM, discussed the use of law enforcement drones to pinpoint the properties where downed trees and tree limbs had created power outages.
Listen to the entire interview by clicking on the link below.
Drones Helped Locate Downed Trees and Power Outages
McCollough explained how the deployment of the police drones dramatically sped up the process of finding the sources of the hundreds of power outages that affected Rochester after 70-mile-per-hour winds raked across the community. He noted that, in the past, nearly all of that work had to be accomplished by RPU crews driving through the affected areas and even walking through backyards to locate downed trees and tree limbs.
Nearly 11,000 RPU Customers Lost Power
He says the outages caused by the storm affected almost 11,000 RPU customers. While the vast majority of those customers had their power restored during the afternoon of September 2, he says others faced a very frustrating situation of having to wait many additional hours to get their power back.
READ MORE: Olmsted County Declares Local Emergency After Sept. 2 Storm
Storm Damage Overwhelmed RPU's Outage Reporting System
According to McCollough, the widespread damage caused by the storm overwhelmed RPU's outage reporting system, which caused headaches for numerous RPU customers seeking to report that they were without power and to learn when they might expect it to be restored. McCollough says RPU is reviewing its response to the outages and will be applying the lessons learned in the future. He says that includes improving communication with affected customers during a mass outage event.
READ MORE: RPU to Begin 3-Year Water and Electric Advanced Meter Upgrade
New Electric Meters Could Speed Up Future Outage Response
McCollough noted that the ongoing deployment of advanced electric meters throughout the RPU system will alleviate many of the challenges faced by the municipal utility in its response to outages. He says the new meters will allow RPU to instantly identify customers impacted by outages and speed up the repair process.
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