Innovative Drone Inspections Improve Power Reliability In Sulphur Springs

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) is an important part of the Cochise County community. They’re not just working hard to keep the lights on for us; they're working hard to stay on top of the latest innovations so they can provide the best possible service. Sometimes that means soaring to new heights to keep equipment running.

Keeping the Lights On—From the Sky

Several years ago, SSVEC rolled out a new inspection process. If you happen to spot a drone hovering near power poles this summer, don’t be alarmed. It’s all part of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative’s ongoing effort to keep your lights on and your neighborhood safe.

It might feel a bit like science fiction, but it’s also right for today. This is the third year SSVEC has used drones for inspections, demonstrating its commitment to adopting new technology to maintain important infrastructure in Cochise County.

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Building on a Successful Start

Now in its third year, SSVEC has learned a lot from this program and continues to find ways to improve it.

This year’s inspections build on a solid start. In past years, crews checked over 8,250 poles and found problems that could have caused outages later. By finding these issues early, SSVEC fixed them before they affected customers.

Once again, the cooperative is working with Firmatek, a Texas company known for its skill in drone inspections.

What You Can Expect

You might see these drones in action this summer. Inspections are set to start on June 15 and will run through the end of July.

The drones will fly about 10 feet above utility poles, mostly along roads and highways. They will only take still photos, not video or audio, so privacy concerns are very low.

You may also see Firmatek vehicles nearby, along with FAA-certified pilots operating the drones.

You may notice the crews operating the drones. // Canva

A Safer, Smarter Approach

The program has worked well so far. Drones let crews safely and efficiently check equipment that would be hard or risky to reach on foot. This modern approach helps prevent outages, improve reliability, and keep everyone safer.