HYANNIS – Eversource is using a specialized pickup truck mounted with distance-measuring equipment to collect real-time data about the relationship between tree limbs and electric lines in its Massachusetts service area.
The pilot program aims to further improve electric service reliability by proactively addressing encroachment from trees along the company’s street-side electrical circuits.
“Understandably, we’re always looking at different techniques that we can use to try to minimize tree-related outages,” said Eversource spokesman Mike Durand.
The truck is described as a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a magnetic Eversource contractor sign attached.
It will use laser technology to scan the specific location of trees along or near roads where power lines run in Eversource’s Massachusetts service area.
The company will then analyze the data to determine how best to minimize the threat of vegetation impacting the electric system.
“The technology itself is designed really to plot the distance as it relates to the tree or the limb and our equipment, so it will really say specifically where they are in relation to each other,” said Durand.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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