SWEPCO recently deployed a new innovation: Vehicles equipped with panoramic and thermal cameras sped up proactive inspections of its electric delivery system.
Fast Forward captured detailed images of transformers, wires and other distribution equipment.
Inspections like these aim to identify potential problem areas before they affect service, improving system visibility and helping SWEPCO prioritize repairs and maintenance. The data collected will support efforts to enhance reliability, reduce the frequency of outages and accelerate restoration when disruptions occur.
“These inspections build on our 2025 resiliency efforts that included inspecting 80,000 poles and replacing more than 17,000 of them,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president and COO. “As we saw in Winter Storm Fern, that work made an important impact. Now that the storm has passed, we’re not stopping.”