Delmarva Power using drones to help keep workers safe

DELMARVA – Delmarva Power is using drones during the COVID-19 pandemic to inspect their equipment and structures around Maryland. The drones are flown over and around Delmarva Power assets to look for broken equipment and plants growing on it. Technicians flying the drones have to be certified by the FAA through a written exam.

The company says they’ve used drones before, but now the drones play a role in keeping workers safe by allowing them to social distance during this pandemic. “It definitely helps us maintain social distance measures. Now we’re able to go out in essentially two man crews. We can be able to take our own vehicles and not have to be in bucket trucks perhaps or special vehicles,” said general engineer for Pepco Holdings Karan Patel.

Delmarva Power also tells 47ABC that the drones allow technicians to get a better view of the equipment they’re working on and cover larger areas. The company says they send out notifications ahead of drone flights to make sure people aren’t alarmed when they see them.