Essential Energy will be using drones to inspect powerlines in the Dubbo and Narromine regions as it looks to modernise bushfire mitigation practices ahead of the 2025/26 bushfire season.

Moving away from traditional methods for its annual Pre-Summer Bushfire Inspection program, which have previously included light aircraft, the electricity distributor is embracing innovative ways to minimise impacts on customers, livestock and the environment.

Drones also provide an efficient, low-impact and safe way of inspecting the vast number of assets across the diverse landscape of the Essential Energy network, Chief Operating Officer Luke Jenner said.

“Traditionally, we have used fixed-wing light aircraft to fly over our poles and wires but this year, thanks to technology and innovation, we are using drones to inspect a larger part of our network with helicopters covering the areas where the drones can’t fly,” Mr Jenner explained.

“Inspecting Essential Energy’s network for potential risks, such as asset defects or encroaching vegetation, ahead of the bushfire season helps keep our communities safe and is part of an ongoing maintenance regime,” he added.

Drones will inspect at least 7000 kilometres of powerlines, covering close to half of the overall program. While this isn’t the first year that Essential Energy has used drones as part of its inspection program, this year marks a large increase in the area that will be covered.

The remaining 8000 kilometres of lines earmarked for inspection will be covered by a combination of drones and helicopters.

“(Drones) provide better information about our poles and wires while offering a cost-effective solution that has a lower impact on the environment,” Mr Jenner said.

“A key part of our bushfire management plan is to ensure that vegetation is clear of the powerlines. So, we need to be very diligent in looking for dead, dying or diseased trees that could fall onto the powerlines and potentially start a fire,” he concluded.