Karnataka Power Corp Uses Drones to Reduce Transmission Outages by 85%
The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has adopted drone technology to inspect high-voltage and extra-high-voltage transmission lines across the state, leading to a sharp decline in power outages caused by transmission faults.
According to an official statement, engineers have used drones to examine more than 11,000 transmission towers and identified over 1.5 lakh technical defects, which have since been repaired. The corporation claims that fixing these issues has reduced transmission-related outages by 85% in the areas surveyed, with incidents dropping from 519 to 73.
So far, drones have scanned over 3,370 km of transmission lines, including 2,500 km of 220 kV lines and 843 km of 400 kV corridors.
V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Managing Director of KPTCL, said in the release that the focus has shifted from repairing faults after they occur to identifying risks before they lead to failures. He explained that drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging systems, and LiDAR sensors allow close-range inspections of towers, conductors, and insulators, particularly in dense forests, hilly areas, and densely populated urban zones. This technology enables engineers to detect faults with greater precision than conventional methods.
Thermal imaging cameras can identify abnormal heat signatures and hotspots caused by loose connections or equipment deterioration. The data collected is being integrated into KPTCL's digital asset management system and will eventually feed into the corporation's upcoming Digital Twin Platform for real-time monitoring from a central control room.
K.J. George, Minister for Energy and Tourism, stated in the release that inspecting Karnataka's transmission network, which spans nearly 45,000 km, through conventional methods is time-consuming and challenging. He noted that drone technology allows comprehensive 360-degree inspections in a fraction of the time, enabling engineers to detect even the smallest defects invisible to the naked eye. He called the 85% reduction in outages a major milestone in KPTCL's digital transformation.
