KPTCL Cuts Power Outages by 85% in Karnataka Using Drone Inspections

Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has reduced transmission-related power outages by 85 percent across inspected corridors in Karnataka by deploying advanced drone technology. The initiative has successfully identified and rectified over 1.5 lakh (150,000) technical defects in the state's power transmission network.

So far, KPTCL has inspected more than 3,370 km of transmission lines and 11,000 transmission towers. This includes over 2,500 km of 220 kV lines and 843 km of 400 kV corridors. The targeted drone interventions successfully brought down the number of transmission-related power outage incidents from 519 to just 73 across the inspected corridors.

The drones utilized for the project are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging systems, and LiDAR sensors. According to KPTCL Managing Director V. Ram Prasath Manohar, this technology allows engineers to conduct close-range inspections of towers, conductors, and insulators.

"Our focus is shifting from repairing faults after they occur to identifying and addressing risks before they lead to failures," Manohar said. He noted that the drones can navigate dense forests, hilly regions, and densely populated urban areas to detect faults with a level of precision that is difficult to achieve through conventional methods.

The thermal imaging cameras on the drones identify abnormal heat signatures and hotspots caused by loose electrical connections or deteriorating equipment. KPTCL is integrating the collected survey data into its digital asset management ecosystem, which will eventually link to an upcoming Digital Twin Platform for real-time network monitoring from a central control room.

Minister for Energy and Tourism K.J. George stated that manually inspecting the state's vast transmission network of nearly 45,000 km is highly challenging and time-consuming.

"By deploying drones equipped with thermal imaging and LiDAR technologies, we can now conduct comprehensive 360 degrees inspections of transmission assets in a fraction of the time," George said. He called the 85 percent reduction in outages a major milestone in KPTCL's digital transformation.