Eversource will deploy a helicopter equipped with rotating blades to trim trees along a transmission line corridor over the next two weeks stretching from Haddam to Middletown, the utility announced Monday.
The aerial work was scheduled to begin Monday and will continue through Jan. 16, weather permitting, with flights planned between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crews will operate in parts of East Haddam, Haddam, East Hampton and Middletown.
Eversource said using a helicopter allows crews to complete the work far more quickly than traditional manual tree-climbing methods. The approach also reduces the risk of injury to workers and helps limit disruption to native vegetation and wildlife within the right of way.
The utility has used helicopters for tree trimming in Connecticut since 2021, adopting the method after Tropical Storm Isaias as part of expanded vegetation management efforts aimed at improving system reliability.
Transmission lines carry high-voltage electricity across the region and are a critical component of the electric grid, serving multiple communities. When trees grow too close to the lines or fall onto them, Eversource said, outages can affect thousands of customers across multiple towns.
Maintaining proper clearance around transmission lines helps prevent service disruptions and reduces potential public safety hazards, the company said.
The helicopter used for the work is a red, silver and black Hughes 369D with tail number N7079K.
