Electric giant Southern Co. foresees big uses for drones
Electric utility giant Southern Co. sees big potential for using drones.
The company (NYSE: SO), which announced May 7 that it will begin investigating how to use drones, says in comments filed with the Federal Aviation Administration that “small-UAS [unmanned-aircraft systems] applications provide electric utilities exciting new capabilities that can dramatically enhance the safety and reliability of energy systems by reducing exposure to electric-infrastructure hazards, accelerating restoration and repair of damaged electric infrastructure, increasing system reliability, and bolstering security of power-generation and transmission facilities.”
Southern, which serves more than 4.5 million customers in the Southeast, is asking the FAA to allow use of drones “beyond line of sight” and close to power-generation and transmission facilities.
The company is also asking the FAA to allow drones to carry things.
