Ausgrid Group Executive Customer, Assets and Digital, Junayd Hollis said starting the program at this time of year ensured there was enough time to identify potential hazards impacting the network and allow for maintenance works to be carried out ahead of bushfire season.

“The safety of the community is at the centre of everything we do,” Mr Hollis said.

“Each year we work closely with the NSW Rural Fire Service as well as local councils to identify bushfire prone areas within our network and understand the associated risk so that we can play our part to prepare.

“We acknowledge that these low flying patrols may disturb livestock particularly in rural areas and so we make the flight schedules available on our website for those landowners have advanced notice.

“This year will be the third incorporating the use of drones as part of this program, in an effort to minimise disturbance to some of our farming industries, particularly around the Hunter.”

Specialist crews will inspect powerlines, pole tops and vegetation across the network, and will contact relevant property owners where private power poles require maintenance.

As a part of this program, residents may notice low flying helicopters and drones in the air, or specialised vehicles on the ground between now and June across the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney.

When weather permits, crews will be in the air no earlier than one hour after sunrise and no later than one hour before sunset.