Electricity North West Ltd set out to improve how it collects and uses condition data for its high-voltage tower network, aiming to increase accuracy, speed up planning, and build a digital representation of assets across its power grid.

Traditionally, inspections were conducted by either foot patrols or by helicopter. Ground-level viewing angles and inconsistent lighting made it hard to assess asset condition with confidence. Helicopter surveys offered broader visibility, but increased disturbance to customers and landowners, and reviews remained manual and subjective. Ground-based inspectors manually reviewed tens of thousands of images per cycle, often leading to inconsistencies and errors.

Without consistent data, capital programs were difficult to prioritize. Projects frequently had to be revised when the condition found on site differed from survey results, leading to abortive costs. ENWL saw the opportunity to modernize inspections and enable more effective investment decisions.

ENWL’s goal wasn’t just faster inspections. It was better data for better decisions.

All objective, risk-based condition data now feeds directly into ENWL’s asset health models, enhancing regulatory reporting, supporting long-term capital planning, and driving smarter grid investment strategies.

With consistent, high-quality insights, teams can reduce abortive jobs, target the right assets, and avoid wasted field effort. The structured dataset also enables trend analysis, allowing ENWL to track deterioration over time.