PG&E, our overlords underground, have apparently taken to the skies as well — but don’t fret, they’re not interested in what the top of your house looks like.

PG&E have expanded their use of photo-taking drones to inspect power poles all over the state. In 2024 they conducted over 5,000 flights in Humboldt County alone. Naturally, a lot of people called them with privacy concerns, so to clear the air PG&E staged a demo flight for local media today.

“We don’t take photos of your kids,” PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland said. “We’re not looking at your home or your backyard. We’re just looking at our assets [mostly poles, wires, and transformers].”

There are about 100 drone crews made up of one or two people around California. The operators take anywhere from 20-60 photos quality enough to see the threads on the wires and send them to a desk crew. They inspect the “assets” for wear and tear and decide if the equipment needs any work. Lower-risk areas are surveyed no less than every five years, higher-risk areas every year. 

PG&E are switching to using more drones because they’re cheaper and quicker than sending people up the poles to check out the lines. 

Spring is PG&E’s busy season for inspections because it’s right before wildfires start, so expect to see quite a few drones hovering around. Drone pilot Vinh Nguyen said there should always be a pilot watching the drone.

“It’s OK to ask questions,” said PG&E employee Billy Brown. “Just make sure you wait until the drone is on the ground.”