Puget Sound Energy has launched a six-week pilot survey on Mercer Island to update technology used to track and respond to power outages as well as provide customers with improved outage restoration information. The pilot program will run from Aug. 24 through September 2011.

In surveying the electric system, PSE contractors will photograph, videotape, and survey utility equipment on power poles and transformers, including adding geospatial tags. The data collected will be the first step in conducting a complete survey of PSE’s electric system, which serves more than 1 million customers in a nine-county area stretching from the Canadian border to south of Olympia and as far east as Kittitas County.

Data collected from the survey will be used to help PSE deploy an advanced outage management system that will pinpoint the sources of power outages more quickly, boost crew efficiency, and predict and help PSE communicate customer restoration times more accurately.

The survey work will not disrupt service or interfere with traffic or other normal community activities. It will be conducted in public right-of-way areas and expected to last no longer than 15 minutes at a single location. PSE’s contractors include Infotech Enterprises America, Osmose Utility Services and Utility Data Contractors.

The field workers carry PSE contractor photo identification, wear shirts and hats with their company logos, and drive vehicles marked as PSE contractors.

PSE is committed to providing safe, dependable and efficient energy service.  For more information, contact thePSE Customer Access Center at 1-888-225-5773 or visit www.PSE.com.