Tampa Electric warns of helicopters buzzing power lines

Tampa Electric Co. is alerting residents that they may soon see low-flying helicopters buzzing local power lines.

There is no need to panic, though. The power company says the aircrafts are part of project aimed at creating a digital model of its transmission equipment and to evaluate it.

Starting Monday, Feb. 26, the work will begin to scan about 100 miles of high-voltage power lines along the company’s urban and rural rights of way, mostly along Interstate 75 in south Hillsborough County and into Polk County.