Technology to facilitate Keowee Dam inspection

Twenty-first century technologies that include drones and other remotely operated equipment will play a part next week during an inspection of the Keowee Dam near Duke Energy’s Keowee Hydro Station and the Oconee Nuclear plant.  Duke has a letter from “FERC” – the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission—giving it the go ahead to de-water the power tunnel for what a spokeswoman says is a routine inspection.  Duke’s Mikayla Kreuzberger says de-watering the power tunnel is done periodically to allow inspections of areas typically filled with water and to facilitate routine maintenance.  The Keowee Hydro Station this year marked 50 years of what Duke says has been safe, reliable and clean operations.  The dam was built in the late 1960s.