An apparatus is provided including an unmanned aerial vehicle and a transformer monitoring device, particularly for use in a smart grid network system to support a wireless mesh network in the smart grid network and to collect metering data relating to electricity usage in the smart grid network. The transformer monitoring device is configured to receive signaling containing data from one or more network devices in a smart grid network and transmit signaling containing data to the one or more network devices in the smart grid network, and also to receive signaling containing metered usage data from at least one electric meter associated with a building receiving electricity from a transformer in the smart grid network.