The Hughes 500 is just the best machine for the job despite the tail rotor being on the line side. If done correctly, the tail rotor should not get closer than about 5 feet from the line at any time. A fenestron would be nice but the EC120 is underpowered for this job and everything else is just too expensive. Bell 206 series helicopters do work well and the tail rotor is farther away from the line but then you have longer and higher main rotor blades when working between the earth / shield wire and the conductors so less clearance, the 500 is better.
The crash they went to was of a helicopter involved in powerline patrol that flew into wires, not the same company or same work and just coincidence that it happened at that time, sad though it was.
Overall, the work is challenging, rewarding and some of the best flying I have ever done.