State Grid Shangqiu Power Supply Company: “Diagnosing” the Grid to Ensure Winter Electrical Reliability

“Today we will be converting the configuration at pole 87 on the 10kV Chenwang Line to a tension setup and connecting a pole-mounted switch and isolator. Please be cautious of falling objects during the operation,” instructed the team on 29th October. With the autumn harvest complete and winter wheat  remained partially unseeded in eastern Henan, the dedicated crew from State Grid Shangqiu Power Supply Company was busy upgrading power lines in Douxiaolou Village, Chenji Town, Yongcheng City, enhancing service reliability on the distribution network.

Since the onset of autumn, State Grid Shangqiu Power Supply Company has accurately identified seasonal safety production patterns and has been diligently conducting preventive testing on substations, alongside comprehensive overhauls and technical upgrades of 10kV distribution lines. Adhering to the principle of “working live when possible”, they have actively implemented live-line maintenance to minimise outage durations and areas affected, achieving a “zero disruption” perception for users during operations.

In preparation for the anticipated winter peak load, the company has meticulously crafted its autumn maintenance schedule with a customer-centric focus. Maintenance times have been coordinated to coincide with the downtime of the 35kV substation, allowing for simultaneous hazard rectification and upgrades on the associated 10kV distribution lines, 400V lines, and distribution transformers. The extensive use of midnight projects and live-line operations has mitigated the impact of grid maintenance on customers, ensuring they receive “power availability, quality power, and uninterrupted service.”

For electrical equipment on the customer side, the company’s marketing service personnel visited enterprises within their jurisdiction to gather firsthand feedback on power demand and supply services, while also disseminating information on current tariffs, pricing policies, and initiatives to optimise the business environment for electricity. They scheduled experts to provide complimentary assessments of enterprises’ power supply facilities, reception equipment, and safety regulations. Identified major hidden risks were addressed with tailored solutions, including immediate corrective notices and suggestions to assist customers in eliminating safety hazards. Moreover, based on the production nature of enterprises and their power usage patterns, guidance was offered on safe electricity usage, along with energy efficiency diagnostics to help lower costs and improve efficiency.

To further ensure safety in various operations, the company has reinforced on-site management, implemented comprehensive safety measures, clarified responsibility divisions, provided detailed safety briefings, and thoroughly inspected safety equipment. They meticulously analysed and pre-emptively controlled equipment risks and hazards, ensuring that risk identification and control measures were fully executed. The solid implementation of safety culture initiatives underpins security for personnel and equipment, delivering robust assurance for an uninterrupted winter electricity supply to customers. (By Ding Darui)