Points and Rewards Drive Community Grid Co-Building to Boost Electricity Access and Rural Revitalisation

“I spotted and reported a potential fault in an electric facility to the power company, which earned me 100 points. Today, I swapped those points for some household essentials -- absolutely brilliant!” exclaimed Li Zhichen, a resident of Erdaohezi Village in Daqing Township, Shawan City, Xinjiang, as he participated in a points redemption event on November 29th at the local power service centre.

This points-for-rewards scheme is a crucial push by the State Grid Shawan Power Supply Company to further their “Community Grid Co-Building” initiative. “The points exchange activities come in various forms. Villagers earn points by engaging in the promotion of energy-efficient appliances, publicising legal regulations protecting electrical facilities, and promoting the ‘Online State Grid’ app,” explained Tang Weijun, Director of the Power Supply Department at the Shawan Company. “It’s really fired up the villagers’ enthusiasm.”

State Grid Shawan Power Supply Company has established a community-oriented service system aimed at enhancing electricity access. With their innovative “Community Network Co-Building” model, they have expanded the services on offer. Many villagers have taken the initiative to join a volunteer team dedicated to protecting electrical infrastructure. Guided by company staff, these volunteers regularly inspect nearby power lines, identifying and reporting potential safety hazards and educating fellow farmers on peak load times and safety practices. This initiative ensures both the safety of agricultural electricity use and enhances the overall reliability of the power grid. Since the beginning of the year, 68,970 households in Shawan have participated in the points exchange programme, receiving over 1,380 items in return.

“The ‘Community Network Co-Building’ initiative has brought tangible benefits, encouraging greater public participation in local affairs, such as village governance and electricity issues, and helping create more sustainable and appealing rural communities,” noted Cheng Dexuan, the Party Secretary of Erdaohezi Village in Daqing Township.

Additionally, State Grid Shawan Power Supply Company regularly organises practical activities, including “Consultation Days, Policy Promotion Days, Service Handling Days, and Public Service Days.” By establishing demonstration roles for party members and hosting “Open Power Days,” grid managers are available on-site to answer customer queries and process electricity service applications, effectively bridging the last-service mile gap in rural power supply services.

Moving forward, State Grid Shawan Power Supply Company plans to further advance the “Community Network Co-Building” efforts. They will explore more collaborative models and services to improve the quality and efficiency of rural electricity supply, ensuring “data does more of the travelling, so customers do less.” This approach intends to offer a “one-stop” service for electricity matters, allowing residents to manage their needs without leaving the village, thereby injecting sustained and powerful energy into rural revitalisation.  (By Wang Jia)

(Source: State Grid Shawan Power Supply Company)