In the Blazing Sun, Shaoxing Power Workers Secure “Zero-Perception” Power Supply with Sweat, Safeguarding the City’s Cool Essence

Although the Start of Autumn solar term arrived last week, Shaoxing has recently remained in “grill mode” with sweltering weather.

At 5:30 a.m. on August 12, while the citizens still asleep, staff from Yuecheng Branch of State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company set off at dawn. Their destination was Donghu Community in Gaobu Sub-district, where they needed to address the sudden abnormal temperature and noise hazards of the transformer at Hushan Road No.1 Transformer Station, completing tasks such as replacing the pole-mounted transformer and upgrading tower equipment.

When the work team arrived at Hushan Road, heat waves were already rising from the ground. The local team, which had made advance plans, had opened a temporary passage before the morning rush hour and arranged special personnel to guide electric vehicle traffic. Live-line operation workers quickly got to work—setting up the outriggers of the insulated aerial work platform, carefully laying out safety tools, and checking insulation performance… They prepared methodically in accordance with standardized procedures. During the pre-work meeting, the work supervisor detailed the precautions. Afterwards, the fully-equipped workers boarded the aerial platform, which was slowly lifted to a height of 12 meters, level with the top of the utility pole.

Mid-air, the workers first used insulation blankets and shielding covers to tightly shield and protect the live parts. After that, they set up temporary leads on the small-number side of Pole 5, and step by step completed several complex operations including transformer replacement, drop-out fuse upgrade, and cross-arm replacement. They also monitored the temperature of line joints in real time to ensure the phase consistency of the old and new equipment.

As noon approached, the sun blazed down with scorching intensity, and the entire insulated aerial work platform felt like a “steamer” clutched in the palm of the blazing sun. Wearing airtight insulating clothing, beads of sweat rolled down the workers’ cheeks continuously, and their sweat-soaked clothes clung tightly to their bodies. Without stopping to wipe the sweat, they continued to operate methodically.

Sun Honghang, the work supervisor, explained that the operation that day was equivalent to a high-difficulty “zero-perception surgery”. “Throughout the construction process, we must ensure the continuous operation of key equipment such as freezers in the farmers’ market and cash register systems in shops connected to the low-voltage lines.” Compared with the noisy mobile generator trucks, they used a mobile box-type transformer truck for the first time to continuously supply power to the east and west branch lines, building a more stable and reliable temporary power supply network with voltage fluctuation controlled within ±1%.

The residual heat in the late afternoon was still intense. By 5 p.m., the day-long operation finally came to an end.

“The new transformer at Hushan Road No.1 Transformer Station was successfully energized in one go. During the whole process, users had ‘zero perception’, and the voltage qualification rate remained 100%,” it was announced. When the workers finished the high-altitude operation and returned to the ground, they took off their heavy insulating clothing, revealing their dark blue work uniforms completely soaked in sweat, clinging heavily to their chests and backs. Colleagues on the ground immediately gathered around to help pack up and organize the insulating tools.

“To say these tasks are hot—they definitely are, but we’re all used to it,” Sun Honghang said with a smile. As long as they see the air conditioning outdoor units running in the homes of community residents, “all the sweat we shed is worth it.”

It is reported that this transformation not only eliminated the hidden dangers of transformer equipment, but also marked that the live-line operation level of the distribution network of State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company has reached a new level, setting a model for subsequent maintenance in complex urban scenarios. Next, the company will continue to promote the “maintain power supply while operating” mode, guarding the city’s light and coolness with sweat and responsibility.

(By Chen Yujia, Wei Yutao/Mao Yifeng)