Taizhou, Zhejiang: “Scan-to-Use Electricity” Empowers New Vitality in Markets “Power at Your Fingertips” Lights the Path of Rural Revitalization

In golden September, the market in Xiazhai Village, Baihe Town, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, was bustling with people. In front of the newly built “smart microgrid” service point, villager Mr. Chen took out his mobile phone, scanned a QR code, and within a minute had connected electricity to his mobile snack cart. “In the past, I always worried that there weren’t enough power lines when setting up a stall. Now I just scan with my phone to get electricity—it’s safe and convenient!” he said with a smile, showing the real-time electricity data on his phone.

This is a snapshot of the “scan-to-use electricity” service innovatively launched by State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company in Zhejiang. Since March this year, the company has focused on seasonal, temporary, and mobile electricity demands, investigating six typical scenarios (such as mobile vendors, agricultural irrigation, and green travel). It took the lead in piloting the QR code electricity system at Xiazhai Village Market. Supported by Internet of Things technology, the system achieves “plug-and-play, remote monitoring, and pay-as-you-go”, freeing users from the cumbersome traditional wiring process and making temporary electricity use as convenient as “QR code payment”.

Digital Empowerment: Governance Innovation Behind a Power Cable

On the main road of Xiazhai Village, rows of brand-new sockets were neatly installed, each with its own QR code. “After villagers scan the code, an independent account is generated, and electricity consumption and cost details are clear at a glance,” said an on-site staff member. The system’s backend can monitor current and voltage in real time, immediately cutting off power and issuing a warning if abnormalities are detected, improving efficiency by more than 60% compared to traditional manual inspections.

Village Party Branch Secretary Wang Feifei deeply felt the change: “In the past, during market days, makeshift wiring was a recurring problem. It not only posed fire hazards but also affected the village’s appearance. Since installing this scan-to-use electricity system, the wiring in the village is much more orderly, and management has become much easier.” According to estimates, the system has already helped the village reduce the accident rate caused by unauthorized wiring by 83%.

Service Upgrade: From “Access to Electricity” to “Better Use of Electricity”

Next to the service point, staff members were guiding stallholders on how to operate the new smart devices. “This scan-to-use system is very convenient. Just scan and it works. The electricity bill shows up directly on my phone—it’s worry-free and transparent!” said Ms. Li, a stallholder who had just completed her first scan. Real-time electricity usage data and remaining balance on her phone gave merchants a clear understanding of their electricity consumption.

The State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company has set up “village-grid co-construction” service points, offering full-process support from equipment installation and commissioning to later maintenance. In addition to basic electricity services, the service points also enable villagers to handle power-related business without leaving their village. Each service point receives nearly 100 consultations daily and has resolved over 30 electricity-related issues, achieving 100% satisfaction in user follow-ups. With this comprehensive service system, “electricity services now follow demand”.

Extending Reach: Small Changes, Big Impact on People’s Livelihoods

“Scan-to-use electricity is not just a technological innovation but also an exploration of grassroots governance,” said a relevant official from the Taizhou Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau. Next, Taizhou Power Supply Company will work with fire safety, law enforcement, and other government departments to fully explore the social benefits of the system and expand the model to farmers’ markets, night markets, and cultural tourism sites across all towns in the county. The goal is to form a new shared electricity service model featuring “government-enterprise collaboration and efficient regulation”, so that scan-to-use electricity benefits more people and becomes a hallmark of convenient public service.

As night fell, the lights of Xiazhai Village gradually lit up. The green indicator lights on the scan-to-use electricity devices twinkled like stars, witnessing the quiet transformation of this small village in eastern Zhejiang amidst the tide of digitalization. From “wires tangled in the air” to “scan and use electricity”, this energy revolution unfolding in the fields is also a vivid example of the power supply company fulfilling its social responsibility—quietly writing a new note in the story of rural revitalization.(By Zhao Zengkai)