Zhoukou, Henan:Power “Iron Army” Builds a “Bright Embankment” Against Autumn Floods

Since mid-September, rainfall in Zhoukou has increased significantly, with meteorological departments issuing consecutive rainstorm warnings. Sustained rainfall has posed a severe challenge to the safe and stable operation of the power grid. Facing the autumn flood challenge, State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company has made proactive preparations and responded quickly: it has organized operation and maintenance personnel to step up line inspections, conducted special inspections of substations, and taken multiple measures to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid, striving to guarantee the electricity demand for people’s production and daily life without interruption.

Proactive Preparation: Winning the “Initiative” in Flood Prevention

“As early as after the work of ensuring power supply during the summer peak, we began flood prevention preparations and conducted a comprehensive inspection of line sections and substations that were severely affected by floods in previous years,” said the person in charge of State Grid Xiangcheng Power Supply Company. In late August, the company launched a special campaign to investigate and rectify flood prevention hidden dangers, focusing on inspecting and reinforcing facilities such as transmission and distribution line tower foundations, stay wires, slope protection, and drainage ditches in areas along rivers, low-lying areas, and slopes.

State Grid Xiangcheng Power Supply Company promptly activated the emergency plan for flood prevention and power guarantee, established a leading group for flood prevention and power guarantee work, and coordinated the command of flood prevention and power guarantee in Xiangcheng. The company strengthened linkage with meteorological, water conservancy and other departments, established a flood situation information sharing mechanism to timely grasp dynamic information on rainfall, water regime, and flood situation, accurately assess the impact of floods on power grid equipment, and deploy preventive measures in advance. Emergency repair teams, materials, and vehicles are on standby at all times to ensure rapid response in case of any danger.

Special Inspection & Protection: Building a “Safety Net” for the Power Grid

“The equipment at the 35kV Guozhuang Substation is operating normally, and there is no water accumulation in the cable trench.” On September 22, in the Huangfan District of Zhoukou, substation operation and maintenance personnel were conducting a special inspection of the substation. In the rain, they carefully checked the operating status of the equipment and investigated potential safety hazards.

In response to the sustained rainy weather, State Grid Huangfan District Power Supply Company increased the frequency of special inspections of transmission and distribution lines and substations. Operation and maintenance personnel braved the rain to conduct patrols and inspections of key lines and equipment in their jurisdiction, with a focus on monitoring power facilities in low-lying areas, near rivers, and areas prone to geological disasters. They emphasized checking the sealing of mechanism boxes and terminal boxes in substations to prevent rainwater from seeping in and causing secondary equipment failures; at the same time, they closely monitored the growth of trees in line corridors and promptly cleared overheight trees that might come into contact with the lines.

In the special inspection work, the company also widely applied intelligent inspection methods. Through technological means such as UAV line patrols and online monitoring devices, real-time monitoring of key lines and substations has been realized, greatly improving the efficiency and quality of inspections.

All-Out Efforts: Ensuring Uninterrupted Power for People’s Livelihood

The autumn flood period coincides with the critical stage of autumn harvest and sowing, making it particularly important to ensure agricultural electricity supply. State Grid Xiangcheng Power Supply Company organized Communist Party Member Service Teams to go deep into rural areas, conducting special patrols and maintenance of irrigation and drainage lines and equipment to ensure reliable electricity supply for agricultural production.

“Thanks to the masters from the power supply company who came to inspect the lines in time. It has been raining continuously these days, but the drainage pumps in our greenhouses have been running all the time, and there is no problem with electricity,” said a large-scale vegetable grower in Dingji Town, Xiangcheng City.

At the same time, in response to potential waterlogging caused by sustained rainfall, State Grid Xiangcheng Power Supply Company strengthened the inspection of urban distribution network equipment, with a focus on protecting underground power distribution rooms. It prepared flood prevention materials such as sandbags, water-retaining plates, and water pumps in advance to prevent rainwater backflow from causing equipment failures.

The company also further strengthened the power supply guarantee for key users: it conducted special inspections of power supply facilities for key users such as party and government agencies, hospitals, and flood control command institutions, and assisted users in addressing internal electricity safety hazards to ensure safe and reliable power supply for key users during the flood season.

Emergency Duty: Providing an “Umbrella” for Thousands of Households

To respond to emergencies, State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company has strengthened the 24-hour emergency duty system, increased the number of on-duty personnel, and ensured smooth communication. Across the city, 11 flood prevention and emergency repair teams, 186 repair personnel, and 63 repair vehicles are on standby at all times, with sufficient emergency materials and spare parts prepared.

“We have established a rapid response mechanism. Once a danger report is received, repair personnel can reach the site in the shortest possible time to carry out repair work,” said the person in charge of flood prevention duty at State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company.

In addition, the company has timely sent safety electricity tips and power outage information to customers through channels such as WeChat official accounts and text messages, and opened a 24-hour power supply service hotline to promptly respond to customer demands and answer customer questions.

According to the weather forecast, there will still be frequent rainfall in Zhoukou in the coming week. State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company stated that it will continue to closely monitor weather changes, strengthen the inspection and maintenance of power grid equipment, make every effort to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid, provide reliable power support for the economic and social development of Zhoukou, and create a “bright” environment for the production and daily life of the people. (By Yuan Haiqing/Zhang Hui)