State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply prepares for summer peak load

To cope with the upcoming summer peak electricity demand, State Grid has taken early action and accelerated the construction of grid reinforcement projects. The company has strengthened the maintenance of power equipment, conducted various emergency drills solidly and taken multiple measures to ensure the safe and stable operation of the grid and power supply.

On June 5, the 110-kilovolt Xiemu Substation in the Chengdong Subdistrict of Shengzhou Economic Development Zone, Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province, was put into operation. This project is one of the key projects for peak load and summer capacity enhancement for the State Grid Corporation of China and the State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Company. It is also a substation put into operation under significant grid development strategies for Shengzhou, which will effectively enhance the power supply capacity and reliability of the urban area, providing important support for a stable power supply this summer.

Shaoxing's electricity demand has increased this year. According to statistics from State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply, the total electricity consumption for the city reached 18.4 billion kilowatt-hours in the first four months of 2025, an increase of 5.14 percent compared to the same period last year. The peak load in Shaoxing is expected to reach a new high in the summer of 2025.

To address this, State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply is promoting key grid projects such as the expansion of the fourth main transformer of the 500-kV Chunhui Substation, the Xiemu Substation at 110 kV, and the third main transformer expansion of the Yangwang Substation at 110 kV. It is expected to put into operation four projects of 35 kV and above in the power grid, with an additional transformer capacity of 1.31 million kilovolts-ampere and 14.77 kilometers of transmission lines to comprehensively enhance the power supply capacity of the grid.

On May 29, the comprehensive maintenance of the 220-kV Tianmu Substation in Xinchang district of Shaoxing was completed. The Tianmu Substation is a hub substation in Xinchang district. During this comprehensive maintenance process, personnel completed the maintenance work of two main transformers and 10 lines in eight days, involving a total of 47 maintenance test items to ensure that the grid equipment is in the best condition to meet peak loads.

During this year's spring inspection, State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply carried out equipment maintenance for voltage levels from 35 kV to 500 kV and completed a total of 290 maintenance works on transmission and transformation equipment. The company implemented differentiated operation and maintenance, updated the problem list of summer peak grid equipment, and prepared in advance the records of 21 categories of equipment facilities, such as heating equipment, heavy-load switch gear and oil-leaking equipment. Fifteen heating and oil-leakage defects were eliminated to improve the health level of important equipment.

On the evening of May 28, the company organized a flood and typhoon joint drill. Simulating the handling of multiple scenarios under extreme weather conditions, the activity has comprehensively improved the emergency command system and honed the ability to coordinate response.

The drill was based on a scenario of a typhoon causing localized heavy rain in the city, which simulated four typical scenarios including flooding in residential distribution rooms, emergency handling of dispatching, water accumulation in the 220-kV substations, and sudden rise in water levels in high-voltage cable tunnels, to test the rapid response and collaborative capabilities of various departments.

To respond to various emergencies, the company insisted on organizing various drills, improving emergency response processes, strengthening weak links and solidifying the foundation of safety management. After organizing 15 drills in various specialties to simulate flood and typhoon prevention at substations, main and backup switch-overs, the company is forming a rapid response mechanism. Those efforts are beneficial to further enhance the ability to quickly assess, respond to emergencies, and make decisions in the face of extreme weather and unexpected events.