Shared meters revitalize 400 mu of reclaimed wasteland in Pingluo county

"Last year, I bought a diesel tractor specifically for pumping water and irrigating this newly reclaimed land. Now, I can simply scan a QR code with my phone to power the irrigation system," said villager Ding Ning on May 8, during the critical first irrigation period for corn crops.

At the junction of Zhongfang village in Baofeng town and Hecun village in Lingsha township, Pingluo county, Shizuishan city, Ding scanned the shared power device installed along the field ridge. Within minutes, the water pump roared to life, sending cool canal water steadily through pipelines into the dry cornfields and nourishing the young green seedlings.

A smile spread across his face. "In the past, irrigation was time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive. Now it only takes three simple steps — scan the code, pay and switch on the power. Electricity is available instantly, making irrigation truly convenient and efficient."

Located at the tail end of the Changqu Main Canal in Pingluo County, the area had long suffered from unstable irrigation water supplies due to geographical and irrigation constraints. Large stretches of land remained barren and uncultivated for years. As local villagers began reclaiming the wasteland for farming, many relied on diesel-powered tractors for pumping water, a costly and inefficient solution. Access to reliable electricity for irrigation became a major obstacle to local agricultural development.

Responding to farmers' needs, State Grid Pingluo County Power Supply carried out field investigations to better understand local electricity demands for irrigation. The company then introduced an innovative shared electricity meter service to bridge the "last mile" of power access for agricultural production.

In November 2025, the firm invested more than 110,000 yuan in the project. It erected 22 utility poles and extended over 850 meters of low-voltage power lines, bringing stable and reliable electricity directly to the farmland and resolving the long-standing power shortage problem.

Because the reclaimed land lacked the property ownership certificates normally required for standard electricity applications, the company adopted a flexible service model tailored to local conditions. By installing three shared electricity meters, farmers can now access power on demand simply by scanning a QR code.

The project now supports irrigation for more than 400 mu of newly reclaimed farmland across the South Beach and North Beach areas of Baofeng Town and Lingsha Township, transforming once-idle land into productive farmland. At the same time, the shared-meter model improves the efficient use of grid resources and avoids redundant infrastructure investment, achieving both livelihood benefits and resource conservation.

Today, three sets of shared power facilities stand neatly along the drainage canal, serving as convenient "power service stations" for local farmers.

"The shared power equipment includes both single-phase and three-phase outlets, as well as USB charging ports. In the future, farmers will also be able to charge electric tricycles and mobile phones while working in the fields," said staff members in red vests as they introduced the smart and convenient features of the service.

"This land used to sit abandoned because we had no way to irrigate it," local farmers said. "Now the power supply company has installed QR-code-powered electricity meters for us. Irrigation is convenient and worry-free, and we are confident of a good harvest this year."

With reliable electricity support now in place, the once-barren wasteland has taken on a new lease of life. Farmers are making full use of the spring farming season, and the reclaimed land is expected to become fertile, high-yield farmland, laying a solid foundation for local agricultural development and increased rural incomes.