Power Warmth initiative strengthens community service in Lianyungang

As Typhoon Dolphin approached Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu province in early August, Chen Jiaxuan closely monitored 10 community service WeChat groups pinned to his phone, watching around the clock for residents' electricity requests and reports of potential safety hazards.

Chen, an electricity grid chief in Xinhai subdistrict, works with State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power's Power Warmth Communist Party members service team in Lianyungang.

On Aug 6, a photo posted in the Hexi Community WeChat group caught his attention. It showed several makeshift overhead cables, commonly known as "flying wires", dangerously stretched across walkway platforms at Hualong buildings. The community's residents committee also requested assistance, warning that such cables posed a safety risk.

Knowing that the typhoon's strong winds could dislodge the cables and cause serious accidents, Chen and his colleague Xie Ze coordinated closely with community workers before inspecting the buildings one by one. They identified unauthorized overhead lines and disused cables outside the buildings. After obtaining residents' consent, they removed the abandoned cables and rebound and secured those still in use.

The removal of "flying wires" is one of the practical services provided under the Power Warmth initiative, which the Lianyungang branch of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power carried out this year. Centered on people-oriented practical services, the program covers tasks ranging from removing combustible rubbish and answering household electricity queries to maintaining outdated home appliances for elderly people living alone.

The initiative was first developed in Hailian Community, located in Lianyungang's old downtown area, where people aged 60 and above account for more than 30 percent of the population. Prioritizing the needs of seniors, children, new-industry workers and disadvantaged groups, the Lianyungang branch and the Hailian Community pioneered a model that integrates power services into grassroots governance.

This partnership enables information sharing, joint responses to public appeals and resource pooling to address complex issues such as power-line coordination and residential electricity conflicts.

Formal cooperation began in May 2025, when Hailian Community partnered with the Haizhou power service center of the Lianyungang branch. The resulting grid-based system covers 11 subdistricts in Haizhou and assigns clearly defined responsibility to participating staff. Key Party members serve as grid chiefs, while technical experts from power distribution, marketing and other departments act as grid managers responsible for handling specialized problems. Field maintenance personnel serve as front-line grid workers, responding to routine faults and inspecting residential areas for safety hazards.

On the 28th of every month, grid managers and workers set up service booths in local communities, where they offer consultations and conduct door-to-door electrical safety inspections. To date, internal circuits have been upgraded in three aging residential buildings. The Lianyungang branch has developed a comprehensive grid-based service checklist comprising 21 items in three categories to guide its community work effectively.

Joint field visits by power company and community staff have also improved communication over the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities, helping bring 85 piles into operation.

Digital technology also plays a crucial role. Smart meters send early warnings when unusual electricity consumption is detected in the homes of elderly residents living alone. On the second day of the Chinese New Year, one such alert prompted joint home visits. Although the alert proved to be a false alarm, the rapid response offered reassurance to elderly residents and their families.

Staff performance is assessed using a dedicated evaluation list. By July, Lianyungang saw a 66.67 percent year-on-year decline in complaints submitted through the 12398 hotline and a 25.21 percent decrease in 95598 service feedback tickets, reflecting tangible improvements in local power services.