Tianmu electricians light path to common prosperity in rural areas

Volunteers from the Tianmu Electricians Bright Volunteer Service Center in Xinchang county recently revisited the home of Wenwen (pseudonym), a low-income family in Zhailing village, Wozhou town, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. A year ago, the volunteers installed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels for the family free of charge. Today, the family not only uses green and safe solar electricity but also earns subsidies by feeding excess power back into the grid.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wenwen's family is one of many to benefit from the "An" (Safety and Stability) Rural Charity Common Prosperity Project. Launched in July 2024, the project is a joint initiative by the provincial, municipal, and county charity federations, the Xinchang county civil affairs bureau, State Grid Xinchang County Power Supply Company, the Tianmu Electricians Bright Volunteer Service Center, and Hangzhou Robam Electric Co. It aims to provide eligible low-income households with free post-meter circuit renovations, rooftop PV panel installations, and kitchen appliance upgrades through three sub-projects: "An" Ju (Safe Housing), "An" Fu (Fortune and Stability), and Warm Kitchen. These efforts are designed to eliminate electrical hazards, improve living conditions, and boost economic income for low-income families.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the ongoing summer surge in electricity consumption, Tianmu Electricians are carrying out a special campaign to renovate post-meter circuits, ensuring a safer power supply for vulnerable communities. So far, the circuit renovations have led to remarkable results, with 252 low-income households having received upgrades. Simultaneously, the Warm Kitchen sub-project is also progressing steadily, with kitchen appliances replaced in 260 households. This allows low-income families to not only use electricity safely but also enjoy the convenience and security of modern kitchen facilities.

Meanwhile, the installation of rooftop PV panels is advancing steadily. According to plans, 155 low-income households will receive rooftop PV panels this year. These installations not only provide free green electricity to the families but also generate steady income through excess power fed back into the grid. Wenwen and her spouse, gazing at the PV panels on their roof, shared, "Now we not only use electricity for free but also sell the surplus to the power company, earning over 3,000 yuan ($420.89) in subsidies each year."