Dingxi, Gansu: Securing stable power grid operation by tackling existing risks and curbing new hazards

State Grid Dingxi Power Supply Company recently reported that by focusing on the objectives of "addressing existing hidden dangers, curbing new risks, and consolidating operation and maintenance fundamentals", it has resolved a series of long-standing challenges in the operation and maintenance management of transmission lines. Furthermore, the company has established a new transmission line management and control model tailored to current needs, laying a solid foundation for the safe and stable operation of Dingxi's power grid.

The company has developed a government-enterprise collaboration mechanism, which has facilitated the felling or pruning of 38,600 trees in forested areas. Additionally, it addressed the issue of tall trees hindering the 110 kV Lvxi First Line through the replacement of tree species. To date, a total of 78 forest-related power hazards have been mitigated, covering 27 transmission lines with a combined length of 162.17 kilometers.

To tackle emerging risks such as external damage from construction activities and mountain fires, the company has strengthened its risk prevention measures by implementing a strategy centered on "prioritizing key areas, critical time periods, and on-site personnel; and advancing linkage mechanisms, proactive prevention, and closed-loop handling". Across six dedicated monitoring posts, a total of 1,658 person-shifts have been deployed, 153,000 square meters of weeds have been cleared, and 61 critical defects have been resolved using laser-based foreign object removers — effectively curbing the emergence of new risks.

Meanwhile, the company has also delivered impressive results in ensuring adequate power supply for major projects and handling emergency responses. During the renovation of the 330 kV Longgong First and Second Lines, it simultaneously conducted operation and maintenance inspections on 14 key transmission lines to secure the power supply, cleared over 4,800 tree obstacles, and eliminated 14 heat-related defects through live-line operations.

In practice, the company has further upgraded forest-power management from verbal agreements to formal written contracts, addressing work disruptions caused by personnel changes. It has also shifted the operation and maintenance management of newly built transmission lines from a "post-fault repair" model to a "pre-emptive prevention and control" approach. Prior to the commissioning of the 330 kV Ninglv Line, the company completed the anti-pollution coating of 17,000 insulators and the installation of lightning rods on 45 tower poles, completely reversing the passive situation of "remedying defects after incidents occur".

To address triggers such as bird damage and lightning strikes, the company has effectively enhanced the technical protection capabilities of its equipment and ensured the safe and stable operation of the Dingxi power grid by strengthening a dual-drive strategy that combines standardized frameworks with tailored solutions, supported by targeted measures for both specific vulnerabilities and system-wide defense. Efforts include implementing customized action plans for each transmission line, all underpinned by a clear accountability and execution mechanism.