Young power engineers steer major substation operation

"All operations for the switching mode at the 220-kilovolt Wangcheng Substation have been completed." The announcement on Oct 26 meant that the substation has resumed normal operations after a complex switching task led entirely by young employees of the State Grid Pingdingshan Power Company's substation operation and maintenance center.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The achievement highlights the company's systematic approach to nurturing early-career talent. Through stratified training programs tailored to employees' experience levels, the center implements weekly learning modules with clear assessment targets. Training quality is ensured via dual initiatives: the "Youth Lectures" forum where junior staff present technical insights, and mandatory proficiency exams reviewed by veteran engineers.

Amid the ongoing autumn maintenance season — a period involving high-stakes operations on transformers and busbars — the center has transformed fieldwork into a dynamic training ground. Young technicians now lead ticket drafting and are responsible for carrying out major switching operations under a mentoring model: "Junior staff do the work, senior staff supervise, team leaders review." This three-tiered verification ensures strict adherence to safety protocols while converting theoretical knowledge into operational experience.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to structuring career development around skill-based advancement, targeting the cultivation of technical excellence and a culture of innovation among the next generation of power professionals.