Keeping harvest running: How State Grid Puyang powers late-rice season

In mid-November, a scene of golden abundance unfolded across Puyang, Henan province, on the northern bank of the lower Yellow River. Here, harvest season began for 180,000 mu (12,000 hectares) of late rice. Large harvesters shuttled through the fields, as the sound of grains pouring into storage containers blended with the cheerful voices of farmers, creating a vibrant harvest scene. Behind this joy lies the robust support of State Grid Henan Electric Power Company.

As one of Henan's "hometowns of premium rice", Puyang has utilized the unique water resources of the Yellow River to develop a series of high-quality rice varieties. "Fanxian Rice" has been certified as a national geographical indication product. Today, across the county's 180,000 mu of rice fields, one can see both the uniformity of large-scale planting bases and the vitality of the eco-friendly "rice-duck co-cultivation" model. This approach achieves both ecological and economic benefits, allowing for multiple uses of water and dual harvests from the same land. With the widespread mechanization of the growing process, from seedling cultivation to planting and processing, and the expanding promotion of the company-base-farmer contract model, stable and reliable electricity has become a crucial part of efforts to enhance the quality and efficiency of the rice industry. Estimates suggest that the county's total rice output this year is expected to exceed 85,000 metric tons.

In response to the peak electricity demand brought by the concentrated harvesting of 180,000 mu of late rice, State Grid Puyang acted promptly. It implemented refined equipment operation and maintenance, responded to service requests in a timely manner, and strengthened power management. In strict accordance with the provincial company's power supply guarantee requirements, the company launched a special power supply campaign, deploying 12 professional teams to key grain-producing areas. These teams adopted a combined drone and manual inspection approach, conducting comprehensive checks of power supply lines and distribution equipment in critical areas such as irrigation pumping stations, drying workshops, and agricultural machinery charging stations. They also enhanced safety inspections and addressed potential hazards in temporary power usage equipment in remote paddy fields, resolving 23 issues including loose line connections and aging insulation. These efforts ensured zero interruptions in electricity supply throughout the entire process of harvesting, threshing, and drying.

Amid the golden rice fields, harvesters work tirelessly, while beneath the power lines, utility workers stand at the ready. State Grid Henan uses reliable electricity to sustain the harvest, ensuring every grain of rice safely reaches the granary, and injecting a continuous stream of electric power into rural vitalization.