New year power line inspection secures livelihoods: Braving snow and freezing climes on high mountains

Employees of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power formed an inspection team and ascended Shanglianggang at an altitude of over 800 meters in Fenghua district, Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Jan 8, embarking on the year's first special inspection and obstacle removal mission amid heavy snowfall.

"The Shanglianggang mountainous area features steep terrain and dense vegetation, where rain, snow, and freezing conditions can easily cause line icing and tree interference," said one of the team members. "We must inspect each pole for potential hazards." 

Armed with infrared thermometers, the workers carefully monitored temperatures at critical points such as wire joints and clamps, with fluctuating values on the screens providing real-time feedback on equipment operating status. At the same time, they deployed drones for comprehensive inspections of icing conditions along mid-sections of the power lines, establishing an integrated "air-ground" three-dimensional prevention and control system.

Midway up the mountain, the team discovered a bamboo branch bent by snow accumulation encroaching on the power lines — a situation that could easily trigger a short circuit if not promptly addressed. The inspection team quickly retrieved handsaws and, working in seamless coordination despite the biting wind, safely cleared the tree obstacle within just 20 minutes. 

As the mountain wind cut to the bone, a local villager approached the passing team with some steaming ginger tea. "It's so cold and you're still out inspecting lines. You've worked hard — have some hot water to warm up," he said. This simple act of kindness added an extra touch of warmth to their steadfast vigil.

"We began monitoring weather forecasts early and formulated a specialized power protection plan in advance," a company representative said. Confronting this cold wave, State Grid Zhejiang took preemptive measures and deployed early. The company not only intensified inspection frequencies for high-altitude, ice-prone mountain lines in Fenghua but also stockpiled sufficient emergency repair materials and established multiple Communist Party member task forces to combat the cold wave, ensuring a rapid response in the wake of sudden faults.

Moving forward, State Grid Zhejiang will continue to closely monitor weather changes and grid load fluctuations, further increase inspection frequencies for lines in Fenghua's high-altitude regions, deepen the integrated application of drone inspections and intelligent monitoring, refine emergency response coordination mechanisms, fortify power protection defenses against cold waves, and ensure worry-free winter electricity usage for mountain residents.