State Grid Shaoxing braces for Typhoon Saudel with coordinated response

As Typhoon Saudel, the 18th storm of this year, regained severe typhoon strength and headed toward Zhejiang's coast for an expected landfall on Aug 28, State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company activated comprehensive countermeasures.

It also deployed a 242-member support team to Rui'an, a county-level city in Wenzhou, to expedite post-storm power recovery.

Before the typhoon struck, the company addressed vulnerabilities at 15 key flood-control substations, restored round‑the‑clock staffing at 31 substations, and assigned 56 transmission patrol crews to four outposts for special inspections of critical power lines.

In three flood‑storage zones, crews inspected 48 towers across eight lines pole by pole and coordinated with local authorities on zone‑activation protocols. All construction workers on ultra-high-voltage (UHV) projects within Shaoxing were evacuated in advance, and temporary structures were secured.

On the distribution side, 484 staff and 233 vehicles patrolled 332 lines, cleared 1,302 tree‑and‑bamboo hazards, and installed flood barriers, sandbags, and pumps at 262 flood‑prone distribution rooms.

For critical facilities — hospitals, drainage pumping stations, and emergency command centers — teams completed on‑site checks at 78 high‑risk users and 162 pumping stations, urging corrective action on 36 electrical safety issues.

Pre‑emptive power‑cut plans were prepared for charging stations and rooftop solar units in low‑lying or riverside areas.

Alongside local response efforts, the company dispatched 16 specialized task forces comprising 242 staff members, all arriving in Rui'an by Aug 26, with expertise in overhead‑line and substation‑cable repairs.

Additionally, one drainage vehicle and one drainage shelter unit reached Taizhou, while two low‑voltage generator vehicles supported Zhoushan and Wenzhou.

Moving forward, the company will continue monitoring grid operations in real time and, adhering to the principle of acting swiftly but safely, launch restoration work as soon as conditions allow to ensure reliable power for users in both Shaoxing and the areas receiving assistance.