Chongqing - State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company has ramped up maintenance on critical power lines and equipment, meeting the demands of the peak summer season as scorching temperatures returned to multiple areas in Chongqing recently.
On August 16, the Chongqing Meteorological Observatory issued early warning signals of high temperatures. The highest temperature in many places will rise above 37 ° C and will remain three days in a row.
This summer, maintenance staff is in live-line operations with full insulation gear under the scorching sun. (Photo/cqnews.net)
Without disrupting residents' lives and business operations, live-line operations, including non-stop maintenance and testing on high-voltage electrical equipment, have been carried out during the summer heat.
This summer, wearing full insulation gear and taking the ascending electrified service vehicles, technicians extended bucket arms several meters high to perform tasks.
Yin Shengbin, the head of the live-line operation team, and his colleagues have completed over 120 such live-line tasks. "Our clothes are constantly drenched in sweat. But as long as conditions permit, we avoid power outages and keep operations running."
Smart technology is integrated into maintenance procedures in densely wired substation zones to enhance efficiency. At the 220 kV University Town Substation, Yu Le, an inspector, operates a drone equipped with an infrared imaging device to conduct comprehensive inspections from above.
Maintenance and inspection are carried out with a drone at University Town Substation. (Photo/Western Science City)
State Grid Chongqing has deployed 14,000 intelligent integrated terminal units citywide. These units possess functions such as line loss analysis and fault diagnosis, enabling real-time monitoring of certain distribution areas.
According to the company, this shift to intelligence transforms the previous passive maintenance mode into an active repair and pre-maintenance mode.
The term "Autumn Tiger" is often used in China to describe a period of high temperatures and drought following the start of autumn. Last year, persistent heat led to a period of power shortages in Chongqing. Core attractions and the city's skyline lighting were forced to shut down during the heatwave.
To conserve energy, some subway cars operate without lighting. Starting in mid-August 2022, the municipal government implemented restrictions on industrial electricity usage to safeguard civilian power supply. The high temperatures persisted until August 31.
Night scene of Yuzhong Peninsula without city skyline lighting on one day in mid-August 2022. (Photo/Kenny Dong)