Live-line operation ensures power supply in Zhejiang heatwave

On Aug 1, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power successfully installed a new switch on the 10 kV Youyi line in Yanjia village, Qiucun town, Fenghua district, Ningbo, Zhejiang province.  This live-line operation ensured uninterrupted electricity supply to more than 3,900 households and several factories. 

The operation took place in the early morning as technicians from the company's Live-Line Work Center used insulated bucket trucks and protective equipment to work directly on energized conductors. Crews covered lines with insulating blankets and installed the switch within two hours. Electricity supply remained stable throughout the process.

The Youyi line supplies three administrative villages and multiple businesses. A conventional shutdown for equipment installation would have caused an outage affecting residential users and industrial operations. The new switch allows real-time monitoring and remote control of power distribution, improving the grid's ability to reroute electricity during typhoons, lightning, or peak demand surges.

According to State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power, more than 220 live-line operations have been completed across the province since the beginning of summer, preventing an estimated 8,600 hours of customer outages.

The company has also strengthened distribution capacity to meet peak demand. So far, 62 distribution projects and four transmission projects have been completed, adding 27,660 kVA of transformer capacity. Load has been redistributed on eight overloaded lines, and 68 public distribution transformers have been upgraded. Emergency response plans for summer peak demand have been revised and tested in drills.

Officials said these measures aim to ensure reliable power supply and air conditioning for residents and businesses during prolonged high temperatures.