State Grid prepares Shaanxi power network for winter

On Oct 9, State Grid Baoji Power Supply Company carried out autumn maintenance on the 110 kV Mamen II and Yangmen I transmission lines in Chencang district of Baoji city, Shaanxi province. Workers of the company inspected equipment, identified potential faults and made repairs to help keep the grid running safely through autumn and winter.

The maintenance covered sections of the network linking the 330 kV Maying Substation and the 110 kV Yangping Substation to the 110 kV Dongmen Substation. Workers repaired faulty line fittings, installed missing cotter pins and spring pins, and replaced bird deterrent devices. All work was completed by 5 pm that day.

Particular attention was paid to sections where transmission lines cross highways, railways and other major transport routes. They installed backup clamps on conductors and ground wires to provide additional mechanical support. These measures were intended to reduce the risk of equipment failure and protect both the power lines and traffic below.

Safety was a priority throughout the operation. The company followed its work permit system and divided the 20 workers into two teams. Each team had a designated leader and safety monitor, while ground workers and tower workers were assigned specific responsibilities. The teams completed all planned tasks, including installing and removing temporary grounding wires, repairing line defects, replacing bird deterrent devices and fitting backup clamps.

On the same day, State Grid Tongchuan Power Supply's transmission operation and maintenance center replaced three-phase composite insulators on a tower along the 110 kV 1137 Chouliu transmission line. The work was carried out while the line remained energized. The replacement reduced the risk of equipment failure and helped maintain a reliable power supply.

Wearing full protective equipment, the technicians climbed the tower and moved into position. Zhang Tianshun, a safety supervisor of the transmission maintenance team, secured his harness to a crossarm and fixed a pulley in place. Fellow technician Lei Ben climbed to conductor level, while ground workers used insulated ropes to pass tools and equipment up to them.

Working together, the two technicians secured the conductor with a protective rope and installed a three-sheave insulated pulley block. They tightened the hauling rope and transferred the conductor's weight to the pulley system before removing the retaining pins at both ends of the old insulators.

Using insulated ropes, the team lowered the old units and raised the replacements into position. Once the new insulators were fitted, the technicians checked the connections to ensure they were secure and met the required standards. Throughout the operation, both technicians maintained the required safety distance from live equipment.

The Tongchuan center had prepared for the operation through advance planning, targeted training and practical exercises. Its approach was guided by a simple principle: making standard procedures second nature. Before going on site, workers reviewed the potential hazards at each stage of the replacement and practiced the steps they would need to follow. This helped them identify where extra precautions were necessary and carry out the work in a consistent, controlled manner.

The training also gave workers an opportunity to refine their live-line maintenance techniques and develop a stronger understanding of safety requirements. By practicing the full procedure, the team improved its ability to handle complex maintenance tasks independently, rather than relying on external support. These preparations helped ensure the work could be completed safely and to the required technical standards.