Snow-Trekking Guardians of the Grid: A Winter Odyssey on the Power Lines

On February 4th, the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, General Mountain near Shihezi City was shrouded in a wintry cloak. Early that morning, Zhang Lin and Lv Yimeng, technicians of the Transmission Operation and Maintenance Center at State Grid Kuitun Power Supply Company, set out with binoculars and a drone on a vital mission: a special post-snowfall inspection of the crucial 220kV Fengshi West I & II transmission lines.

Commissioned in 2012, the 220kV Fengshi West I & II transmission lines serve as vital power arteries for the 8th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in Shihezi, energizing the city center and surrounding businesses. Twenty of the transmission towers stand sentinel on remote, roadless mountain ridges, inaccessible to vehicles, requiring Zhang Lin and Lv Yimeng to rely on foot patrols and drone surveillance to complete their mission with no other options.

Recent cold snaps have brought heavy snowfall to the Shihezi region, with temperatures plummeting to -25°C and electricity demand soaring. To ensure reliable grid operation, State Grid Kuitun Power Supply Company developed a detailed special patrol plan, clearly defining patrol areas, personnel assignments, and emergency response measures. Teams were dispatched to conduct thorough inspections of 35 high-voltage transmission lines (35kV and above), focusing on towers and their foundations, guy wires, and conductor accessories. Their efforts centered on promptly removing accumulated snow, ice, and debris from towers and lines to maintain grid safety and stability in the face of extreme weather.

Entering the mountains, they were enveloped in a landscape of white. The only sound was the rhythmic crunch of their boots breaking the silence of the snow-covered path. “Stick to my footprints, don’t get distracted by the lines; watch your footing; you don’t want a twisted ankle out here,” Zhang Lin cautioned Lv Yimeng. Nearing fifty, Zhang Lin has dedicated 30 years to this work, marking his 25th consecutive Spring Festival spent on duty patrolling the lines. This is Lv Yimeng’s fourth year partnering with him on the front lines during the holiday.

“The roads are much better now; most areas are accessible by vehicle. When I first started, there were hardly any paths in the mountains. We had to blaze the trails ourselves, one step at a time,” Zhang Lin explained to Lv Yimeng as they walked. Like a seasoned tour guide, Zhang Lin shared the history of each tower they encountered. To him, these steel giants were not just identical structures; each one held a unique story. He knew every tower base, every insulator, every bolt, every angle iron - their quirks, their stories.

Reaching the inspection point, Zhang Lin carefully examined the monitoring devices on the tower, used binoculars to observe the conductor sag, and meticulously checked the hardware, insulators, and clamps for any signs of damage, assessing the build-up of snow and ice on the lines, while Lv Yimeng diligently logged the ice coverage on the equipment. As time ticked by, frost formed on Zhang Lin and Lv Yimeng’s hats and eyelashes, and their breath plumed into the frigid air.

Since the start of winter, State Grid Kuitun Power Supply Company has developed a winter peak demand response plan based on regional characteristics, historical load curves and projections of increased electricity consumption due to electric heating. The plan included enhanced substation monitoring and strategies like load shifting and managed consumption to address overload issues. Targeting construction sites and winter irrigation areas, the company used a “substation manager + grid service” model to promote awareness of preventing external damage, effectively reducing the risk of such incidents, and taking a multi-pronged approach to proactively secure power supplies.

State Grid Kuitun Power Supply Company has also closely monitored grid operations during extreme weather, promptly analyzing grid and equipment issues and vulnerabilities. They have increased efforts to assess grid voltage quality and transformer capacity and prioritized special patrols of critical infrastructure and power lines serving heating, gas, and water supply facilities.

In the vast, snow-blanketed mountains, a winding trail of the duo’s footprints marked the pristine snow. They were not alone. During this Spring Festival holiday, many other State Grid unsung guardians, like Zhang Lin and Lv Yimeng, remained steadfast at their posts, fulfilling their duties with unwavering commitment and quiet dedication. Their tireless efforts added a unique “flavor” to the New Year celebrations, a tribute to their dedication to keeping the lights on and homes warm.(By Fran)