Yen Bai Electricity: Ensuring safe grid operation during storm season

Faced with the complex developments of extreme weather during the rainy and stormy season, from tornadoes to floods and landslides, the power grid infrastructure in Yen Bai is facing great challenges. In order to ensure a safe and continuous power supply to every household, Yen Bai Power Company (PC Yen Bai) has proactively deployed a series of preventive and response solutions.

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Although Yen Bai is less directly affected by large storms, it is often subject to storm circulation and the impacts of climate change. This leads to an increase in thunderstorms, lightning strikes and prolonged heavy rains. According to forecasts, natural disasters are becoming more extreme, causing heavy rains, flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, causing significant damage to the power grid.

Specifically, the western districts of the province with rugged terrain often experience flash floods, landslides, and trees falling on power lines, disrupting traffic and communications. Meanwhile, the northern, southeastern, and eastern districts of the province located along the Red River, Chay River, and Thac Ba Lake face the risk of widespread flooding due to rising river water. In particular, many power lines pass through localities with terrain close to river banks, streams, and mountain slopes, posing the risk of column foundation landslides, even column collapses, and broken wires. These are the challenges we face every rainy and stormy season.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy - Deputy Director of PC Yen Bai.

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee and the Northern Power Corporation, we have proactively and synchronously deployed many solutions for disaster prevention and search and rescue (PCTT-TKCN).

From the beginning, the Company has strengthened the Command Board and the PCTT-TKCN Shock Team, at the same time, developed specific plans and solutions and organized drills to respond to situations. We also reviewed and supplemented adequate equipment, supplies and means for incident handling. The shock force is well trained in practical skills, command and coordination to be ready to respond. In particular, a general inspection of the power grid before the storm season is extremely important.

We assess the risk of landslides and flooding of power lines and transformer stations for timely handling. Plans for supplying power to important loads are carefully developed, while urging the acceleration of major construction and repair investment projects to complete before the rainy season.

Finally, monitoring and updating the natural disaster situation through mass media is carried out regularly, promptly informing units to proactively respond according to the "4 on-site" motto: on-site command, on-site forces, on-site supplies, and on-site logistics. This is the golden rule that helps us respond quickly and effectively.

Even before the rainy season, the Company urged its affiliated units to carefully review and inspect key locations that are prone to landslides and flooding, as well as equipment that does not meet operating standards.

From there, plans were made to reinforce, handle or replace electrical equipment to ensure safety. In particular, for locations prone to landslides such as column foundations, anchor foundations near slopes, river banks and streams, the Company has prepared specific response plans such as: building embankments at the base of column foundations with boulders or moving columns to safer locations. The inspection and clearing of trees in and adjacent to the power grid safety corridor was also thoroughly carried out, preventing trees from falling onto power lines.

In terms of preparation, the unit ensures that equipment and materials for PCTT-TKCN work are always available on site, and proactively coordinates with material suppliers to provide the fastest support. The company also develops a plan to coordinate with units in the same industry and electrical construction units to enhance recovery capabilities.

When natural disasters occur, the Company will closely monitor weather developments to immediately deploy response measures. Forces and equipment will be reinforced to detect and quickly cut off power to localize the grid and isolate the incident. At the same time, we always ensure continuous power supply to the Provincial and local PCTT-TKCN Command Committees, as well as especially important loads such as hospitals, pumping stations, etc.

In addition, the rainy and stormy season is also a time of increased risk of violations of power grid safety and electrical accidents for people. Therefore, the Company directs units to proactively coordinate with local authorities and media agencies to organize widespread propaganda on safe electricity use and measures to prevent electrical accidents...

Thanh Phuc

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/352186/Dien-luc-Yen-Bai-Dam-bao-van-hanh-luoi-dien-an-toan-mua-mua-bao.aspx