Power grid corridor safety: The same old worries return!

(Baonghean) - Violations of safety regulations in power line corridors are widespread in most localities. Every year, during the rainy and stormy season, the power industry and local authorities are filled with anxiety...

Widespread violations

Tan Ky is a mountainous district with a large area of ​​planted forests, and the situation of low-voltage power lines running under tree canopies is very common. Currently, in Tan Ky district, there are 4 points violating the safety protection corridor of high-voltage power lines, 22 points violating the phase-to-ground distance, and over 96 km of low-voltage lines with trees outside the corridor posing a safety risk during the rainy season. Therefore, before the rainy season, the power sector is once again worried about safety hazards.

The Tan Ky District Electricity Branch is upgrading its power substation. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In Yen Thanh district, almost the entire low-voltage power grid is in an unsafe condition during the rainy and stormy season, while one-third of the low-voltage grid remains intact after local authorities handed over the grid to the power sector for management. In mountainous districts, violations of power line safety corridors are very common. Although the power sector in these mountainous districts has issued notices and reminders against planting trees within the power line safety corridor, many people still deliberately plant tall trees such as eucalyptus, acacia, and melaleuca right under the power lines.

Statistics show that currently, the entire province still has over 660 km of power lines that are unsafe due to trees planted by residents close to the power line corridor; and 250 cases of houses and architectural structures violating the high-voltage power line corridor. The highest number of cases are in Nghia Dan district with 25 cases, Vinh city with 41 cases, Yen Thanh district with 39 cases, and Dien Chau district with 31 cases…

The involvement of both the people and the government is needed.

In response to this situation, the electricity sector has made numerous efforts to ensure the safety of the power grid and the safety of people's lives and property, especially during the rainy and stormy season.

Mr. Tran Dinh Tu, Director of Tan Ky Electricity Branch, said: Before the rainy and stormy season, the unit proactively issued notices to communes in the district as well as some communes in Do Luong district and electricity service units in the area to proactively ensure the safety of the power grid; prepare materials and focus on repairing power lines, replacing weak poles; assign specific tasks to each production team, conduct inspections of the entire power grid, locations and equipment that do not meet operating standards, and then develop plans and handle replacements.

Electricity workers in Vinh City repair the power grid system. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Tu stated that this year, the Tan Ky Electricity Branch will address two violations of the high-voltage power grid safety corridor; clear 11 violations of phase-to-ground distance; and encourage residents to clear 48 km of trees under low-voltage power lines. Simultaneously, they will gradually upgrade low-voltage lines and substations, thereby contributing to preventing overload and improving the quality of electricity for customers.

In Yen Thanh district, the electricity sector has upgraded 17km of 35kV power lines, repaired 33km of 10kV power lines, and replaced and upgraded low-voltage power lines for 20 communes; hundreds of low-voltage power poles have been replaced, increasing their height from 5.5m to 6.5-7.5m. In Anh Son district, the power company coordinated with the District Youth Union to conduct awareness campaigns and clear vegetation along the power line corridors; and intensified inspections to detect and promptly prevent potential incidents such as forest fires spreading into the corridors; tall trees at risk of breaking or falling, violating the safe distance from the power line corridors...

The process of clearing the power line corridor, thanks to the coordination between the electricity sector, local authorities, and the people, has received support and cooperation from the local population. Many households have proactively cut down valuable trees and dismantled fences located under power lines when the rainy and stormy season arrives.

Mr. Le Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of Safety Department - Nghe An Power Company, said that ensuring the safety of the power grid is a top priority for the company. Every year, the company provides financial support to units to assist in clearing power grid corridors. The company has also advised the Provincial People's Committee to establish a Power Grid Safety Committee; local authorities, districts, and communes have also established power grid safety committees. These committees are continuously strengthened and operate effectively.

Tree felling is being carried out to ensure the safety of the power grid in Yen Thanh. Photo: Xuan Hoang.

With regard to high-voltage power grids, before the rainy and stormy season, Nghe An Power Company has proactively implemented solutions to ensure the safety of power line corridors, such as inspecting the entire corridor of power lines, trimming tall trees in and near the 110KV high-voltage power line corridor, and distributing electrical safety leaflets directly to people living near the 110kV power line corridor...

"To ensure the safety corridor of the power grid, the efforts of the power sector alone are not enough. In the coming time, Nghe An Power Company hopes to receive the consensus of organizations and individuals and the coordination of local authorities to contribute to ensuring the power grid corridor and providing stable electricity to customers," said Mr. Le Thanh Mai.

Xuan Hoang