State Grid Huai’an Power Supply Company: Drones Provide Full-Process Oversight for Power Line Maintenance

Recently, State Grid Huai’an Power Supply Company organized 25 maintenance personnel and completed six days of comprehensive maintenance on 214 towers and transmission lines of the 500 kV Jiujie Line, ensuring a safe and reliable energy supply for Jiangsu Province and the broader East China power grid.

Maintenance personnel conducting performance tests on 500 kV Jiujie Line insulators, with a drone monitoring nearby

The 500 kV Jiujie Line is one of the major extra-high-voltage (EHV) transmission lines delivering external power to southern Jiangsu, serving as a key link in North–South energy interconnection across the Yangtze River in East China. During the maintenance, personnel climbed towers over 50 meters high and conducted line patrols to inspect the insulation performance of insulators, line clamps, and other components. They also systematically rectified pre-identified issues such as insulator aging, ensuring that no potential safety hazards were overlooked.

Maintenance personnel replacing aged insulators on the 500 kV Jiujie Line

Throughout the operation, drones were deployed at each worksite to provide full-process safety supervision. The drones transmitted live images of the worksite to both the control center and the operators’ screens, allowing safety supervisors at the control center to offer real-time monitoring and guidance. This ensured all safety measures were effectively implemented and that maintenance operations complied with safety standards.

In total, the inspection identified and rectified 102 minor defects and potential hazards, further improving the overall safety and reliability of the Jiangsu power grid and laying a solid foundation for stable power supply during the upcoming winter peak season.

(By Wang Jiahui and Yong Chengli)