Continuous power grid failures due to kite flying

In recent days, the situation of kite flying getting stuck in the power grid causing local power outages in the province has recurred, causing difficulties for the electricity sector in ensuring continuous and stable power supply to serve production and people's daily life.

People flying kites got caught in power lines causing local power outages.

Kite flying causes power grid failure again

According to research, kite flying in localities is becoming more and more popular and has become a hobby of a part of the people, especially in the summer. The reason why kite flying poses a risk to the safety of the power grid is because people often fly large kites near the power grid corridor. When the kite string breaks and gets caught in the power line or transformer station equipment, it will cause an incident and stop the power supply.

At 9:50 p.m. on June 4, the 374E3.3 power line had a grid failure that caused a large-scale power outage in the communes of Dong Hop, Dong Cac, Dong Dong, Dong Xuan, Dong Quang, Dong My and Gia Le Industrial Park (Dong Hung) with 2,290 customers. Thai Binh Power Company deployed 16 workers to find the cause of the incident and fix it. By 10:20 p.m. on June 4, it was found that the incident was caused by people flying kites that got tangled in the power lines. Dong Hung Power Company fixed the problem. By 10:55 p.m. on the same day, the kites were removed and the lines were restored, restoring power to customers.

At 11:50 a.m. on May 21, MC 471E11.14 tripped level 1 fault line Ia-3500; Ib-3257; Ic-2773. There was information that people reported a power outage due to kites getting caught in the power line in the Luc market area, Thai Xuyen commune (Thai Thuy). The working group of Thai Binh Electricity Company came to check and discovered a kite caught in the power line of 2 branches of Luc market. Electricity workers pulled the kite out of the power line, then restored route 471E11.14 to DCL 40/1. PCT 1040/2023/DLTT issued to handle the wire breakage, restored the power line after DCL 40/1 route 471E11.14 branch of Luc market.

The above two incidents have greatly affected the daily life, production and business of people and enterprises, especially causing huge losses to production units when there is a sudden power outage. According to statistics from the electricity industry, in the past 5 months, the power grid system in the province has had 26 incidents due to kites getting caught in power lines causing local power outages.

Efforts to fix kite problems, provide stable and safe power supply

Faced with severe weather conditions, Thai Binh Power Company is making every effort to maintain power supply to customers. To ensure safe operation of the power system, some areas in the province have been forced to regulate load, leading to power supply interruptions.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, a worker of the High Voltage Grid Operation Management Team, Thai Binh Power Company, said: During the recent hot days across the country, the outdoor temperature in many areas reached over 40 degrees Celsius, and the high demand for electricity has put a lot of pressure on the system. While people seek cool places to avoid the scorching heat, electricians are still working hard to ensure continuous and stable power supply to serve the people. During the peak of the hot season, the workload of electricians can double or triple compared to normal days. We face the scorching heat, race against time, work through lunch, and even all night. The electrical incident caused by the kite getting caught in the power line happened because the electricity workers were there in time, working continuously, as long as the power was restored to the people as soon as possible. We hope that people will raise awareness and fly kites away from power lines to avoid incidents.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Director of Thai Binh Power Company, said: From a folk hobby, kite flying has become a "hot" issue, a constant threat to the electricity industry. Large kites, up to meters long, are flown into the sky day and night. Faced with this situation, Thai Binh Power Company has organized propaganda, distributed leaflets, and placed warning signs of danger at locations around the power grid and power stations. Strengthened inspection of power lines to promptly detect, prevent and warn of danger; at the same time, coordinated with local authorities to strengthen inspection, remind, and mobilize people to protect the safety corridors of power lines and power stations. People need to be aware of flying kites in places with open spaces, without power lines or power stations nearby to ensure their own safety and the safety of the power grid system.

To ensure safe, stable and continuous power supply for production, business and people's lives in the area, Thai Binh Electricity Company hopes that localities will take drastic measures, strictly prohibit kite flying near high-voltage power grids, and resolutely handle cases of intentional violations that cause power grid incidents. At the same time, customers should join hands with the electricity industry during the hot season, increase the use of electricity economically so that the power system can operate safely.

Article 15, Decree No. 17/2022/ND-CP, dated January 31, 2022 of the Government amending and supplementing a number of articles of the decrees regulating administrative sanctions in the fields of chemicals and industrial explosives; electricity, safety of hydroelectric dams, economical and efficient use of energy; commercial activities, production, trading of counterfeit and prohibited goods and protection of consumer rights; petroleum activities, trading of gasoline and gas stipulates: Fine from 5,000,000 - 10,000,000 VND for the act of flying kites or any object causing power grid incidents.