Electricity company and village find new way to improve service

"Following continuous recent rainfall, I'm here to inspect the indoor and outdoor wiring and check for any aging or damaged wires, and replace them if necessary," says Chen Xuanwa, a power grid worker from the State Grid's Songxian County Power Supply Co.

In Sanhe village, within Henan province's Huangzhuang township, Chen is at the home of Li Xinwa, a low-income resident and has already replaced damaged wiring and provided on-site education about safe electricity usage, all part of Songxian County Power Supply Co's efforts to extend their service reach through the "village network co-construction" program.

Sanhe village was the first to sign such an agreement with the power supplier and is among the first pilot villages in Henan to adopt the model. Under the new mechanism, power company workers and village power liaison officers collect information about villagers' electricity needs, identify power safety hazards, and provide one-stop services such as electricity consultation, information inquiries, and bill payments. The set-up efficiently meets the villagers' needs for reliable electricity, the village government has said.

By effectively bridging the "last mile" of rural power services, the initiative is said to have continuously improved the quality and efficiency of power services, integrated power services into village governance, and fostered co-construction, co-governance, and shared benefits between power services and village administration, the local government added.

Moving forward, Songxian County Power Supply Co says it will further explore new working methods under the co-construction model. These will include deepening cooperation in areas such as rural electricity safety, protection of power facilities, and mediation of electricity disputes, thereby strengthening collaborative efforts, injecting new vitality into the construction of beautiful villages.