Power lines go online in Tongzhou

New power transmission lines in Beijing's suburban district of Tongzhou were put into operation on Sunday, ahead of a planned move there by the capital's municipal departments.

A new subsidiary administrative center for the municipal government is due to open in Tongzhou next year, to help relieve pressure on public services in downtown Beijing, where the central government is located.

The center will be equipped with a "first-class" upgraded power supply over the course of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), according to Beijing Electric Power Company, which is responsible for the installation work.

Once complete, the 14.3 square-kilometer administrative center's power distribution network will offer charging facilities for electric cars every kilometer, the company said.

Since January, 20.5 kilometers of power lines have been upgraded in the district and 53 power transmission towers have been built.

Subsequent work will include expanding transformer substations and carrying out new transmission and transformation projects, the company said.